My RV-6A is currently undergoing the annual condition inspection. therefore among other things I wanted to address the SB about elevator spar cracking.
1. It was difficult to tell if there was a crack in the left outboard elevator hinge doubler, so I made a decision to remove the left elevator for dye penetrant inspection.
2. The good news - no crack. the bad news - the elevator seems stiffer now that things are reassembled. Before, movement was free and the elevator would rest where it was balanced. After, while movement is smooth there is just enough friction to hold the elevator in place wherever I let go of it.
3. I was careful to count the threads on the rod end when I unscrewed it, wrote the number of turns down and tried to replicate. We have disconnected the push/pull tube from the bell crank and determined the stiffness is in the elevator itself. Loosening the center fastener bolts and the L/S outboard hinge bolt has not made any difference.
Am I going to have to remove the VS, take the elevator off and set it up the alignment on a bench? Any other suggestions before it gets that complicated?
Thanks,
Larry Tompkins
N544WB -6A
W52 Battle Ground, WA
1. It was difficult to tell if there was a crack in the left outboard elevator hinge doubler, so I made a decision to remove the left elevator for dye penetrant inspection.
2. The good news - no crack. the bad news - the elevator seems stiffer now that things are reassembled. Before, movement was free and the elevator would rest where it was balanced. After, while movement is smooth there is just enough friction to hold the elevator in place wherever I let go of it.
3. I was careful to count the threads on the rod end when I unscrewed it, wrote the number of turns down and tried to replicate. We have disconnected the push/pull tube from the bell crank and determined the stiffness is in the elevator itself. Loosening the center fastener bolts and the L/S outboard hinge bolt has not made any difference.
Am I going to have to remove the VS, take the elevator off and set it up the alignment on a bench? Any other suggestions before it gets that complicated?
Thanks,
Larry Tompkins
N544WB -6A
W52 Battle Ground, WA