Condition inspection lessons
Don said:
What you and others with flying Nines are learning from your inspections.
Don
Areas that wear: include anything that moves...
I have had some issues with my nose gear fairing. Seems I cut it too short at the bottom and the clamp won't stay attached more than about 15 hours. So it's time to glass on an extension to it.
During the first inspection I replaced the rudder due to cracking from the TE rivets. My site details the issue, however the short version is, builder error caused it, and I had to replace it. Now it's time for the elevators to be replaced due to the same problem.
Other than that the Airframe is solid with no cracks or issues.
Biggest problem to date in 280hrs was the failure of the right brake. Lucky for me I was on the ground at the time. Looks like I over flared the alu brake lines where they attach to the brakes. That's where a crack developed and drained out all the fluid. In looking at the left side, there were marks left at the corner of the flare that indicated that I had spun too many turns into it during the initial flare. I rebuilt the left and everything has been fine since.
Still on my original brakes and tires thus far at 280hrs, I will be checking them closely. I did replace the tubes at 40hrs with airleak stopper tubes to keep from having to re-inflate so often. Works great now.
FWF, I had a small fuel leak develop around the gas collator, turned out to be a problem with the angle fitting going into it. Intication was a blue stain on the bottom and side of the case.
I am having a bit of wear show up on the arm of the carb heat door as the wire & bug nut assembly was not tight fitting and over time has vibrated the hole larger. Will eventually require a new arm to be riveted to the heat door.
I have polished it once about a year ago, and it's time to do it again... But... Well... You know... Paint is much easier to keep up, but I like the polished look!
So in the end, nothing major, just the kind of stuff you find maintaining your own airplane as the years go by... The fun part is flying! Last summer we flew coast to coast, hour after hour at 180mph TAS 10.5K & 11.5K smooth and steady all day long. Was a pleasure to fly and see the country.