NEVER use a cotter pin to transmit torque or install one anywhere on a load
path, be it torsion, tension, or compression.  

The reason they are folded into a nice shape and can be formed easily once
in place is because  COTTER PINS ARE SOFT.

The only torque a cotter pin is designed to handle is that from a nut that
is trying to back off, and in that application they are off the load path
which is carried by the bolt on which they ride.  

Fred Moreno

-----Original Message-----
From: Kent [mailto:kent@tulsaconnect.com]
Sent: Friday, 2 January 2009 1:40 AM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: Oops

Good friend of mind bought a very nice 360 Legacy last year.  He is not a
builder but a flyer.
 The aircraft had about 400 hours when a couple days ago it suffered fuel
starvation.  H tried to switch tanks but the handle just spun around.

The original builder  used a simple small cotter pin  to keep two telescoped

shafts joined.   The cotter pin sheared.

Why this wasn't at l;east an  AN3 bolt or similar sized pin.  I do not know.

Kent Felkins
Tulsa