Traash
Well Known Member
My RV-10 in HBP suffered a bent rudder. Modified towbar to hold pedals. It jumped the pedals somehow. Rudder must have swung hard. The stops (self manufactured single piece) worked well but the lower trailing edge was bent with six rivets popped. Looked like it could have been hit by FOD. All shop heads are on the same side and that's the side where it came loose. Next rudder will have alternating manufactured heads. I repaired it in about an hour by taxiing to the repair stand near Vintage.
I drove around HBC & HBC distributing flyers to educate pilots with damage where they could make repairs. It was easy to find damage. Just look at RV rudders. Found 10 RV's with bent rudders all in the same spot, lower third trailing edge (furthest point from the hinge). 2 had broken stops (one internal the other external) allowing elevator contact by the rudder.
The torque on the rudder must have been crazy high. I'm thinking the strongest (but bulkiest) lock would be something surrounding VS and rudder so that the trailing edge is supported.
I drove around HBC & HBC distributing flyers to educate pilots with damage where they could make repairs. It was easy to find damage. Just look at RV rudders. Found 10 RV's with bent rudders all in the same spot, lower third trailing edge (furthest point from the hinge). 2 had broken stops (one internal the other external) allowing elevator contact by the rudder.
The torque on the rudder must have been crazy high. I'm thinking the strongest (but bulkiest) lock would be something surrounding VS and rudder so that the trailing edge is supported.