The Plane Newsletter

July 2006 NEWSLETTER

Exec Board Meeting on Wednesday, 12 July at our Clubhouse

EAA1111 Chapter MEETING at 7:00p.m., JULY 13, 2006 at the Kelso FBO

Please note the change in meeting date due to the EAA Regional Fly-in at Arlington the first week of July.

A-7 CLUBHOUSE UPDATE

Great News! In recognition of the time and materials spent on rehabing and renovating the clubhouse, which belongs to the City, the City Council voted to credit us over $14,000 off our future lease payments. This is a HUGE benefit for our club and the building committee deserves a big round of applause. Several folks have been working hard on the club house moving walls, painting, and getting cabinets together; we need to continue to volunteer for work parties which will occur in the near future. We're getting there!

LAST MONTH: EAA MEETING THURSDAY JUNE 1, 2006

The executive and business portion was brief, as we held a social and picnic meeting at the northwest corner of the field, EAA hangars 44 and 45.

The weather was “iffy” with clouds and showers, but the burger burn, salads, desserts and social time made up for any weather deficiencies.

President Charlie Rosenzweig told us that Steve and Barbara Steinhoff were soon to move to Arkansas to be near their families.  We will truly miss Steve and Barb for their great participation and positive attitude they have brought to our chapter. Steve has been especially helpful in the A-7 clubhouse remodel. We will need no less than six more people to cover his range of skills.

Before showers and darkness arrived, rides were given in the Super Cub and the RV-4.

TECH REPORT FOR JULY 2006

Staying With the Approved Products for the System

The recent EAA Sport Aviation included an article on fabric covering. Within that article was a statement about staying with an approved “system”.

For attaching and painting the fabric, this means using the specified cements, tapes, heat- shrinking temperatures, primers, UV protection, filler and color coats, etc.  Different manufacturers or suppliers often have proprietary products and the manufacturers do not approve mixing brands in the process.

The NTSB has documented at least one crash caused by fabric detachment from a control surface that was traced to the substituting of proprietary products. The cement used for the bond between the control surface did not properly flow into the weave of the fabric or attach to the cement placed on the control surface. The bond failed, the fabric loosened, and the control fluttered leading to the in-flight structural failure of the plane and two fatals.

Believe it when the manufacturer says no substitutions.

Mag Check Before Shutdown

Typically we are taught to do the magneto check as part of the pre-takeoff checklist.  Some magneto ailments may not be apparent at the time of the pre-takeoff run up, as the magneto and engine have not reached the higher operational temperature. Some magnetos do not cause a problem until they have heated up and created a short in the coil.

So, it is possible to have a magneto go bad after some time in flight and the pilot may not be aware of it, since the other magneto will take care of business. If the pilot happens to shut down with the mixture control, which is usually the preferred process, detecting a hot failure mag may be missed. What to do?

Before shutdown, run another mag check to see if both left and right mags are OK.  I will, on occasion, briefly turn the mag to off and back on to be sure the “P” leads are doing their job of grounding. If the pilot is always in the habit of killing the engine with the mixture control, how will he know if the mags are truly “P-lead” grounded with the switch in the off position?

AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING: We plan to have various members relate their adventures at the Arlington Fly-in.

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Once again, our next chapter meeting is on Thursday, July 13th at 7:00p.m. at the Kelso FBO.

Officers and Committee Chairpersons