Paul,
If your problem turns out to be friction in the elevator circuit then there
is one unlikely place to look that I have come across before and is easily
checked and will save you a lot of grief searching as I had to on that
occasion.
Check that the bolts with castellated nut and split pin that connect each
control column to the pitch control rod beneath each seat is not over
tightened. You will be amazed at how easy the fix is if this is your
problem. One castellation off is probably enough. May be one side or other
or both sides. Best of luck it has worked before.
Pete Europa Club LAA Rep
_____
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Europa
Sent: 10 October 2010 09:03
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Test flying/checklist
Bud
Many thinks for this. We have forgotten how long since we put the torque
tube in. Lubricating etc appears to have made a big difference. Need to see
on next test flight.
Paul
On 9/10/10 21:01, "Bud Yerly" <budyerly@msn.com> wrote:
Paul,
Neutral means many things. The Europa aircraft should indicate nearly dead
beat return to trimmed speed when the stick is pulsed upward sharply and
released. Quickly pull the stick back about one inch at about 90 Kts. (I
hold my forearm against my knee and pulse the stick with my fingers) and
release.) If the plane corrects back in less than one oscillation cycle
that is what is meant by dead beat over here.
If the nose basically stops in a climb or very slowly continues up, and the
stick does not return exactly where you had it and it does not return to the
trimmed speed, you have friction in your pitch system and it must be worked
out with lube, or whatever is necessary.
If you pulse the stick up and the nose continues up but does come back to
trimmed flight after a bit, your stabilator counter weight is a little too
heavy (acceleration forces pull the leading edge down). If you pulse the
stick back and the correction is quite quick back to trimmed level, your
counterweight is too light and the acceleration has pulled the stab trailing
edge down causing a nose down pitch. This makes flying in turbulence
fatiguing.
I suspect you have friction in your system. Please try the following. In
the hangar and no wind, push down on the dorsal fin area just forward of the
stabs, bouncing the aircraft briskly, and watch your stabilators. Normally
they will move a bit as you bounce the aircraft but essentially stay where
balanced. If the TE of the stab goes down, the counterweight is too light
and vice versa. If the stab doesn't move at all, too much friction. If you
move the stick or the trailing edge of the stab, the tail plane should move
easily with little or no friction or stickiness. The bearings may still
have dirt from finishing in them, or your trim tube could be dragging a bit,
and must be clearanced.
Vague trim is an indication your Flettner strips are too small and the trim
tab can't feel the change in air pressure and transmit that to the stab.
It's a start. Hope it is something simple.
As for checklists, I was a standardization pilot for years in the military
and used to build/update operations manuals, checklists and local procedures
manuals for quick reference.. I made a personal checklist for my Europa
trigear or mono or glider, equipped with an old 914 or 912 series engine. I
plastic coated it for durability and have it as a ringed flip checklist.
There have been changes over the years but basically it works OK. Take a
look. In my feeble brain, it works to my logic.
This is a personal checklist, it is for my use only, I still carry the
engine manufacturers operational checklist and the Europa checklist in the
aircraft. I do not intentionally deviate from anything in the operators
handbooks. Many items are excessively abbreviated and may not suit other
pilots. It is my belief that we all should have a personal operators quick
reference card that can be accessed quickly, similar to the one produced by
Europa, and refer to it often. I fly with this one next to me at all times.
An excel spreadsheet is attached. You may use the format if you see fit.
As everyone knows, I can't do anything briefly so it is a number of pages...
Bud Yerly
Custom Flight Creations, Inc.
Tech support.
----- Original Message -----
From: Europa <mailto:europa@pstewart.f2s.com>
<mailto:europa@pstewart.f2s.com>
Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 2:40 PM
Subject: Europa-List: Test flying
A couple of questions.
1. while at cruise speed the aircraft is neutral in pitch. At low speed
(flaps down) it tends to hold any pitch input (nose up or nose down).
Anyone
any thoughts?
2. Does anyone have recognised check lists for a 914 mono?
Regards
Paul nbsp; Features Chat, http://www.matronnbsp; via the Web
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<http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Europa-List>
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