G'day folks,
First post.
Thanks to the generous and sound advice on this forum, until recently my errors have been small.
Now I would like to help prevent others from making the same large mistake that I have made.
If you are transporting a taildragger to the paint shop or hangar, and you have not:
then please support the fuselage and tail wheel clear of truck or trailer using cushions as load spreaders for the support (I used a sawhorse) under the rear two bulkheads (F711 & F712) and the tie down strap over the top.
On reflection, use cushions and sawhorse (or equivalents) whether or not the empenage and tailspring/wheel are fitted.
I had removed the empenage some months ago and had not replaced the three bolts which secure the rear tailspring weldment to the rear bulkhead.
I noticed the bouncing as I followed the tilt-tray truck, and immediately knew my mistake. Fortunately the damage was minor, confined to the rear bulkhead (F-712), my pride, and a 5 week delay. The bulkhead has been replaced with new parts from Van's, and the rivets and bulkheads re-painted. Now no one will know except you and me.
First post.
Thanks to the generous and sound advice on this forum, until recently my errors have been small.
Now I would like to help prevent others from making the same large mistake that I have made.
If you are transporting a taildragger to the paint shop or hangar, and you have not:
fitted the empenage, and
secured the tailspring and tailwheel with bolts, through the vertical stabiliser spar, and bulkheads;
secured the tailspring and tailwheel with bolts, through the vertical stabiliser spar, and bulkheads;
then please support the fuselage and tail wheel clear of truck or trailer using cushions as load spreaders for the support (I used a sawhorse) under the rear two bulkheads (F711 & F712) and the tie down strap over the top.
On reflection, use cushions and sawhorse (or equivalents) whether or not the empenage and tailspring/wheel are fitted.
I had removed the empenage some months ago and had not replaced the three bolts which secure the rear tailspring weldment to the rear bulkhead.
I noticed the bouncing as I followed the tilt-tray truck, and immediately knew my mistake. Fortunately the damage was minor, confined to the rear bulkhead (F-712), my pride, and a 5 week delay. The bulkhead has been replaced with new parts from Van's, and the rivets and bulkheads re-painted. Now no one will know except you and me.