Return-Path: Sender: "Marvin Kaye" To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2004 14:00:03 -0500 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from imo-m19.mx.aol.com ([64.12.137.11] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.2.5) with ESMTP id 586176 for lml@lancaironline.net; Fri, 31 Dec 2004 11:21:46 -0500 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=64.12.137.11; envelope-from=PatHABU@aol.com Received: from PatHABU@aol.com by imo-m19.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v37_r3.8.) id q.1d7.33513e1c (2168) for ; Fri, 31 Dec 2004 11:21:14 -0500 (EST) From: PatHABU@aol.com X-Original-Message-ID: <1d7.33513e1c.2f06d67a@aol.com> X-Original-Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2004 11:21:14 EST Subject: Near miss w/235 X-Original-To: lml@lancaironline.net MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="part1_1d7.33513e1c.2f06d67a_boundary" X-Mailer: Thunderbird - Mac OS X sub 207 --part1_1d7.33513e1c.2f06d67a_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Had scary event happen last week on my little 235. While making a preflight walkaround I moved the left aileron and it started to fall off the wing. The outer hinge pin (piano wire type) was completely missing and the aileron was being held only by the inboard hinge. When I made this discovery the aileron and hinge LOOKED all right and was in proper position. Only the movement popped it loose. I had flown the plane the day before for my $100 hamburger with no problem so the pin must have been working free for some time and made it's final escape at the end of that flight. The pins are extremely difficult to see so a preflight inspection would normally just be to check for free movement. Based on the tight aileron clearance and blocking structure in this location it would seem impossible for the pin to escape. The wing tip had to be removed to reinstall the pin and even then it is difficult to do. My other pins have a bend on one end to prevent their coming loose, but this one must have been different. I didn't build the bird so don't really know how this wire was installed. My suggestion is get a bright lite and make a very close inspection to look for pin slippage. An inflight separation could have challenged even my superb skills (joke)!! Pat Halloran --part1_1d7.33513e1c.2f06d67a_boundary Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Had scary event happen last week on my=20= little 235.  While making a preflight walkaround I moved the left aile= ron and it started to fall off the wing. The outer hinge pin (piano wire typ= e) was completely missing and the aileron was being held only by the inboard= hinge.  When I made this discovery the aileron and hinge LOOKED all r= ight and was in proper position. Only the movement popped it loose.  I= had flown the plane the day before for my $100 hamburger with no problem so= the pin must have been working free for some time and made it's final escap= e at the end of that flight.  The pins are extremely difficult to see=20= so a preflight inspection would normally just be to check for free movement.=   Based on the tight aileron clearance and blocking structure in this=20= location it would seem impossible for the pin to escape. The wing tip had to= be removed to reinstall the pin and even then it is difficult to do. =20= My other pins have a bend on one end to prevent their coming loose, but thi= s one must have been different.  I didn't build the bird so don't real= ly know how this wire was installed.  My suggestion is get a bright li= te and make a very close inspection to look for pin slippage.  An infl= ight separation could have challenged even my superb skills (joke)!!  =20= Pat Halloran --part1_1d7.33513e1c.2f06d67a_boundary--