X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:45:57 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from cdptpa-omtalb.mail.rr.com ([75.180.132.122] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.2.14) with ESMTP id 3685005 for lml@lancaironline.net; Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:06:09 -0400 Received-SPF: pass receiver=logan.com; client-ip=75.180.132.122; envelope-from=super_chipmunk@roadrunner.com Received: from Laptop ([74.75.176.139]) by cdptpa-omta02.mail.rr.com with SMTP id <20090617000529914.AUT22702@cdptpa-omta02.mail.rr.com> for ; Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:05:29 +0000 X-Original-Message-ID: From: "Bill Wade" X-Original-To: "Lancair Mailing List" References: In-Reply-To: Subject: Re: [LML] life time of components in experimentals X-Original-Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:05:30 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_01C6_01C9EEBD.CC5A4F30" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Windows Mail 6.0.6001.18000 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.0.6001.18049 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_01C6_01C9EEBD.CC5A4F30 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi Ralf- When I first bought my Chipmunk (which is = Experimental/Exhibition), the local IA said I could do the work on it as = it was not Type Certificated. One day I emerged from the bowels to find = a nice man asking what I was doing. He turned out to be an FAA = Inspector. He said that because DeHavilland was the builder, not me, any = work other than preventive maintenance had to be approved by a = certificated mechanic. From then on I worked under the IA. Because you bought the plane and = didn't build it originally, when your rebuilding is done you'll have to = get a Condition Inspection done by an A&P and subsequent work would also = have to be approved. As you're working on a plane that has flown I'm = assuming that you're doing the work in a hangar at your home base. If so = I'd suggest that you find a local mechanic that you trust and have that = person guide you. When the time comes the inspection will be easier. I may be wrong but my understanding is that aircraft used in = non-commercial operations don't have to follow manufacturer's life = limits although common sense dictates some exceptions. Certain = helicopter and turbine components come to mind. That goes double for = Experimentals- you could probably use garden hose if you thought it = might work and could convince your mechanic. Up here I've seen duct tape = used and there are stories about 2x4's. And those were Certificated... = Ultimately, it depends on what the mechanic is comfortable with. If he = signs off on something he could be putting his certificate and = livelihood at risk. Of course you are potentially putting your aircraft = and your life at risk as well. Specifically on the hoses- it depends. One of the first things I did = on my planes was to replace all the hoses even though many were still = usable (flexible, no obvious defects). I generally used Teflon hoses = that don't have a finite life- they're replaced "on condition". Good = information can be found in the Aircraft Spruce catalog, AC 43.13, and = the Sacramento Sky Ranch website.=20 Generally, lack of use can be harmful. There might not be much = mechanical wear but corrosion, gasket shrinkage and dried lubricants = become potential issues. -Bill Wade ----- Original Message -----=20 From: bronnenmeier@GROBSYSTEMS.COM=20 To: lml@lancaironline.net=20 Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 1:45 PM Subject: [LML] life time of components in experimentals=20 Dear subscribers, =20 I learned from an aircraft mechanic at our airport that many = components in a certified airplane have a limited life time. =20 For examples hoses for hydraulics, brakes or fuel need to be replaced = after ten years. =20 When I wanted to put the fuel pump back in the plane on my 4P rebuild = project I found on the back of the pump the note that the pump needs to = be replaced or serviced after ten years. =20 I had a pre buy inspection done at Lancair. At this time most of the = components were already 12 years old. Lancair didn't mention anything = about expired components. =20 I am wondering if I should put all my old stuff back in the plane as = long as it looks half way decent or if should replace certain things. =20 What components do I need to replace - the components of my 4P are = approx 13 years old but the plane has just 240 hrs. I would describe the = physical appearance of most of the components as old and messy. =20 Thanks for your help =20 Ralf=20 Phone: (419) 369 12 33 Fax: (419) 369 33 32 E-mail: bronnenmeier@grobsystems.com =20 ------=_NextPart_000_01C6_01C9EEBD.CC5A4F30 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hi Ralf-
          = When I=20 first bought my Chipmunk (which is Experimental/Exhibition), the local = IA said I=20 could do the work on it as it was not Type Certificated. One day I = emerged from=20 the bowels to find a nice man asking what I was doing. He turned out to = be an=20 FAA Inspector. He said that because DeHavilland was the builder, not me, = any=20 work other than preventive maintenance had to be approved by a = certificated=20 mechanic.
 
 From then on I worked under the = IA. Because=20 you bought the plane and didn't build it originally, when your = rebuilding is=20 done you'll have to get a Condition Inspection done by an A&P and = subsequent=20 work would also have to be approved. As you're working on a plane = that has=20 flown I'm assuming that you're doing the work in a hangar at your home = base. If=20 so I'd suggest that you find a local mechanic that you trust and = have that=20 person guide you. When the time comes the inspection will be=20 easier.
 
  I may be wrong but my = understanding is=20 that aircraft used in non-commercial operations don't have to = follow=20 manufacturer's life limits although common sense dictates some=20 exceptions. Certain helicopter and turbine components come to mind. = That=20 goes double for Experimentals- you could probably use garden hose if you = thought=20 it might work and could convince your mechanic. Up here I've seen duct = tape used=20 and there are stories about 2x4's. And those were=20 Certificated... Ultimately, it depends on what the mechanic is = comfortable=20 with. If he signs off on something he could be putting his = certificate and=20 livelihood at risk. Of course you are potentially putting your aircraft = and your=20 life at risk as well.
 
  Specifically on the hoses- it = depends. One=20 of the first things I did on my planes was to replace all the hoses even = though=20 many were still usable (flexible, no obvious defects). I=20 generally used Teflon hoses that don't have a finite life- = they're=20 replaced "on condition". Good information can be found in the Aircraft = Spruce=20 catalog, AC 43.13, and the Sacramento Sky Ranch website.
 
  Generally, lack of use can = be harmful.=20 There might not be much mechanical wear but corrosion, gasket = shrinkage and=20 dried lubricants become potential issues.  -Bill = Wade
----- Original Message -----
From:=20 bronnenmeier@GROBSYSTEMS.COM= =20
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 = 1:45 PM
Subject: [LML] life time of = components in=20 experimentals

Dear=20 subscribers,

 

I learned from an = aircraft=20 mechanic at our airport that many components in a certified airplane = have a=20 limited life time.

 

For examples hoses for = hydraulics,=20 brakes or fuel need to be replaced after ten=20 years.

 

When I wanted to put the = fuel pump=20 back in the plane on my 4P rebuild project I found on the back of the = pump the=20 note that the pump needs to be replaced or serviced after ten=20 years.

 

I had a pre buy = inspection done at=20 Lancair. At this time most of the components were already 12 years = old.=20 Lancair didn=92t mention anything about expired=20 components.

 

I am wondering if I = should put all=20 my old stuff back in the plane as long as it looks half way decent or = if=20 should replace certain things.

 

What components do I = need to=20 replace =96 the components of my 4P are approx 13 years old but the = plane has=20 just 240 hrs. I would describe the physical appearance of most of the=20 components as old and messy.

 

Thanks for your=20 help

 

Ralf =

Phone: (419) 369 12=20 33

Fax:     (419) 369 33 = 32

E-mail:=20 bronnenmeier@grobsystems.com

 

------=_NextPart_000_01C6_01C9EEBD.CC5A4F30--