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Out of square / accident history

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turbot

Joined: 03 Apr 2011
Posts: 21

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 7:38 pm Post subject: Out of square / accident history

Good day 

  

A lot of kitfoxes seem to get ground looped at one time or another,  I am guessing this may twist the frame out of whack a bit. 

  

If inspecting a KF for purchase , is it worth while to check the distance from centerline to wingtips front & back ? 

  

Maybe compare spinner to wingtip distances side to side    &     tail to wingtip distances ? 

  

  

  

 thanks

 [quote][b]

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mikeperkins

Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 123

Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 5:44 am Post subject: Re: Out of square / accident history

This is a very good idea. However, some of the models have offset thrust centerlines. Ground-looping seems to be hardest on the landing gear, so tracking should be checked. 



Some airframe damage will be obvious by looking for skin wrinkles or a tube that's not quite straight. But if the owner has attempted to cover up things, then they might only be visible to an A/P or someone who's previously built a fabric airplane. A weak point in the early models is the truss between the landing gear, just beneath the front of the seat - cracks and breaks are not uncommon after a bone-jarring landing. The wings, with their wood-to-aluminum bonding, should also be looked at carefully for adhesive separation between the ribs and spars. Also, cracked stinger ribs (that support the flaperons) are not uncommon. Horizontal and vertical tail should be checked for squareness with the airframe. Poor fuel system installation has also caused vapor lock, especially where builders (or subsequent owners) have run the fuel lines uphill or have sharp bends. Corrosion in the lift-strut tubes. . . .  



So many things really. Good to get an A/P or another Kitfox builder to look it over for you.

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_________________
Mike Perkins
Havana, Illinois
Model I, 532, B gearbox, GSC prop

kerrjohna(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 8:05 am Post subject: Out of square / accident history

I'm wondering what you will find or how you will interpret the findings.  Shortly after completing my classic 19 years ago it was left overnight at a nearby airport.  The people at the FBO had been somewhat sceptical aboutf homebuilts and a little out spoken.  When I went back the said they owed an apology.  They had measured the plane ever which way as you have suggested and the largest variance was 1/8 inch.  "None of the certified planes on this field are rigged that close."  This would suggest you don't know what you have unless you know what you started with.  Rippled fabric might be a clue but often can be reshrunk.  If the measurements are way out of whack look further.



  

 John Kerr

 



   From: "TURBO T" <turbot(at)shaw.ca>

To: "kitfox-list" <kitfox-list(at)matronics.com>

Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2015 9:37:33 PM

Subject: Out of square / accident history

 



 p { margin: 0; }   

Good day 

  

A lot of kitfoxes seem to get ground looped at one time or another,  I am guessing this may twist the frame out of whack a bit. 

  

If inspecting a KF for purchase , is it worth while to check the distance from centerline to wingtips front & back ? 

  

Maybe compare spinner to wingtip distances side to side    &     tail to wingtip distances ? 

  

  

  

 thanks

 	  Quote: 	
		  

	


 

 [quote][b]

- The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List

lcfitt3(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 3:56 pm Post subject: Out of square / accident history

I helped a guy fix his Lite2 twice after ground loops -  the second time with pretty significant damage.  From what I saw, the best  way to check for landing induced damage would be to remove the seat pan   and inspect the tubing below each door and extending forward and aft for a foot  or so.  It shouldn't be hard to recognize welded repairs by comparing one  side to the other and repairs that were done by straightening tubing should be  evident  as it is almost impossible to straighten without having some minor  distortions here and there.  One other guy told me that his hard landing  resulted in binding at the aileron bellcrank at the bungee bulkhead.  I  would check that area for evidence of scraping.  Mentioning the bungee  bulkhead reminded me that some who had hard landings that took the bungees to  the limits of the limit cables saw damage to the bulkhead  from the impact  of the cables.

  

 Lowell Fitt

 Model IV-1200



   From: kerrjohna(at)comcast.net (kerrjohna(at)comcast.net) 

 Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2015 9:04 AM

 To: kitfox-list (kitfox-list(at)matronics.com) 

 Subject: Re: Out of square / accident  history

 



  I'm wondering what you will find or how you will  interpret the findings.  Shortly after completing my classic 19 years ago  it was left overnight at a nearby airport.  The people at the FBO had been  somewhat sceptical aboutf homebuilts and a little out spoken.  When I went  back the said they owed an apology.  They had measured the plane ever which  way as you have suggested and the largest variance was 1/8 inch.  "None of  the certified planes on this field are rigged that close."  This would  suggest you don't know what you have unless you know what you started  with.  Rippled fabric might be a clue but often can be reshrunk.  If  the measurements are way out of whack look further.



  

 John Kerr

 



   From:  "TURBO T" <turbot(at)shaw.ca>

To: "kitfox-list"  <kitfox-list(at)matronics.com>

Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2015 9:37:33  PM

Subject: Out of square / accident history

 



 p { margin: 0; }   

Good day 

  

A lot of kitfoxes seem to get ground looped at one time or another,  I  am guessing this may twist the frame out of whack a bit. 

  

If inspecting a KF for purchase , is it worth while to check the distance  from centerline to wingtips front & back ? 

  

Maybe compare spinner to wingtip distances side to side     &     tail to wingtip distances ? 

  

  

  

 thanks

 	  Quote: 	
		  

	


 

[quote]



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href='3D"http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List"'>http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List

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[b]

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dwight purdy

Joined: 10 Feb 2006
Posts: 85

Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 4:58 pm Post subject: Out of square / accident history

I was just thinking. The nice or not so nice thing  about a model I or II is it does not matter as you are on the peddles all the  time anyway.

  

 Dwight Purdy

 Model II

 [quote]   ---

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_________________
dwight
model II

dwight purdy

Joined: 10 Feb 2006
Posts: 85

Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 5:01 pm Post subject: Out of square / accident history

Whoops. Spell check did not catch  peddles(pedals)

  

 Dwight Purdy

 model II

 [quote]   ---

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_________________
dwight
model II

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