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Rusty Wing Strut Cross Brace

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JimmieBlackwell(at)austin
Guest

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 7:04 am Post subject: Rusty Wing Strut Cross Brace

Yesterday, in a preflight I noted that the strut  cross brace where the struts attach to the bottom of the wing has a 1/4" hole  that is apparently the result of rust.

  

 Has anyone else had this happen?   

  

 Would appreciate opinions as to whether this calls  into question the structural integrity of the entire wing strut.

  

 Jimmie

 Model IV, 1200

   [quote][b]

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 12:33 pm Post subject: Rusty Wing Strut Cross Brace

Jimmie,



I have been told that the cross brace is there to ease the construction 

process - stabilize the whole lift strut assembly when fitting it to the 

wing.  With that thinking, it has no structural value at all.  I think my 

only concern would be where else there might be rust.



Lowell

---

dcsfoto

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 120

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: Rusty Wing Strut Cross Brace

download  copy of AC 43-13 from faa.gov it shows many repairs.



David kelm     do not arcive

JimmieBlackwell(at)austin
Guest

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 4:30 pm Post subject: Rusty Wing Strut Cross Brace

Lowell



Thank you.  That is great information.  I certainly agree that where else 

may be rusted does indeed have me concerned.  As much as I dread it I am 

planning on taking off the fiberglass fairings and having a look at the 

whole strut unless someone knows a way to check it without taking off the 

fairings.



Please correct me if I am wrong, but I do not recall anyone have this kind 

of issue with the struts.  Will keep all posted on what I find.  I do not 

want to even think about a strut failure.



Thank again Lowell.



Jimmie



---

avidfox

Joined: 03 Apr 2007
Posts: 87

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 5:24 pm Post subject: Rusty Wing Strut Cross Brace

A common and simple method for inspecting for internal corrosion in

aircraft steel tubing and structures is to use a small pin punch and a

hammer.  Yes, it will leave small punch marks on good strong metal but

if the material is corroded ...you will know.

How hard you strike the punch is a judgement call...but don't be shy.



There are ultrasonic methods of NDT also available to determine

material thickness but it will cost $$.



Here is a link to corrosion from FAA 43.13 1B, CHAPTER 6. CORROSION,

INSPECTION & PROTECTION



http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/99c827db9baac81b86256b4500596c4e/$FILE/Chapter%2006.pdf

akflyer

Joined: 07 May 2007
Posts: 574
Location: Soldotna AK

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 6:17 pm Post subject: Re: Rusty Wing Strut Cross Brace

take a look in the phone book and see if there is an industrial xray company in your area.  You should be able to get the struts xray'd for a 4 hour call out.  UT may be a bit cheaper but I can see either one running you more than  2-300.. a heck of alot cheaper than folding a wing or taking the time to pull the fairings.. plus, you still wont know what the ID looks like unless you have some form of NDE done.  Make sure you tell them it is experimental, and they dont have to be an FAA licensed station to perform the inspections.

_________________
DO NOT ARCHIVE
Leonard Perry aka SNAKE
Soldotna AK
Avid "C" / Mk IV
582 (147 hrs and counting on the rebuild)
IVO IFA
Full Lotus 1450
#1 snake oil salesman since 1-22-2009

I would rather die trying to live, than to live trying not to die....

jose_m_toro(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 5:06 am Post subject: Rusty Wing Strut Cross Brace

Jimmie:



I had a corrosion problem with the wing struts of my ex KF II.  However, the problem was at the point where the jury struts attaches to the wing strut.  I fixed the problem by ordering two new wing struts.  Since the Kitfox factory do not have the jigs for the earlier model, I had to send the old, rusty struts in a wooden crate.  The new struts were shipped back in the same crate. I'm very pleased and grateful of the support that I got from John and Debra McBean.  If yours is a model IV, they most likely have the jig.



On the old Kitfox, the fairings are wooden like in the Avids.  I recently learned that Kitfox went back to that method.  The rust in my struts was due to water trapped near the jury strut attachment due to the wooden fairing.  The new struts were installed without fairings.  I flew the plane yesterday, and I can't tell any difference in speed.  Seems to me like 70 mph is adequate for a model II.  I'm not the owner anymore, but am still in love!!!



Hope this help,



José Toro

ex KFII/582

---

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:19 am Post subject: Rusty Wing Strut Cross Brace

AC 43 is the basis on which all certified maintenance is accomplished.  You

will find there are things in it that don't seem, on the surface, to be

related to homebuilt aircraft.  Never the less those things are worth while

keeping in mind.  If you have time, and a printer I would suggest you print

out each chapter as you use it and put it in a loose leaf binder.  That

binder is a lot easier to carry to the plane when you want to refer to

something.  Invariably when you want to do something the last thing you will

think of is searching AC43 for the right page(s) and then printing them.



There is w real wealth of information there.  It took almost a century to

build and it's free... What more could you ask for???



Noel



[quote] --

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:49 am Post subject: Rusty Wing Strut Cross Brace

I used to use an awl.  I would put it on the  tube I wanted to test and push with about a hundred pounds of force or enough to  lift the part.  If the part is weak the awl will penetrate it if not it  only leaves the tiniest marr of the finish which you can touch up with clear  nail polish.  If it penetrates the tube don't worry that part of the tubing  would have to be replaced any way.  The neat thing about this test is it  can be done through the cloth skins.



Any one starting form scratch should  inhibit their frame before doing any thing else.  This involves drilling a  very small hole somewhere in the lower part of the frame, at a corner and  injecting about  a cup of double boiled linseed oil.  Seal up the hole  with a PK screw and rotate the frame over the next few days to allow the linseed  oil to penetrate through out the interior of the frame.  Finally remove the  screw and allow the oil to drain out over a day or two.  Then replace the  screw and paint over it.



A word of warning linseed oil in a rag can  easily spontaneously combust when you do any wipe ups  dispose of the oily  rags in a good metal garbage can.... Don't ask how I know but a small rag will  fill a good size hangar with white smoke to the point it is difficult to  see.  The more oil the more smoke.



 

[img]cid:436212215(at)04112007-1461[/img]  

 Noel Loveys, RPP, AME intern

 Campbellton, Newfoundland, 

 Canada

 Kitfox Mod III-A, 582, B box, Ivo IFA

 Aerocet 1100s

 noelloveys(at)yahoo.ca (noelloveys(at)yahoo.ca)

 

 

 

 

 

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_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:49 am Post subject: Rusty Wing Strut Cross Brace

BTW if you do the inhibiting procedure I mentioned in the last post if you

have any small cracks in the welding the linseed oil will seep out at that

point and show you exactly where the crack is.  It takes years for the oil

to dry in the presence of oxygen. Sealed inside your frame it should never

dry so any time you see the wet form the oil you will know there is a crack

in that place.  Also there won't be enough seepage to have to worry about

spontaneous combustion.



Noel



[quote] --

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

JimmieBlackwell(at)austin
Guest

Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 12:16 pm Post subject: Rusty Wing Strut Cross Brace

Wow!  I have sure received a lot of good  information from this question.  My thanks to each of you.  The  knowledge and experience on this list makes it possible for me to have fun with  my Kitfox.

  

 Again, I am most appreciative of each of your great  suggestions.

  

 Jimmie

  

 do not archieve

   [quote][b]

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