7A - First Condition Inspection

[roadrunner20]

I incorporated my first conditional inspection with new paint.
Total time = 66.5.

Plugs showed running rich. Adjusted mixture on engine.
Superior normally sends out their engine on rich side.

Replaced brake pads
Approximately 150 landings.
I suspect this was due to the long taxis from hangar & qty of landings during phase 1.

Replaced right side O-Ring on brake cylinder.
Began seeping just prior to conditional.

Fuel filter clean, no debris found.

Oil usage: 1qt oil/9 hours
Oil filter, no metal found.

Fuel usage average 7.1 gl/hour, last 25 hours using 93UL

Otherwise, all control systems and fwf was as installed.
No change, no abrasions..., clean airframe.

Back to flying over the last 3 days to test post conditional.
Glad to have it back after being grounded for the last 5 weeks to prep for paint and inspection.

I plan on doing another conditional in December to avoid having any down time during such a great time to fly here in Florida.

[Mel]

You didn't mention new weight & balance. (Necessary after paint)

[Bob Axsom]

The brake pads on an "A" should be changed every year for safety margin. You haven't lived until you wear the pads down so far that the "O"-ring no longer seals and it lets the fluid leak out and you do a ground loop out of your parking spot. My bet is you did not need an o-ring unless you cut on the edge of the cylinder. Make sure you get the correct o-ring specified by Cleveland. Van's sells the correct part but Aircraft Spruce makes a substitution that is not approved by Cleveland and it is not the correct size - it will leak. I have gone through this with Cleveland and Aircraft Spruce but as Nevil Shute says in Round the Bend "You can't argue with stupidity".

Speaking of that I have my share of it. A couple of good fellows on this web site told me to use the rudder for taxi turns and I just couldn't accept it. I just knew that you had to turn the "A" models with brakes when you are down to taxi speeds. Well guess what... I was wrong. It is amazing how slow you can taxi and still turn an "A" model with the rudder. I am now doing my taxi turns with rudder whenever possible and saving brake pads I'm sure but I will still change them every year at least. They are cheap compared to a failure.

Bob Axsom

[roadrunner20]

Originally Posted by Mel

You didn't mention new weight & balance. (Necessary after paint)

My plan is to do the W&B after I apply the decals next weekend.
My original W&B was 1034 without gear/wheel fairings.
I don't really see the paint adding much weight on the few items painted.
We'll see.
You guys don't miss a thing. I'll report the difference once complete.

[roadrunner20]

Originally Posted by Bob Axsom

The brake pads on an "A" should be changes every year for safety margin. You havent lived until you wear the pads down so far that the "O"-ring no longer seals and it lets the fluid leak out and you do a ground loop out of your parking spot. My bet is you did not need an o-ring unless you cut on the edge of the cylinder. Make sure you get the correct o-ring specified by Cleveland. Van's sells the corect part but Aircraft Spruce makes a substitution that is not approved by Cleveland and it is not the correct size - it will leak. I have gone through this with Cleveland and Aircraft Spruce but as Nevil Shute says in Round the Bend "You can't argue with stupidity".

I was really surprised I needed brake pads after 1 year.
I ordered Cleveland O-Rings from Aircraft Spruce but bought one at Napa for .75 cents. This enabled me to fly this weekend. Visually, I thought the old O-Ring looked good. Applying the new one, I knew immediately it would seal.

With this first conditional inspection, you begin to realize you need to begin to stock maintenance items vs building parts.

I'm starting to stock items such as:
brake pads, with rivets, o-rings...

[L.Adamson]

Originally Posted by Mel

You didn't mention new weight & balance. (Necessary after paint)

Speaking of weight & balance....

I once drilled numerous holes in one of my 6A's precast elevator lead weight's to balance the elevators. Then covered the holes with fiberglass resin.

Yesterday and today, I drilled out the fiberglass; drilled offset holes to keep new molten lead in place; and added 5 oz. of "new" lead to balance out the new paint.

Initially, the elevators were balanced seperately. Once has a trim servo. Today, they're balanced as a unit, since I had no desire to add new lead to both sides.

So............ if you're flying un-painted, keep in mind, that the elevators are going to need some re-balancing before you muff up that new paint job

BTW-- I packed ice water laden rags around the counter-balance arms to protect the paint from the hot lead. Since the lead cools rather fast, I don't know if the rags were needed or not; but the paint came out okay!

L.Adamson

[dan]

Ok, I can't bite my tongue any longer! It's not "conditional," it's a CONDITION inspection. You inspect the condition of the airplane. Sorry, but for me this is just a pet peeve like its/it's or their/there.

i.e. from our typical Operating Limitations:

"No person must operate this aircraft unless within the preceding 12 calendar months it has had a condition inspection performed in accordance with the scope and detail of appendix D to part 43"

[TShort]

Originally Posted by dan

Sorry, but for me this is just a pet peeve like its/it's or their/there.

How about hanger / hangar
Sorry, couldn't resist.

T.

[roadrunner20]

Originally Posted by dan

Ok, I can't bite my tongue any longer! It's not "conditional," it's a CONDITION inspection. You inspect the condition of the airplane. Sorry, but for me this is just a pet peeve like its/it's or their/there.

i.e. from our typical Operating Limitations:

"No person must operate this aircraft unless within the preceding 12 calendar months it has had a condition inspection performed in accordance with the scope and detail of appendix D to part 43"

Sorry Dan, I guess I stand corrected "Conditional vs Condition". Must it be in uppercase as well?
I thought I was contributing information that others would find useful.

[roadrunner20]

Originally Posted by TShort

How about hanger / hangar
Sorry, couldn't resist.

T.

Thomas, do I get bonus points for spelling "hangar" correctly in my original post?