Good hypothesis, Frank. The aileron balance weights were removed from
most Ercoupes, making AD 47-20-06 not applicable to them.
Syd
fnelson913 wrote:
While going through my AD's from compliance, I have been back-
checking to see why each AD marked N/A was so marked. I came upon AD
47-20-06 ERCO which on the surface looks like a needed reinforcement
to the lower aileron skin. After reviewing Ercoupe Service Bulletin
No. 20, I see that this reinforcement is at the place where the
Aileron Balance Assembly (part no. 415-16009) is attached.
Looking at the drawing in SB #20, it looks like this little device
hangs off the bottom of the aileron with a weight attached to an arm.
I suspect that as this arm bounces up and down it flexes the aileron
skin to where it is attached, hence the requirement for
reinforcement.
So here is my dilemma. I can't remember seeing any such device
attached to the bottom of my wings. I checked the parts catalog, and
sure enough there it is. Then I went and checked my Coupe: no such
device. I even checked another Coupe here at the airport (honest
Linda, I didn't touch the Sky Sprite... I just looked), and it didn't
have aileron balance assembly either.
Here is my hypothesis: there was a time that the aileron balance
assembly seemed like a good thing to have. That time has passed and
therefore the needed reinforcement has passed.
Who can tell me more about this?
Thank you.
Frank Nelson
N51DV - 415C
TOA/California
