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1. 10:37 PM - Bath tub Commanders (Barry Hancock)
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| Subject: | Bath tub Commanders |
--> Commander-List message posted by: Barry Hancock <radialpower@cox.net>
I'd like to thank Chris for voicing his opinion on the truss/corrosion
issue for the bath tub Commanders. I think Chris very delicately was
trying to put out a wake-up call before the FAA does.
CONSIDER THIS:
In a short while, the FAA will issue an AD on all piston 400 series
Cessnas regarding inner granular corrosion around their wing attach
points. The fix *only* cost $14,000.....PLUS 700 HOURS OF LABOR!!!!
Read that again, folks. Uncle Math says that's roughly a $50K fix
because of inner granular.
FACT:
Inner granular corrosion is to airplanes what cancer is to
humans....with one exception. No "surgery", with the exception of
"amputation," will cure it. Inner granular occurs on the molecular
level and therefore you CANNOT be adequately sure that you have "cut
out" the corrosion. No amount of grinding or "dressing out" the
affected area will stop the corrosion process. It may *look* like it's
gone, but years later (maybe 2 years, maybe 4, but it won't be 8 or 10)
it will show up again. The larger problem is that anyone operating an
airplane that has had the corrosion "treated" has planted the seeds for
disaster as the corrosion continues to destroy the strength of the
structure without any visible signs present for a very long time. In
fact, as Chris suggested, the first visible sign may be the engine less
than gracefully departing the wing structure and impacting the ground
ever so slightly ahead of the owner's ignorant butt...hopefully he has
not sealed his family's fate as well.
Dramatic? Yes. It is also certainly in the realm of possibility...and
the longer the problem goes unaddressed (or incorrectly ad-"dressed")
possibility turns into probability. But don't take my word for the
seriousness of inner granular corrosion, just ask the P-51 owner who
bought a $1.1M Mustang and now will be lucky to get $700K for it due to
inner granular. If the problem could be adequately addressed by less
than R&R of the affected parts, the hit would be significantly less than
that.
SOLUTION:
Well, this is where the TCFG and it's members come in. First we need to
educate everyone about the hard science of inner granular corrosion.
Once this is understood, it is clear that sooner or later the affected
parts need to be replaced or reinforced in such a way that the corroded
parts cannot effect (infect) the new structure. Sure you can "fix" the
problem by dressing and treating but this is merely a band aid that does
not correct the problem in the long run. I'd really be interested in
hearing more about Buddy's fix as well. And let's do all of ourselves
(us bath tub guys, that is) a favor and be proactive about this. I'm
certain we won't like the consequences if we don't.
Cheers,
Barry
Barry Hancock
Director of Operations
Red Stars, Inc.
949.300.5510
www.allredstar.com
"Communism - Lousy Politics, Great Airplanes"
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