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: broken pilot step

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etandrews(at)westnet.com.
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:00 am Post subject: : broken pilot step

Everyone



I have had a broken pilots step after approximately 200hrs flying.   I noticed a minor crack in the paint above the top weld where the upright section of the step connected to the horizontal fuselage section.   Later that day when alighting the step it failed.   The weld appeared almost non existent.   It may be worth inspecting your own steps for signs of failure.   I am planning to install an inspection hatch to access the step anchor bolt along with a new step.   



Kind regards



Evan Andrews

VH-OSH Australia flying



Sent from my iPad

AirMike

Joined: 27 Feb 2007
Posts: 514
Location: Nevada

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 5:57 am Post subject: broken pilot step

Truly sorry to hear about the broken step. At least nobody was hurt when it broke - could have caused a nasty gash. I have long recommended an inspection hatch for the step bolt as well as to check on corrosion. I used the access hatch from the wing. Installed it fits flush.

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_________________
See you OSH '18
Q/B - sold.

glastar(at)gmx.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:57 am Post subject: : broken pilot step

Mike,



how did you solve that two of your screws are hidden behind the riveted 

baggage side panel? Any picture with that panel in place? I moved mine a 

little bit to the center and cut out a bit on the flange of the panel.



Cheers Werner



On 05.06.2012 15:57, AirMike wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Truly sorry to hear about the broken step. At least nobody was hurt when it broke - could have caused a nasty gash. I have long recommended an inspection hatch for the step bolt as well as to check on corrosion. I used the access hatch from the wing. Installed it fits flush.



 --------

 See you OSH '12

 Q/B - flying 2 yrs.





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=374755#374755





 Attachments:



 http://forums.matronics.com//files/p1000864_434.jpg

etandrews(at)westnet.com.
Guest

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 3:15 am Post subject: : broken pilot step

Thanks Mike - this one caught me by surprise.   Very good thinking about the installation of the hatch during the build.   It will be fun to get the building gear out for a change.



Regards



Evan



Sent from my iPad



On 05/06/2012, at 11:57 PM, "AirMike" <Mikeabel(at)Pacbell.net> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 Truly sorry to hear about the broken step. At least nobody was hurt when it broke - could have caused a nasty gash. I have long recommended an inspection hatch for the step bolt as well as to check on corrosion. I used the access hatch from the wing. Installed it fits flush.

 

 --------

 See you OSH '12

 Q/B - flying 2 yrs.

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=374755#374755

 

 

 

 

 Attachments: 

 

 http://forums.matronics.com//files/p1000864_434.jpg

michael(at)sausen.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:01 pm Post subject: : broken pilot step

This was actually discussed in the past and you should be able to find some references in the archives. 



  Solution was a combination of beefing up the welds and putting on an access panel. My welds were seriously lacking and I re-TIG'd them. 



Michael



Sent from my iPhone



On Jun 5, 2012, at 5:11 AM, "Etandrews" <etandrews(at)westnet.com.au> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 Everyone

 

 I have had a broken pilots step after approximately 200hrs flying.   I noticed a minor crack in the paint above the top weld where the upright section of the step connected to the horizontal fuselage section.   Later that day when alighting the step it failed.   The weld appeared almost non existent.   It may be worth inspecting your own steps for signs of failure.   I am planning to install an inspection hatch to access the step anchor bolt along with a new step.   

 

 Kind regards

 

 Evan Andrews

 VH-OSH Australia flying

 

 Sent from my iPad

etandrews(at)westnet.com.
Guest

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:35 pm Post subject: : broken pilot step

Thanks Michael,

My wife reminded me of the earlier step failure posts!

I cut the hole for the inspection panel in the weekend and removed the internal anchor portion of the step.   I was thinking that for builders installing the step that it may be worthwhile considering  to install the securing bolt for the step in the horizontal rather than vertical position.   This would aid removal of  the bolt with the inspection hatch out from the side panel.

Regards 

Evan

Sent from my iPad

On 12/06/2012, at 7:00 AM, Michael Sausen <michael(at)sausen.net> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	

  This was actually discussed in the past and you should be able to find some references in the archives. 

  Solution was a combination of beefing up the welds and putting on an access panel. My welds were seriously lacking and I re-TIG'd them. 

 Michael

 Sent from my iPhone

 On Jun 5, 2012, at 5:11 AM, "Etandrews" <etandrews(at)westnet.com.au> wrote:

> 

> 

> Everyone

> 

> I have had a broken pilots step after approximately 200hrs flying.   I noticed a minor crack in the paint above the top weld where the upright section of the step connected to the horizontal fuselage section.   Later that day when alighting the step it failed.   The weld appeared almost non existent.   It may be worth inspecting your own steps for signs of failure.   I am planning to install an inspection hatch to access the step anchor bolt along with a new step.   

> 

> Kind regards

> 

> Evan Andrews

> VH-OSH Australia flying

> 

> Sent from my iPad

> 

> 

> 

> 

>

michael(at)sausen.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 5:42 am Post subject: : broken pilot step

There are a couple other things people have done around the step.  One is to put a block of Al or wood in it where the bolt goes to keep it from crushing and thereby loosening. The other is to use a self locking SS pin that allows for easy removal. I only have to push a button on the top of the pin to remove it. 

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 11, 2012, at 4:52 PM, "Etandrews" <etandrews(at)westnet.com.au> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	

 Thanks Michael,

 My wife reminded me of the earlier step failure posts!

 I cut the hole for the inspection panel in the weekend and removed the internal anchor portion of the step.   I was thinking that for builders installing the step that it may be worthwhile considering  to install the securing bolt for the step in the horizontal rather than vertical position.   This would aid removal of  the bolt with the inspection hatch out from the side panel.

 Regards 

 Evan

 Sent from my iPad

 On 12/06/2012, at 7:00 AM, Michael Sausen <michael(at)sausen.net> wrote:

> 

> 

> This was actually discussed in the past and you should be able to find some references in the archives. 

> 

> Solution was a combination of beefing up the welds and putting on an access panel. My welds were seriously lacking and I re-TIG'd them. 

> 

> Michael

> 

> Sent from my iPhone

> 

> On Jun 5, 2012, at 5:11 AM, "Etandrews" <etandrews(at)westnet.com.au> wrote:

> 

>> 

>> 

>> Everyone

>> 

>> I have had a broken pilots step after approximately 200hrs flying.   I noticed a minor crack in the paint above the top weld where the upright section of the step connected to the horizontal fuselage section.   Later that day when alighting the step it failed.   The weld appeared almost non existent.   It may be worth inspecting your own steps for signs of failure.   I am planning to install an inspection hatch to access the step anchor bolt along with a new step.   

>> 

>> Kind regards

>> 

>> Evan Andrews

>> VH-OSH Australia flying

>> 

>> Sent from my iPad

>> 

>> 

>> 

>> 

>> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

>

Jim(at)JimVillani.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 5:51 am Post subject: : broken pilot step

What's the "Pin" look like?



--

civengpe

Joined: 14 Feb 2011
Posts: 105

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 5:53 am Post subject: : broken pilot step

Michael,

Where did you purchase these pins?

Shannon



On Tue, Jun 12, 2012 at 8:42 AM, Michael Sausen <michael(at)sausen.net (michael(at)sausen.net)> wrote:

 [quote]--> RV10-List message posted by: Michael Sausen <michael(at)sausen.net (michael(at)sausen.net)>

  

 

There are a couple other things people have done around the step.  One is to put a block of Al or wood in it where the bolt goes to keep it from crushing and thereby loosening. The other is to use a self locking SS pin that allows for easy removal. I only have to push a button on the top of the pin to remove it.

  

 Sent from my iPhone

 

 On Jun 11, 2012, at 4:52 PM, "Etandrews" <etandrews(at)westnet.com.au (etandrews(at)westnet.com.au)> wrote:

 

 > --> RV10-List message posted by: Etandrews <etandrews(at)westnet.com.au (etandrews(at)westnet.com.au)>

 >

 > Thanks Michael,

 >

 > My wife reminded me of the earlier step failure posts!

 >

 > I cut the hole for the inspection panel in the weekend and removed the internal anchor portion of the step.   I was thinking that for builders installing the step that it may be worthwhile considering  to install the securing bolt for the step in the horizontal rather than vertical position.   This would aid removal of  the bolt with the inspection hatch out from the side panel.

  >

 > Regards

 >

 > Evan

 >

 >

 >

 > Sent from my iPad

 >

 > On 12/06/2012, at 7:00 AM, Michael Sausen <michael(at)sausen.net (michael(at)sausen.net)> wrote:

 >

 >> --> RV10-List message posted by: Michael Sausen <michael(at)sausen.net (michael(at)sausen.net)>

 >>

 >> This was actually discussed in the past and you should be able to find some references in the archives.

 >>

 >> Solution was a combination of beefing up the welds and putting on an access panel. My welds were seriously lacking and I re-TIG'd them.

 >>

 >> Michael

 >>

 >> Sent from my iPhone

 >>

 >> On Jun 5, 2012, at 5:11 AM, "Etandrews" <etandrews(at)westnet.com.au (etandrews(at)westnet.com.au)> wrote:

 >>

 >>> --> RV10-List message posted by: Etandrews <etandrews(at)westnet.com.au (etandrews(at)westnet.com.au)>

 >>>

 >>> Everyone

 >>>

 >>> I have had a broken pilots step after approximately 200hrs flying.   I noticed a minor crack in the paint above the top weld where the upright section of the step connected to the horizontal fuselage section.   Later that day when alighting the step it failed.   The weld appeared almost non existent.   It may be worth inspecting your own steps for signs of failure.   I am planning to install an inspection hatch to access the step anchor bolt along with a new step.

  >>>

 >>> Kind regards

 >>>

 >>> Evan Andrews

 >>> VH-OSH Australia flying

 >>>

 >>> Sent from my iPad

 >>>

 >>>

 >>>

 >>>

 >>>

 >>

 >>

 >>

 >>

 >>

 >>

 >

 >

 >

 >

 >

 >

 

 

 

 ===========

 arget="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV10-List

 ===========

 http://forums.matronics.com

 ===========

 le, List Admin.

 ="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution

 ===========

 

 

 

 



[b]

michael(at)sausen.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 6:03 am Post subject: : broken pilot step

I would have to find it but I got it from McMaster. Looks like a hitch pin with a button that releases a little ball on the bottom that allows insertion/removal. 



Sent from my iPhone



On Jun 12, 2012, at 8:58 AM, "JimVillani" <Jim(at)JimVillani.com> wrote:



[quote] 

 

 What's the "Pin" look like?

 

 --

Neal.George(at)hurlburt.a
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 6:13 am Post subject: : broken pilot step

This weak step issue is not confined to the RV-10.  I've had the step

fail on my Cherokee, too.  Yes, it's mounted differently, but suffers

the same abuse and failure mode.



I've taken to briefing every individual who approaches the airplane with

the intention of climbing on the wing:  

"It's an aide, not a launching pad.  Grab the handle with your left hand

and PLACE your foot on the step, then stand up - don't stomp on it."



Likewise for exiting the aircraft:  "It's not a landing pad.  Turn

around, grab the handle, PLACE your foot on the step, then transfer your

weight and step off.  If you're not agile enough for that, sit down and

scoot off the wing."



It's not the weight that breaks the steps.  It's the force of folks

stomping on and striding off the wing.



Neal



--

taildragon(at)msn.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 6:28 am Post subject: : broken pilot step

<?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]-->  Amen! "Standard" pilots weigh about 170# so when 240# pilots like me climb  on the wing caution MUST be exercised!

  

 Roger

 [quote]   ---

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