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When we built up my ES wheel pants, we bonded a
large metal washer to the outside of the bolt holes, then put filler on the
sides to blend it in and a couple of BID over it. The idea was to prevent
stress from cracking the fiberglass by creating a hard point and spreading the
load. It doesn't protect the paint - I put a flat washer under the bolt to
do that. I've also lost bolts and spacers twice, even though I preflight
exactly the same way Gary described; by wiggling the back end of the pant to
check for tightness on each walkaround. Even though I now put Locktite on
the ends of the threads, that bolt will still back it's way out over time.
I just found one loose the last time I went flying a couple of days ago and it
took about a turn and a half to get the bolt tight again.
If I had it to do over again, I'd probably figure
out a way to secure the bolt because it's been a persistent
issue.
Skip Slater
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2014 3:49 AM
Subject: [LML] Re: Safety wiring will pants
I have found that the bolt
needs to be part of the preflight inspection. Just wiggle the aft tip of the
pant and if it moves, tighten the bolt. I hesitate to really tighten it as it
would crush the pant material, so it's a judgement call. If you don't tighten
it enough it for sure will come loose. I'm guessing, but it seems like about
10 ft-lbs is enough. One way to fix it would be to put a small (SS?) metal
plate on the surface screwed to the pant, maybe with one screw behind the
hole. Then put a star washer under the bolt head. Those bolt heads bug me -
they must be costing 2 knots! I was going to either build a cavity in the pant
to make them flush or to find a button head bolt. I did neither.
Gary
I have lost my outer bolt and
spacer two times now for my wheel pants on the=
main gear.
Has anybody considered a way
to safety wire the bolt to the wheel pant the b=
olt to prevent loosing them
inflight?
I just hope it didn't hit
anybody.
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