Pietenpol-List: Next steps or... HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!

[matronics]

Original Posted By: shad bell
Okay, here goes...First of all, thank you guys from the bottom of my heart for your genuineletters of encouragement and sympathy. No feelings have been hurt, and Iactually appreciate the "kick in the pants" approach.I spent the morning going over the damage. The end result is that I willabsolutely rebuild her and plan on bringing her home this week to start.Won't be at Brodhead this year, maybe next?The main damage that I am a bit unsure of how to fix is to the left wing,outboard of the strut attach points. As it rolled, the leading edge waspushed down and cracked the leading edge ribs and the bottom of the ribsfrom the struts outward. The spars are fine and the leading edge is fine,just the ribs are crunched. Just ordered the FAA repair manual to see whatit has to say, and any suggestions would be appreciated. Anybody up for awing fixing party (Larry Williams, Gene??)other fixes:Fix, recover and repaint left wingfin leading edge crackedvarious brace cables bustedwheels, axle and brakes shotwing tank dentedrad dentedreplace propsome bulkhead damage in pilot leg holescross brace busted loos behind pilot seatback bulkheadcheck out engine (sure it's fine, didn't really hit, just the prop tips hituntil it turned over).some sheet metal repair.turtle deck repair where shoulder harness pulled up and through fabric asLowell hung there.try to match paint and repaint turtledeck to match rest of fusebent throttle rod at quadrantleaky fuel connectionnew diagonal cabane bracesdid I miss anything?....A few lessons learned from inspecting the damage.1. If you used 1/16th cable to brace your tail... double nicropress them,two or three pulled out of the nico sleeve, and I had gauged them. I willuse heavier next time.2. Don't try to save a couple ounces with the diagonal cabane braces, makethem stout enough to keep the wing back because if you have a wing tank, ora passenger, you really want that wing to stay put.3. The "Jenny" gear is as tough as BHP said it was, while the wheels tookup a lot of the impact, and were trashed, the basic gear is fairlyunscathed. I have no doubt the slit gear would have sheared off, I'm notsaying one is better than the other, they are just strong in differentareas.4. USE GOOD SHOULDER HARNESS, AND ANCHOR IT WELL!! mine is the short fuseand you are right up to the instrument panel. Lowell didn't even scratchhis nose, yet he rebounded hard enough to break the brace behind theseatback bulkhead. Thank God I spent a lot of effort here. Also, theseatbelt held him in as he hung there and maybe prevented some nasty neckinjuries. This was just a simple ground loop that can happen to anyone, butcould have been disasterous because of the ditch, but it wasn't because ofthe belt and harness.5. Lowell suggests, padding or rounding under the edge of the instrumentpanel. When upside down, crawling out, that edge peeled some skin off hisshins which were already skinned by the tops of the leg apetures in thebulkhead. Maybe enlarge these and pad them?6. You guys building wood struts or cabanes, don't worry about theirstrength.thanks again guys!Douwe________________________________________________________________________________Date: Tue, 6 Apr 2010 14:25:17 -0700 (PDT)

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Original Posted By: shad bell

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Original Posted By: "Douwe Blumberg"
Douwe,(Offline)Thanks so much for the helpful suggestions. That's absolutely a great thing for you to write, and just wanted to say, way to go! on that.Thanks,David Paule----- Original Message -----

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Original Posted By: "Rick Holland"
RickAn ELT is not required to pass an airworthiness inspection.Greg Cardinal----- Original Message -----

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Original Posted By: bcolleran(at)comcast.net

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Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Excellent, Douwe!Shad is right, AC 43.13 will detail how the ribs should be repaired. I hadone broken rib in my mishap and was able to repair it without removing thefabric (it helps to have worked for a company that made laparoscopicsurgical instruments). If all the outboard ribs are borken you willprobably have to remove the fabric, at least on that portion of the wing.That will make the actual rib repairs much easier. As Shad said, you canprobably scarf the capstrips back together if they weren't splintered toobadly and add 1/16" plywood gussets on either side of each rib.The lessons learned was very good. Very insightful and useful informationbased on real world experience. Thanks!Best of luck with the repairs. Let us know the date of the Wing RepairParty and if I can, I'll be there. Where are you located?Jack PhillipsNX899JPRaleigh, NC-----Original Message-----

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Original Posted By: "Douwe Blumberg"
Douwe, If there is any way possible, I will be at the wing fixing party! Where do you live? I'm so glad you didn't take me wrong. When an artist creates something as beautiful as you have, he just can't let all of his labors be for nothing.You have made my day!Gene In beautiful TennesseeN502R----- Original Message -----

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Original Posted By: "Douwe Blumberg"
DouweI am ready to leave for Sun n Fun. Is there anything that our crew can build for you at the show? I can stop by tomorrow if there is something. If there is give me a call 612-805-1742.Dick N.----- Original Message -----

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Original Posted By: Michael Groah

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Original Posted By: Rick Holland
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Next steps or... HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!

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Original Posted By: Ryan Mueller
Beautiful craftsmanship Mike. How much weight do you figure you saved by flutingthe wood in the fuselage? Did you flute the entire thing?Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ______Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2010 14:01:36 -0500Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Next steps or... HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!