Gents,
This problem was identified a long time ago (1999) and one enterprising
Scandinavian builder came up with an elegant and well engineered
solution (stand up and take a bow - Jens).
Pictures below FYI.
Nigel
----- Original Message -----
From: Bud Yerly
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 1:17 AM
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Check your Landing Gear Retraction Lever
Strut (Mod 51)
Klaus and others,
Please send me pictures of your elongations or failures of the strut
for me to analyze. If you can provide the type material and thickness
also.
Normally 6061 common aluminum angle of 1.6 mm or 1/16 inch is plenty
strong enough.
Elongation of the hole at the bottom indicates slight movement of the
gear lock ,retraction mechanism (most probably in the down position) due
to not staying perfectly vertical with the gear down and eventually the
stresses from bending, as Klaus said, or from the latch slot gear
retraction arm interface bending, and or the three bolts elongation has
caused fatigue of the material or too much force on the aluminum angle
strut.
We will need some look see time to evaluate should if we go to steel
or a specific material/dimensions, time change, or what.
In the mean time, if everyone can look at their Mod 51 landing gear
retraction lever strut brace if over say 500 hours and look for wear, as
soon as you can, and low time planes on your next annual, then send me
updates, I'd appreciate it.
Many thanks,
Bud Yerly,
Europa Tech Assistance.
direct email: budyerly@msn.com
or just hold control key and click below to email
via Europa website: mailto:enquiries@europa-aircraft.com
via Custom Flight Creations website:
mailto:mail@customflightcreations.com
----- Original Message -----
From: klaus dietrich
To: Europa-List Digest Server ; jimmy Keppert
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 1:29 PM
Subject: Europa-List: Check your Landing Gear Retraction Lever Strut
(Mod 51)
Check your Landing Gear Retraction Lever Strut (Mod 51)
after 10 years in service and some 800 hours with as many landings,
my Landing Gear Retraction Lever Strut (Mod 51) had an oval oversize
hole at the bottom end (14mm; for the MS 20392-5C37 bolt which is 9,5
mm) and it finally broke at the top (just below the AN 3 bolt probably
due to some misalignment due to the play at the bottom...
no play at the top AN 3 bolt, however!
The three screws on the Landing Gear Retraction Lever at the top
seem to hold (no play)....
I'm still searching for an explanation; my aluminum angle was
probably not strong enough: material thickness: 1,5 mm; L-profile: 20 mm
x 8 mm
also the strut is not absolutely straight and there is some sideways
flexibility which may have favored the play...
Klaus
href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Europa-List";>http://www.matron
href="http://forums.matronics.com";>http://forums.matronics.com
href="http://www.matronics.com/contribution";>http://www.matronics.com/c
|