N34KP

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Richard Roller
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N34KP

Post by Richard Roller »

Hey everyone.

Not everyone may know, but last year on the way to Brodhead for the fly in N34KP, Ken Perkins Piet, was damaged. The tail wheel assembly was torn out of the left longeron. The repair is completed now and it ran for the first time since last July yesterday. I started the condition inspection today. A few little things have showed up that need taken care off, but the airplane is in good shape.

I did my first fabric work since 1977 with this repair. Things have changed! I thought it turned out pretty good, though the paint shade is off a little. In either case, next time everyone sees it, don't be to critical!

N34KP should be back in the air soon.
20200602_123017[1].jpg
20200531_153051[1].jpg
I don't know why, but when I post photo's, they end up upside down.
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Pat Weeden
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Re: N34KP

Post by Pat Weeden »

Fixed the pics.
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taildrags
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Re: N34KP

Post by taildrags »

I am not proud of this, but there are a lot of spots on 41CC where the paint on some patched spots does not match the overall paint. I learned that the way to prepare Poly-Tone after the can has been sitting for any length of time is to stir the contents thoroughly and slowly so that all of the pigments that settle to the bottom get brought back up into suspension. The slow part has to do with not introducing bubbles into the paint, as those are a pain to deal with once they get onto the fabric. Paint from the very same can that Corky used when he originally painted the airplane did not match what I was touching up after some repairs and I didn't understand why. Now I do. And I keep telling myself that one of these days I'll go back, lightly sand and repaint those areas properly. But then I see that it's a nice day to go fly and I do that instead. The airplane doesn't know the difference.

Oscar Zuniga
Medford, OR
Air Camper NX41CC, A75 power
tom kreiner
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Re: N34KP

Post by tom kreiner »

At the cross bar, there’s a red adel clamp holding a cable attached to a mysterious gizmo.

Pray tell, what is the function of this device?
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Clay Hammond
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Re: N34KP

Post by Clay Hammond »

Tow hook re-purposed as a releasable tail holder-downer.

If you are storing paint long term for touch-up down the road flip the can every few months.

Paint in the can often won't match up anyway because of UV degradation in the paint that's on the plane.
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Richard Roller
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Re: N34KP

Post by Richard Roller »

The paint is rattle can Rust-oleum Husqvarna Orange. The closest I could get to whatever paint Ken used in 1999 on the Superflite fabric system. I just know he bought local automotive paint. The tail hook is something I made while still working at a certain airline. Nice light titanium hardware! It always made me nervous not to have the Piet secured when propping it. I couldn't get Ken to take the time to install it. I put it on after he died. Works well.
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taildrags
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Re: N34KP

Post by taildrags »

I've had a tiedown release on my mind for a long time. The newest model from Tost, their E-22, is much lower cost than their standard glider tow releases and weighs 310 grams (11 ounces). I may look into that one or may try to fabricate one like this

Oscar Zuniga
Medford, OR
Air Camper NX41CC, A75 power
tow hook.jpg
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Richard Roller
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Re: N34KP

Post by Richard Roller »

Mine is hardly a tow hook. Just something I threw together years ago so I'd feel better propping the Piet. Made several for other builders at the airline. The frame is .090 4130, the hook I think is just cold rolled steel. I did intentionally make the frame the right width to trap a
10-32 nut, to make it easier to install.
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taildrags
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Re: N34KP

Post by taildrags »

Oh, I'll feel MUCH better with the release inside the cockpit than using my current method, which is to carry a set of chocks with me along with a rope to let me pull the chocks into the cockpit. Chocks are a real pain, but about the most secure thing I can think of to do right now. Static thrust with my A75 was measured at 280 lbs so even if the throttle got bumped wide open, even a 1/4" nylon rope should hold it just fine and even if I have to sacrifice a loop of 1/4" rope on the tiedown if I'm transiting a field I won't be returning to, it's no big deal and the rope should be plenty strong to hold the plane.

Oscar Zuniga
Medford, OR
Air Camper NX41CC, A75 power
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taildrags
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Re: N34KP

Post by taildrags »

OK, the tiedown release discussion pushed me over the edge. I've got my fabricator lined up to make me a release. Over on the Fly Baby site I located some drawings that R.S. Hoover drew up for a release and also saw a photo of the same release but laid flat so the release lever sticks out to the side rather that straight up. I think that setup may work better on my airplane. Also having my fabricator look at making it out of aluminum since he's an artist when it comes to metal and he's made multitudes of custom parts for experimental aircraft. I don't have access to titanium like some people do ;o) Thanks for the nudge to get this going, Richard!

Oscar Zuniga
Medford, OR
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Richard Roller
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Re: N34KP

Post by Richard Roller »

Just titanium fasteners, Oscar. I probably saved a whole 1/10 of an ounce! I used them mainly for corrosion reasons.
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taildrags
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Re: N34KP

Post by taildrags »

I actually have some titanium parts on my Piet, too. When I rebuilt the rudder, I reinstalled it using titanium clevis pins, the shortest that would fit, along with thin AN washers. I also took care to clip the ends of the cotter pins and left just enough tails on them to wrap around the pin in the approved fashion. I may have saved about as much weight on the tail as you did, but now I'm going to mount a tiedown release back there and will gain that weight back.

Oscar Zuniga
Medford, OR
Air Camper NX41CC, A75 power
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taildrags
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Re: N34KP

Post by taildrags »

Update on my tiedown release. I got it all drawn up and will cut metal over 4th of July weekend, with any luck. Once it's mounted I'll probably just test it by running a cord from the release up to the cockpit so I can jerk on it to see if it's going to work as designed. Later, once it gets smoothed out and works as intended, I'll route a cord up inside the empennage through some fairleads. Thanks again for getting me started down this much-needed path, Richard.

-Oscar
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Richard Roller
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Re: N34KP

Post by Richard Roller »

I forgot to post. I've flown N34KP several times now, flies fine. The fabric stayed on! I have to get up early to beat the heat.
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Richard Roller
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Re: N34KP

Post by Richard Roller »

Hey everybody. I've put just over 7 hrs on 34KP since the repair. I opened up the tail a few days ago and did a close inspection of the repair area. Everything looks good. I've been flying in some horrible temps and rough air and all the parts are staying where they should. Great!

Oscar, the tail tie down for propping is working great. I feel much better knowing the Piet will stay where I want while propping and getting in the cockpit. Get yours installed!
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taildrags
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Re: N34KP

Post by taildrags »

Installed my tail tiedown release yesterday and it *almost* works as intended but the hook needs a little smoothing and shaping so it will release the tiedown. A tug on the lanyard releases the hook alright, but the geometry doesn't quite allow the tiedown rope to slide off. It'll soon be in service. Great help!
tiedown.JPG
-Oscar
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Richard Roller
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Re: N34KP

Post by Richard Roller »

I have to make sure that the rope is not over the pivot point of the release arm, or it wont let go.
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taildrags
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Re: N34KP

Post by taildrags »

Richard; good point... it's easy enough for me to push the tail over before climbing in, so that the rope has the best angle to pull on the hook. That might help too. The geometry of my setup is different from yours, but in either case the effect of not having the tiedown pulling correctly results in a 'misfire' ;o)

-Oscar
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taildrags
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Re: N34KP

Post by taildrags »

Richard: success! I did some smoothing and re-shaping of the tail tiedown release "hook" to encourage the tiedown rope to slide out of it, and I cheated just a bit by using some inexpensive nylon rope for a tiedown since it is slicker than other types of rope or cord. First tug on the release, zip-zip, and off we went on a nice 1 hr flight! I have now put several pieces of that rope in the pouch behind the pilot's seat where I keep the ship's papers, a spare flying helmet, water bottle, and a few other small things. These short sections of tiedown will be sacrificial, of course, when I have to stop for fuel or overnight somewhere and they get left behind when I taxi away.

Thanks for the kick in the pants to get my tiedown release completed and operational!

-Oscar
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Richard Roller
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Re: N34KP

Post by Richard Roller »

Glad to hear this, Oscar. I've been using mine several times a week. So far the ropes have varied from 1/4" cotton to 3/4" nylon. All good so far and MUCH easier on my peace of mind.
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taildrags
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Re: N34KP

Post by taildrags »

Richard; I might just write this up for the BPA Newsletter as a little tip or idea for other builders. Would you mind if I used one of your photos, zoomed in to show the release?

-Oscar
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Richard Roller
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Re: N34KP

Post by Richard Roller »

Sure you can. If you like I can go out and take dedicated photos of the installation and pass them on to you.
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taildrags
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Re: N34KP

Post by taildrags »

So this was one of those days. I had completed and tested my tail tiedown release, modeled after the one Richard made for Four Kilo Papa, and have finally gotten around to replacing the "tug the cord" release method with a for-real release lever and knob, also modeled after Richard's (thank you, sir!) One failed attempt over the winter using aluminum sheet (too soft; deflected too easily) so I got some nice steel sheet. First made a mockup out of stiff poster board to get the geometry and dimensions right, made some adjustments, and then cut metal. Smoothed, deburred, drilled, test-fitted as well as I could, but the piece needed a bend and I didn't have a brake. Couldn't find anyone in the nearby hangars with one either, despite many of them having RVs inside. Found what I thought would be the perfect brake at Harbor Freight... their 30" one, since I also had a piece of aluminum about 14" wide to bend for something else. Yeah, couple of stores in our area but no joy on the 30" one so I sprung for their 18" one in hopes it could do the chore on the .040 steel part. First shot, it bent beautifully with some persuasion and retightening the C-clamps holding things down. I was admiring it only to find that it didn't look right. So if my part is for the port side of the airplane (which it is), I just made one for the starboard side, which I didn't want because when I'm outside the cockpit, I want everything I need to control to be on the port side where the pilot enters and exits. Scrap bin.

I went home. Wasn't feeling all that great after getting my 2nd COVID jab yesterday anyway. Oh, well... I keep telling myself that the third one will go quicker.

-Oscar Zuniga
Medford, OR
Air Camper NX41CC, A75 power
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KenBickers
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Re: N34KP

Post by KenBickers »

Okay, Oscar, I can't resist. Why would you be getting a 3rd Covid jab?

Ken
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Richard Roller
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Re: N34KP

Post by Richard Roller »

Oscar. That's quite the story!
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taildrags
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Re: N34KP

Post by taildrags »

Ken Bickers! I just fell out of my chair! Third jab, indeed ;o)

Richard: It takes all day to make a nice part so I can tell a nice story, but dagnabbit- it only took one or two seconds to ruin a perfectly good part. And so it goes ;o)

-Oscar
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taildrags
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Re: N34KP

Post by taildrags »

Wait... I just remembered that Ken is an academic and he followed the logic in my narrative perfectly. So for him and the other grammarians out there, I was talking about having to make a third tail tiedown release lever, NOT get a third COVID jab. And my excuse is that the after-effects of the shot had muddled my mind and I should have sent myself straight home instead of to the hangar to make unairworthy airplane parts while not at 100% mentally or physically.

It has been a good exercise though, because in all of this I've completely reworked my throttle setup, and in doing that, I had to remove the engine cowlings and partially remove the stainless firewall metal, and in doing that, I had to reroute the carb heat cable, and in doing those things I also had to remove the air filter to watch the carb heat damper move properly so I might as well clean and service the filter, and in doing those things I decided I might as well go for the annual condition inspection so I then cut the safety wires on the prop bolts and loosened them to let the prop rest in preparation for retorquing, and since I had the tailcone open to run the tail tiedown release cable I pulled out the ELT and its ground plane and antenna and have remade those in a neater and more secure fashion, and decided that since I already committed to the annual, I might as well pull the wheels to clean and regrease the bearings and swap the 6.00 tires for the 8s that I've had in the hangar just waiting for a good opportunity. In short, I am now having a heck of a lot of fun working on my airplane again while waiting for warm flying weather again ;o)

How's that for a story, Richard? I'm sure none of you other Pietenpeople have ever gotten carried away with snowball-effect repairs and upgrades like this though.

-OZ
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Richard Roller
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Re: N34KP

Post by Richard Roller »

Snowballing has been known to happen! Like right now. Still working on the brakes when able, the radiator was removed for a clean out and a polish (still off). I'm considering an ignition change and a change in the engine breather, but those will wait until its flyable again. I'll pre-construct those projects and install as chance allows.
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