----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any
advice in this forum.]----

Response below.
_________________________ 

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
----[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
================================================================

If the rudder were to fail stationary, nothing much would happen.  If it
were to fail fluttering, well flutter can ruin your whole day, I mean
week, well actually I mean life.

I've NEVER heard of a Coupe rudder being loose in flight in 23 years of
reading most all the words written about Coupes.  I don't think I would
assume that even five actual reports of a loose rudder with no flutter
would convince me that I should bet my life on not getting flutter if MY
rudder came loose next week.

There was one accident about 8-10 years ago in which it was thought the
ELEVATOR fluttered when the trim tab control cable came loose on a Coupe
with a weak trim tab spring.  They think the tab fluttered making the
elevator flutter which ripped the tail off the plane.  The sudden
nose-down jerk caused high negative-g force on the fuselage and the
pilot's seat belt broke allowing his ejection from the plane.  I bet he
said words on the way to the ground.

I ain't a gonna mess with any chance of flutter.

Ed Burkhead
N3802H, ERCO 415-D
http://www.ercoupe.org


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