---------------------------------------------------------- Zenith701801-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sun 08/08/10: 3 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 04:42 PM - Main gear spacer failure -- a happy ending (ejessee) 2. 05:13 PM - Re: Main gear spacer failure -- a happy ending (Graeme@cole) 3. 05:15 PM - Re: Main gear spacer failure -- a happy ending (JohnDRead@aol.com) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 04:42:25 PM PST US Subject: Zenith701801-List: Main gear spacer failure -- a happy ending From: "ejessee" Hello all, On Saturday, I was able to replace the strut fitting along with new rubber spacers from Zenith, I flew her 220 miles home. Thus ends what is most likely the most stressful week I have had in aviation. I have included pictures... 1 picture I left out earlier as I was ashamed and tied up on a lot of other emotions. I have decided to share it. Maybe it will save someone's life. I will predict a few quetions: No, the front gear is not bent. No, the prop didn't hit. I knew the supports were broken as I heard them break as I rotated to take off from a very short private strip in Southwest Va. I could see the gear was hanging crooked. I comforted my passenger and headed to the airport. She was clueless untill I handed her a fire-extinguisher and asked she pray. When the wheels touched, they folded back. They never came out of the channel and thus the gear spring held the belly off the ground I never stopped the controlled descent until she was scooting with the gear folded back. The only thing touching the ground was the leading edge of the gear and the rudder horn. (I replaced the horn). It wore the heads of the bolts holding the rudder cables and did not put a scratch on the airplane. I keep saying that because I can't believe it. Not a scratch. I came out of this unhurt with my plane completely undamaged. I am absolutely amazed. Other than a couple of nicks on the gear, there isn't a scratch on her. I give God the glory for this one guys... not my pilotage. I want to present a few questions: 1. how do I determine the bolts are tight enough on the gear. 2. Should the gear "give" at all when braking. Mine still does... Not much.. but maybe its not tight enough. I want to thank you all for your help. You will see that I used your suggestions during the work on Saturday. By the way, if you ever get a chance, stop in to KJFZ. Those are some fine people. -------- Ernest Jessee N4931M Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=307972#307972 Attachments: http://forums.matronics.com//files/0807101828_176.jpg http://forums.matronics.com//files/0807101827_126.jpg http://forums.matronics.com//files/0807101246_173.jpg http://forums.matronics.com//files/img00004_20100730_1458_168.jpg ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 05:13:16 PM PST US From: "Graeme@cole" Subject: Re: Zenith701801-List: Main gear spacer failure -- a happy ending As well as keeping an eye on the movement in you under carriage I see you have a GSC propellor this is another thing you need to keep a close eye on. Especially if it has ever been outside. Failures have happened and I think 500hrs replacement. any sign of movement corrosion of bolts etc replace prop! graemecns ----- Original Message ----- From: "ejessee" Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 9:41 AM Subject: Zenith701801-List: Main gear spacer failure -- a happy ending > > Hello all, > On Saturday, I was able to replace the strut fitting along with new rubber > spacers from Zenith, I flew her 220 miles home. Thus ends what is most > likely the most stressful week I have had in aviation. I have included > pictures... 1 picture I left out earlier as I was ashamed and tied up on a > lot of other emotions. I have decided to share it. Maybe it will save > someone's life. > > > I will predict a few quetions: No, the front gear is not bent. No, the > prop didn't hit. > > I knew the supports were broken as I heard them break as I rotated to take > off from a very short private strip in Southwest Va. I could see the gear > was hanging crooked. I comforted my passenger and headed to the airport. > She was clueless untill I handed her a fire-extinguisher and asked she > pray. When the wheels touched, they folded back. They never came out of > the channel and thus the gear spring held the belly off the ground I > never stopped the controlled descent until she was scooting with the gear > folded back. The only thing touching the ground was the leading edge of > the gear and the rudder horn. (I replaced the horn). It wore the heads of > the bolts holding the rudder cables and did not put a scratch on the > airplane. I keep saying that because I can't believe it. Not a scratch. > > I came out of this unhurt with my plane completely undamaged. I am > absolutely amazed. Other than a couple of nicks on the gear, there isn't > a scratch on her. I give God the glory for this one guys... not my > pilotage. > > I want to present a few questions: > 1. how do I determine the bolts are tight enough on the gear. > > 2. Should the gear "give" at all when braking. Mine still does... Not > much.. but maybe its not tight enough. > > I want to thank you all for your help. You will see that I used your > suggestions during the work on Saturday. By the way, if you ever get a > chance, stop in to KJFZ. Those are some fine people. > > -------- > Ernest Jessee > N4931M > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=307972#307972 > > > Attachments: > > http://forums.matronics.com//files/0807101828_176.jpg > http://forums.matronics.com//files/0807101827_126.jpg > http://forums.matronics.com//files/0807101246_173.jpg > http://forums.matronics.com//files/img00004_20100730_1458_168.jpg > > > ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 05:15:58 PM PST US From: JohnDRead@aol.com Subject: Re: Zenith701801-List: Main gear spacer failure -- a happy ending Hi Jesse; Nice job on the repair. You are one lucky guy. To give an opinion on your questions. I looked at the picture showing the urethane blocks - I torqued the clamp nuts to 90 in. lb. on my plane, this compressed the blocks a little. I would tighten the A3 bolts to the top limit of torque for that size of bolt to allow for the drag of the nylon lock - 25 in. lb. FWIW if you have the drawing set and other documentation for your aircraft I think for a small charge you can get the factory support. The construction standards are an excellent source of information. do not archive Regards, John CH701 - Colorado - Jabiru 3300 Cell: 719-494-4567 Home: 303-648-3261 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message zenith701801-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Zenith701801-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/zenith701801-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/zenith701801-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.