Zenith Aircraft Builders and Flyers
Online Community of Zenith Builders and Flyers
Repair completed
The result of a few hours work. I believe it's just fine :) After completing the work we also removed the belly oil cooler brackets that were left there. Radiator brackets were removed three years ago when we got the plane.
Originally, this plane was equipped with the radiator and oil cooler installed underneath the cabin floor just behind the firewall as there was no room inside the cowling for the radiator.
Comment
-
Comment by Ari Hulkkonen on April 7, 2013 at 2:19am
-
Bob: I decided to cut the damaged part away to prevent any possible crack being initiated from the sharp bends, I rounded and sanded the cut away opening, followed in principle the standard patch repair process.
About the Z: It was more like a dent at the corner rather than a bend. So I just straightened the dent in the Z as well I could. The longeron at the bottom is just fine. If it had taken any damage it would have been a different story..
Anyway, the Z is riveted through its vertical side to the internal trim sheet, which basically doubles the Z. Secondly, the floor rivet line goes through the patch, cockpit floor, the Z and the bottom edge (L) of the trim plate so I'd say that particular area is pretty stiff..
The only issue may be that I did not have .016 sheet metal so I had to fabricate the patch of a bit thicker aluminum, which makes it stiffer than the original sheet. I've started thinking maybe I should have added a doubler behind the .016 sheet metal to support the upper rivet line as the sheets are of different thickness.
-
Comment by Bob McDonald on April 6, 2013 at 6:14pm
-
Excellent repair....none the worse for wear ! I was thinking if you could not have do just a good a rear putting the new skin directly over the "dented" skin? Of course the damage under the dent would not have been repaired.
-
Comment by Christopher Braun on April 6, 2013 at 3:08pm
-
Did you add a doubler to the internal rib/structural component that was bent and then straightened?
New from Zenith:
Classified listing for buying or selling your Zenith building or flying related stuff...
Custom Instrument Panels
for your Zenith:
Custom instrument panels are now available directly from Zenith Aircraft Company exclusively for Zenith builders and owners. Pre-cut panel, Dynon and Garmin avionics, and more.
Zenith Homecoming Tee:
Flying On Your Own Wings:
A Complete Guide to Understanding Light Airplane Design, by Chris Heintz
Builder & Pilot Supplies:
Transition training:
Aircraft Spruce & Specialty for all your building and pilot supplies!
How to videos from HomebuiltHELP.com
Developed specifically for Zenith builders (by a builder) these videos on DVD are a great help in building your own kit plane by providing practical hands-on construction information. Visit HomebuiltHelp.com for the latest DVD titles.
© 2025 Created by Zenith.Aero.
Powered by
You need to be a member of Zenith Aircraft Builders and Flyers to add comments!
Join Zenith Aircraft Builders and Flyers