lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> << Lancair Builders' Mail List >> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> In a message dated 12/18/2001 10:09:05 PM Mountain Standard Time, lancair.list@olsusa.com writes: << The aircraft is draggig excessivly to the left, in flight as well as taxying with the engine running. No dragging is experienced without engine power. >> Per - Is this a new problem with an airplane that has been flying for some time, or are these your findings from initial flights of a new airplane? I infer that you're telling us that the left yaw/roll tendency only occurs at high power settings, but not at idle. In other words, you pull the power off and before the airplane has a chance to slow down, the left turning tendency immediately disappears. If so, the problem is probably not being out-of-rig. (Although "Grayhawk" has given you a lot of good things to check in this regard.) If the inference is wrong, and the left turning tendency remains irrespective of power setting, then all of the out-of-rig and airframe misalignment issues that Scott refers to should be checked. If it is purely power-related, find someone who has flown in a similar model and let them fly yours (or vice versa) and compare the turning-tendencies-with-power to that other airplane. The big-engine-little-airplane combination can result in more torque/P-factor-etc than we're used to, I imagine. Although it really sounds like there's something off here, rather than simply more power effects than you're used to. Finally, if it does turn out to be a power-only issue, perhaps the engine mount could be shimmed to correct a built in misalignment. Was this a fast-build kit with the firewall attached at the factory, or a slow-build kit whose firewall might have been installed at a slight angle? (I don't know how the firewalls are connected in the slow build kits, so pardon me in the question seems weird.) The bottom line is that another thing to check is the perpendicularity of the prop disc to the aircraft centerline -- although I'm not sure how you would check this... - Rob Wolf LML website: http://members.olsusa.com/mkaye/maillist.html LML Builders' Bookstore: http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair Please remember that purchases from the Builders' Bookstore assist with the management of the LML. Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.