---------------------------------------------------------- Kitfox-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Wed 05/20/15: 3 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 06:45 AM - Re: Out of square / accident history (mikeperkins) 2. 09:05 AM - Re: Out of square / accident history (kerrjohna@comcast.net) 3. 04:56 PM - Re: Out of square / accident history (Lowell Fitt) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 06:45:20 AM PST US Subject: Kitfox-List: Re: Out of square / accident history From: "mikeperkins" This is a very good idea. However, some of the models have offset thrust centerlines. Ground-looping seems to be hardest on the landing gear, so tracking should be checked. Some airframe damage will be obvious by looking for skin wrinkles or a tube that's not quite straight. But if the owner has attempted to cover up things, then they might only be visible to an A/P or someone who's previously built a fabric airplane. A weak point in the early models is the truss between the landing gear, just beneath the front of the seat - cracks and breaks are not uncommon after a bone-jarring landing. The wings, with their wood-to-aluminum bonding, should also be looked at carefully for adhesive separation between the ribs and spars. Also, cracked stinger ribs (that support the flaperons) are not uncommon. Horizontal and vertical tail should be checked for squareness with the airframe. Poor fuel system installation has also caused vapor lock, especially where builders (or subsequent owners) have run the fuel lines uphill or have sharp bends. Corrosion in the lift-strut tubes. . . . So many things really. Good to get an A/P or another Kitfox builder to look it over for you. -------- Mike Perkins Havana, Illinois Model I, 532, B gearbox, GSC prop Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=442379#442379 ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 09:05:34 AM PST US From: kerrjohna@comcast.net Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: Out of square / accident history I'm wondering what you will find or how you will interpret the findings.=C2 - Shortly after completing my classic 19 years ago it was left overnight at a nearby airport.=C2- The people at the FBO had been somewhat sceptica l aboutf homebuilts and a little out spoken.=C2- When I went back the sai d they owed an apology.=C2- They had measured the plane ever which way as you have suggested and the largest variance was 1/8 inch.=C2- "None of t he certified planes on this field are rigged that close."=C2- This would suggest you don't know what you have unless you know what you started with. =C2- Rippled fabric might be a clue but often can be reshrunk.=C2- If t he measurements are way out of whack look further. =C2- John Kerr ----- Original Message ----- From: "TURBO T" Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2015 9:37:33 PM Subject: Kitfox-List: Out of square / accident history Good day =C2- A lot of kitfoxes seem to get ground looped at one time or another,=C2- I am guessing this may twist the frame out of whack a bit. =C2- If inspecting a KF for purchase , is it worth while to check the distance f rom centerline to wingtips front & back ? =C2- Maybe compare spinner to wingtip distances side to side=C2-=C2-=C2- & =C2-=C2-=C2- =C2-tail to wingtip distances ? =C2- =C2- =C2- =C2-thanks 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 04:56:17 PM PST US From: "Lowell Fitt" Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: Out of square / accident history I helped a guy fix his Lite2 twice after ground loops - the second time with pretty significant damage. From what I saw, the best way to check for landing induced damage would be to remove the seat pan and inspect the tubing below each door and extending forward and aft for a foot or so. It shouldn't be hard to recognize welded repairs by comparing one side to the other and repairs that were done by straightening tubing should be evident as it is almost impossible to straighten without having some minor distortions here and there. One other guy told me that his hard landing resulted in binding at the aileron bellcrank at the bungee bulkhead. I would check that area for evidence of scraping. Mentioning the bungee bulkhead reminded me that some who had hard landings that took the bungees to the limits of the limit cables saw damage to the bulkhead from the impact of the cables. Lowell Fitt Model IV-1200 From: kerrjohna@comcast.net Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2015 9:04 AM Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: Out of square / accident history I'm wondering what you will find or how you will interpret the findings. Shortly after completing my classic 19 years ago it was left overnight at a nearby airport. The people at the FBO had been somewhat sceptical aboutf homebuilts and a little out spoken. When I went back the said they owed an apology. They had measured the plane ever which way as you have suggested and the largest variance was 1/8 inch. "None of the certified planes on this field are rigged that close." This would suggest you don't know what you have unless you know what you started with. Rippled fabric might be a clue but often can be reshrunk. If the measurements are way out of whack look further. John Kerr ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- From: "TURBO T" Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2015 9:37:33 PM Subject: Kitfox-List: Out of square / accident history Good day A lot of kitfoxes seem to get ground looped at one time or another, I am guessing this may twist the frame out of whack a bit. If inspecting a KF for purchase , is it worth while to check the distance from centerline to wingtips front & back ? Maybe compare spinner to wingtip distances side to side & tail to wingtip distances ? thanks 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= 3D ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message kitfox-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Kitfox-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/kitfox-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/kitfox-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.