Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Robert Duke on July 30, 2015 at 10:04am

I think that I would paint that particular area with some neon paint to eyeball at every pre-flight...and post-flight

til there's a resolution

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Permalink Reply by Gary Eady on August 3, 2015 at 6:27pm

The plans call for those rear fuselage longerons to be 0.040". Those longerons in the photos look way lighter than this, maybe like 0.020". That would be the first thing I would be checking.

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Permalink Reply by LUCAS SILVA on July 29, 2015 at 10:26pm

I am aware that I have exposed my plane to hard conditions (i.e. crossing the Andees ) but isn't it the ch701 a sky jeep?

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Permalink Reply by Mark Maltais on July 29, 2015 at 10:36pm

That shouldn't matter. In my non-engineer (but I was an AME) opinion that bracket is too small and puts too much torque on the rear angle over too small an area. The upper bracket should be a longer horseshoe shape that extends at least 3x as long to distribute the forces more. Again, not sure what that angle is but it don't look too thick and I know that skin is maybe 20 thou? That's asking it too do a lot...

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Permalink Reply by FRed Sanford on July 30, 2015 at 12:05am

Lucas:
I will be checking mine even more thoroughly from now on. A few years back a 701 flyer had trouble with the stabilizer mounts cracking. His engine kicked and shuddered a lot when it was shutting down. He figured that that broke the mounts. .... Fred N9701 2005

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Permalink Reply by david shrader on July 30, 2015 at 2:14am

Looks like damage from dropping it on its tail. Is there a chance it could have fell on its tail in recent past? There is another discussion regarding this type of damage http://www.zenith.aero/group/stolch701/forum/topics/tail-damage-and... If the rudder hits the ground it would put a lot of forward/downward force on the upper rudder hinge bracket

Dave

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Permalink Reply by LUCAS SILVA on July 30, 2015 at 6:17am

David, 

I  am sure have not hit the rudder tail in a take off nor landing maneuver, this hypothesis is discharged.

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Permalink Reply by david shrader on July 30, 2015 at 1:49pm

Ment your damage occurred with ground handling, furthermore I have inspected two 701's with more than 500 hrs. an saw no damage in the tail section. I did see one with damage similar to yours that was dropped on its tail during ground handling.
Good luck either way with your problem. I'm dismissed
Dave

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Permalink Reply by david shrader on July 30, 2015 at 2:06pm

I have seen that damage when a 701 was dropped on its tail during ground handling.
Dave

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Permalink Reply by LUCAS SILVA on July 30, 2015 at 7:12am

I would like to ask you all  if the planes that have had the same problem that I had,  use frequently the slip maneuver.

If all those damaged planes use a lot (which is my case) to slip, it means that is the origin of the problem. From the other hand if this damage is not present in planes that have not slip, it confirms the problem cause.

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Permalink Reply by Tim Juhl on July 31, 2015 at 4:24pm

I don't think a slip would cause this.  I have seen aircraft bang their tails when tied down outside in high winds.  Could that have happened?

Tim

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