Lmlers:  Three things--first my new mount from Lancair did not have any new gussets, or any visible changes from the broken original.

Second:  I appreciate all the suggestions regards strut maintenance.  I guess strut health is a bigger, more time consuming deal than I previously appreciated, so I have learned something with this exchange.  I am still concerned about preventing any future episodes even with all the prescribed checking, and wonder if the new strut is better or just new and therefore has not yet reveled all its surprises.

Third:  I have done my best to get the word out so hope this helps the next guy.  I wish to again remind all that this shimmy happened at touchdown (80 kias) before any braking so it was not like many I have experienced in other airplanes.  And it did not result in mount cracks, but mount destruction.  My computer skills are not up to Marv's standards, so my attempt to post pictures failed.  If you are really interested, not just curious, send me an email and I will send two directly to you.

paul, N94PT

 

I had a couple of cracks in the engine mount that could only be detected by a trained eye.  There was just a little wrinkle in the paint.  There was never any shimmy or other symptoms.  I happened to be in Redmond at the time and took it over to Lancair and their welder rewelded it and welded gussets in the "corners".  It saved me from moving the engine.  I was told that there is no way it is going to crack now.  It is such a simple fix until I don't know why they are not made with the gussets from the start.  Maybe they are now, because he already had the gussets made up.

 

The point is, to look at the paint on the welds very closely.  If there is the least wrinkle, investigate further.

 

Dan Reagan

IVP 650 hours and holding

----- Original Message -----

From: Bill Kennedy

To: lml@lancaironline.net

Sent: Saturday, July 04, 2009 8:36 AM

Subject: RE: [LML] Now for something completely different

Makes me wonder if it wasn't an engine mount problem instead of the nose strut. That's quite a nose wheel shimmy. We're all happy for you that it wasn't worse.

> To: lml@lancaironline.net
> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 22:40:50 -0400
> From: ptackabury@aol.com
> Subject: [LML] Now for something completely different
>
> How 'bout something re: LIV rather than personal etiquette, scripture,
> other's misfortunes and the Hanoi Hilton. As the keenly aware out there
> may remember, I have a LIV that was, up until 23 Jun a screaming joy
> with no problems. And then while landing in Fort Morgan, CO to visit my
> brother, I had a nose wheel shimmy that destroyed the motor mount
> (broken in at least 4 places), strut, fork, trailing links and over
> center gas spring, along with associated hardware and the bottom
> cowling. The only good news was the strut didn't fold, although I still
> do not know how it remained upright. Michelle and Kim at Lancair were
> fabulous and had replacement hardware to me on Friday the 26th. My
> brother and I have been rebuilding ever since. We have now replaced the
> main parts and are rigging the engine to fit the cowling in hopes of a
> flight back to CA (home/Chino) this weekend where the final redo will
> take place.
> Some observations: I think the strut was OK--it was about 6 years old
> but looked fine. I now have the new strut Lancair is building so maybe
> something was wrong with the old ECCO model. The engine mount just
> disintegrated so maybe it had some cracks i missed during the Jan
> annual--certainly that will be a major focus in all future cowl
> removals. So learn what you will from this msg--question as you wish
> and I will offer what I can. But be assured this incident had nothing
> to do with my dual LSE ignition system...
> paul, N94PT, reluctant rebuilder
>
> --
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