Hi Graham, and all Europa fans.
My name is Klaus Assion (kjafly@snip.net) and I am just completing the
tailplanes of the Europa model A017 (XS Tri-gear).
I am fully in agreement with Graham's 'it seems possible that we may have
been trying to cure the result and not the cause'.
Can it be that the four TP13 bushes may not be permanently fastened while
bonding with the small quantity of wettisch flox (Europa XS Tri-gear Manual,
page 5-3, 30 May, 1998) The wholes may not have been drilled perfectly and
have some space with the bushes, which was not totally filled with the first
bonding. The additional flox filled gap behind the bushes flanges will not
be strong enough to hold the bushes. Is the tailplane play in the flying
aircrafts inbetween the TP13 pins and the bushes and/or inbetween the bushes
and the inboard rib bonding?
I would be anxious to help diagnose and find a preventive cure!
Thanks, Klaus (kjafly)
-----Original Message-----
From: Gramin@aol.com <Gramin@aol.com>
Date: Thursday, January 28, 1999 7:24 PM
Subject: TP6's and transferred strain.
>Re. the recent traffic on strengthening the TP6 bond, it seems possible
that
>we may have been trying to cure the result and not the cause. I have now
had
>to do them twice in spite of considerable roughening, inserted screws and
>dimpling. More than one of us has now found this to be associated with
>slightly slack drive plates (TP12). These are held to the tailplane tube
by
>pins. If there is any slackness at all here, then the load is immediately
>taken by the pip-pins and through the TP6's into the bond which is not
>designed for such loads.
>
>I find that the rear of one tailplane can be lifted relative to the other
by
>4mm and another builder is finding 10 mm ! Neither of us believe this to
have
>been present at build time. This points to development of a significant
>enlargement of the hole(s) carrying the pins which secure the TP12's.
>Effecting a cure here inside the fuselage is difficult. Either the
existing
>holes need re-boring and larger pins fitted, or extra pins/rivets are
needed
>to attach the TP12's.
>This is significantly major for us to await a factory response. In the
>meantime I would suggest everyone check for relative movement of the two
>TP12's on the tailplane tube. Both of these aircraft have done under 100
hrs.
>
>Graham C. G-EMIN
>
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