----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- I am with Bob on this one, until you have had the problem corrected I believe it would be unwise to fly. Remember, the problem may be totally unrelated to the present condition. Alaska Pete.
-----Original Message----- From: Bob Saville [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2002 10:25 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [COUPERS-TECH] Consequences of a disconnected rudder ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- Okay Guys, I'll probably get myself some flaming, but here's my 2 cents worth anyway. Just for a minute let's forget legalities, regs, etc (just for a minute I said). Let's think SAFETY first and legal second. You said you don't know when the pushrod broke. Assuming it was okay on your pre-flight before you left home, otherwise you would have noticed it and not made the flight. Right? Now, did it break at or before your initial take off? Did it break during the flight? Or, perhaps it was okay and broke during your decent on final, or broke on touch down or perhaps during your taxi in to where you shut down your engine. What if it was the latter the and you never really flew with it broken? Then you did a ('technically' illegal) fix and flew it home, luckily you made it home safely. As to flying it 'as is' until the new part arrives, what it it comes loose again 'in flight'? First of all you'll lose aproximaately 50% of your rudder control which you could 'probably' compensate for. BUT, what if the broken off piece just flops around for a while and then when you make a turn in just the right amount and the piece jams against something and totally locks up your complete rudder control system which in turn would very likely make your aileron work much harder and possibly limit your aileron control to the point of making it dangerous if not impossible to land? (This is assuming that you don't have rudder pedals.) Hmmmmmm, maybe I'm exagerating the possible results.....but are you willing to risk your airplane and your life to make it worth not waiting a little while for the new part and do the job right??????? As much as I love to fly, if I were in your shoes, I'd give up a week (or even a month), just to be sure that I was still around next year and the years after to still be alive and flying. Let's say you did manage to get it down with only aircraft damage and you were able to walk away from it........ Remember the old saying, "Any landing that you can walk away from is a GOOD landing"? Many of us, probably most of us, remember that saying and 'jokingly' have used it often in conversation. But, possibly only a few of us remember the second line to this old saying, "Any landing that the plane is still usable is a GREAT landing". Like I said, this is only my 2 cents worth, and maybe that's all it's really worth but I think if I were in your shoes I'd give it some very serious thought. At the very least, I'd have your local AP/IA examine it and see what his opinion is. Ask him if he would be willing to "sign it off" as it is and see what he says. There's another old saying...."There are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots". You may me "Chicken Pilot" but you can also call me alive. After many, many years of accident free flying I must be doing something right, it can't 'all' be due to luck. Bob Saville N3396H 415C Eugene, OR Bill Baker wrote: ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- Hi: It may be just me but didn't you answer your question with your first sentence. You flew and landed fine with it broken. After saying that, you should not fly it until the new parts arrive and are installed. I am not sure how your rules work in the US but in Canada if the aircraft does not meet the type certificate then it is not airworthy, therefore the C of A is not valid. To my way of thinking a broken push rod does not meet the type design. Just my two cents but I hope it helps. Bill Baker -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2002 12:44 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [COUPERS-TECH] Consequences of a disconnected rudder ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- On my last flight I discovered after landing that the push rod controlling the right rudder had broken and the right rudder was completely loose. I was able to make an emergency repair threading the clevis onto the remaining cm or so of thread and fly the plane back to base. I have ordered a new rod and the rudder appears to be solidly attached. I am concerned about the consequences of my fix failing while I am waiting for a more permanent solution. What would happen to a coupe in flight if one rudder were completely loose??? ================================================================ Steven M. Lewis PhD LordJoe Inc. 4221 105th Ave NE Kirkland, WA 98033 425-889-2694 Java Architecture and Training ================================================================ ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Sid.bAhN69 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
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