Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml
Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2003 13:01:18 -0500
Message-ID: <redirect-2030076@logan.com>
From: "Bob Jude" <bobjude@charter.net>
Subject: LNC2 Cowl Stiffening
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>I would like to hear from any and all 320/360 drivers who have some time on
their airframes.  Are there particular areas of the cowling that should be
stiffened?  Is the gel-coat cracking anywhere?  Do you see flutter/vibration
on the top of the cowl during flight?  Any deformation after a number of
hours?<

I stiffened my cowling in only two areas.  (1) Around the oil filler access
door on the top cowl.  (2) At the cooling air exit scoop at the bottom of
the lower cowl, I riveted two aluminum braces (1/8 x 1 inch) across the
corners of the scoop.  This does not require attachment to the fire wall and
provides for easier cowl removal and install.

I have seen no problems with the gel-coat cracking.  No apparent flutter or
vibration.  One area of deformation along the top cowling to fuselage joint,
about 5 inches up from the top to bottom cowling joint, the top cowling
seems to have bubbled up about 1/16 of an inch so that the cowling to
fuselage joint is not flush as it was back in 1994 at the time of first
flight.  I expect that this is due to the repeated heating and cooling of
the top cowling.  Additional reinforcement along the trailing edge of the
top cowling during manufacture probably would have avoided this problem.  I
have seen other LNC2's with the same symptoms, so this is not unique to my
airplane.

Bob Jude, N65BJ