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Re: Europa-List: Aileron hinge wear

Subject: Re: Europa-List: Aileron hinge wear
From: Sidsel & Svein Johnsen <sidsel.svein@oslo.online.no>
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:02:47
Gert,

Thanks, but isn't that like taking paracetamol to reduce the fever 
without curing the illness?

Best regards,
Svein
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Lisbet og Gert Dalgaard 
  To: europa-list@matronics.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 3:34 PM
  Subject: Re: Europa-List: Aileron hinge wear


  Hi Svein
  You take out the hinge-pin, form it as an "S" (app. 20 deg. on each 
bend), and tap it careful back in the hinge  -  after that you have 
solved the problem.
  Regards Gert
  OY-GDS


  Den 22/10/2008 kl. 08.38 skrev Sidsel & Svein Johnsen:


    On the two Europa XS's in Norway with more than 20 hours flying 
time, the outer hinge on both ailerons on both aircraft has developed 
noticeable wear.  When the ailerons were mounted, no play was noticed - 
not-perfect alignment of the two hinges removed the play that exists in 
these MS-hinges even when new.  The ailerons were carefully balanced 
after filling and painting, as per the BM.

    No wear is noticed on the inner aileron hinges, nor on the rudder or 
trim tab hinges. 

    We have both monitored this carefully, without discovering any 
increased play over the roughly 50 + hours flown since first discovering 
this.  However, this does not rule out that wear may continue at a low 
rate.

    The outer hinge is fitted a fair distance from the tip.  Even with 
tight outer hinge, the tip may be moved easily up or down without 
applying much force due to the flexibility of the aileron's structure.

    Could the cause of this be small vibrations in the outer, 
unsupported part of the aileron when activating the aileron (i.e. not 
streamlined aft of the wing)?

    Even if the outer hinges were tight, the flexibility "does not look 
right".  I have not found any other aircraft design at my local field 
where the ailerons flex like this.

    I have now fitted an additional, third hinge on each aileron, at the 
tip and of the same type and length as the original outer hinge (which I 
have left in place).


    Anyone else with similar experience?

    Svein
    LN-SKJ



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