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Rudder Failure

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notsew_evets(at)frontiern
Guest

Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 4:58 am Post subject: Rudder Failure

Has there ever been a rudder hinge failure on a  Zenith ?

  

 I look at my 601 XL hinges and wonder.

  

 First airplane I ve seen with only two  hinges.....

  

 If the lower fails you still have a chance, but, if  the upper pulls off. so long.........................

  

 Steve

    [quote][b]

larry(at)macsmachine.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 6:13 am Post subject: Rudder Failure

Steve,

The rather thick material isn't likely to wear or break over a very long 

period, but that's one item to look at during preflight inspection.

A little spray lube wouldn't hurt either.  I've never heard of a rudder 

being lost. A side-tilt canopy could possibly take one off if lost.



Larry McFarland 601HDS at www.macsmachine.com

steve wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   Has there ever been a rudder hinge failure on a Zenith ?

  

 I look at my 601 XL hinges and wonder.

  

 First airplane I ve seen with only two hinges.....

  

 If the lower fails you still have a chance, but, if the upper pulls 

 off. so long.........................

  

 Steve

 *

 *

shilcom

Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 63

Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 10:16 am Post subject: Rudder Failure

<<<A  side-tilt canopy could possibly  (on )take, one off if  lost.>>

  

 That has happened.  Bob U. 

 [quote]   ---

Gig Giacona

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1416
Location: El Dorado Arkansas USA

Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 12:02 pm Post subject: Re: Rudder Failure

That's more of a problem with the side-tilt canopy than the rudder.

 	  shilcom wrote: 	
		  <<>

  

 That has happened.  Bob U.

_________________
W.R. "Gig" Giacona
601XL Under Construction
See my progress at www.peoamerica.net/N601WR

notsew_evets(at)frontiern
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 9:32 am Post subject: Rudder failure

I was asking about any rudder failures because  there are only eight A 5 rivets that are in "tension" not shear holding the top  hinges on.....

 I would think that an adhesive ( structural ) like  J B Weld would be a good addition and for peace for my  mind....

  

 SW

  

   [quote][b]

planecrazydld(at)yahoo.co
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 10:20 am Post subject: Rudder failure

I would never even consider a rigid epoxy like that for that application, The hinges are subject to peeling forces from the spar. If the basic design is not to your satisfaction, then maybe something like assembling with ProSeal 890 sealant would be an "improvement" as it is trememdously tough and loves peel. In any case the proper cleaning amnd preparation of the aluminum is critical as the durability of the bond is pretty severely compromised due to corrosion issues - yes, even with 6061...

  

  Dave Downey

 Harleysville (SE) PA

 100 HP Corvair



 



 ---

Dave Nixon

Joined: 20 Sep 2007
Posts: 25

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 11:20 am Post subject: Re: Rudder Failure

Is it possible to lose a rudder? I am sure that it is if a side canopy comes off and smashes thru it.  But in flight, the rudder wants to stay in line with the fuselage and VERY little peddle is required to change the aircraft direction.  Keeping these two hinge points as part of the pre-flight inspection is, in my mind, mandatory.  However, dreading the rudder falling off is not even on my radar screen.

larry(at)macsmachine.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 12:00 pm Post subject: Rudder failure

Steve,

Just because you can imagine the tension, you can also nearly feel the 

rivets letting go.   That is a lot of wind,

but seriously, you'd also be able to tell they were letting go by 

looking at the hinge fit.  It would be very distorted and

obviously impinging on rudder movement.  If you drilled the right size 

holes for the right size rivet, I don't think you're

going to live long enough to see them pull out.  I wouldn't mess with 

the glue because you may have reason to salvage the rudder or the

hinges one day. Of course, I didn't mean that you wouldn't live long for 

any reason, well, you know what I mean. Ha!



Larry McFarland 601HDS at www.macsmachine.com



steve wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   I was asking about any rudder failures because there are only eight A 

 5 rivets that are in "tension" not shear holding the top hinges on.....

 I would think that an adhesive ( structural ) like J B Weld would be a 

 good addition and for peace for my mind....

  

 SW

purplemoon99(at)bellsouth
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:19 pm Post subject: Rudder Failure

Hey Dave, I under stand what you are thinking about,you must remember the 

people that designed  aircraft are engineers they don't Think what the 

strengh is  ,they Know what it is !or at least I hope they do If you want to 

think about something.. take a look at that thin ass  piece of break metal 

witl a couple of 1"flat bars at the top and bottom and it is called a Main 

Spar  BUT it is enginnered for the 601 and  there a lot of them flying.. 

Fly safe and dont worry It won' do any good any way..             Joe N101HD 

601XL/RAM

---

cgbrt(at)mondenet.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 4:20 am Post subject: Rudder failure

SW,

 I added .040 doubler  behind the spar and used eight 5/32 solid rivets. Overkill but peace of mind  increased.

 701/912 480 hours on floats.

 [quote]   ---

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