Rear drag brace failed

[caltrac]

7-24-10, My '95 Rebel with bungee gear that I purcased flying without any
plans had a left rear drag brace fail during a hard landing, in gusty, xwind
conds. No outward damage can be seen. The next day while I was taxing I
heard what sounded like I was dragging a tin can, I only was able to discover
what the noise was because I saw the left tire moving to the rear as I
applied brakes and than forward with brake release. I presume the blind
rivets attaching the brace sheared. How do I repair this?? What are the
steps? Where do I get parts if required? Is this a big job with many steps or
rather minor? My drill is ready. Tks one and all. caltrac@frontier.com



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[bransom]

Well, first step in repairing is to find out more exactly what broke. Is it where
the drag strut fastens near the axle, or at the other end, or did it bend/break
in the middle and hanging together only by faring material? What failed:
rivets, gussets, bolt, the drag strut itself? I'm curious partly because I have
beefed up some of my gear.

All your questions can be answered on this list. You can ask for parts from
Murphy by emailing shipping@murphyair.com. As well, some owners on this list
may have spare parts.

BTW, very glad to hear there was no other apparent damage.

-Ben/ 496R



On 7/24/2010 5:14 PM, caltrac wrote to rebel-builders:

7-24-10, My '95 Rebel with bungee gear that I purcased flying without any
plans had a left rear drag brace fail during a hard landing, in gusty, xwind
conds. No outward damage can be seen. The next day while I was taxing I
heard what sounded like I was dragging a tin can, I only was able to

discover

what the noise was because I saw the left tire moving to the rear as I
applied brakes and than forward with brake release. I presume the blind
rivets attaching the brace sheared. How do I repair this?? What are the
steps? Where do I get parts if required? Is this a big job with many steps

or

rather minor? My drill is ready. Tks one and all. caltrac@frontier.com

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[caltrac]

7-24-10, Bransom your answer was not very helpful. Well, what failed?
Sheered rivets maybe even bolts that hold the drag brace on. I don't have a
clue untill I open up that area. To bad the builder and the plans didn't think
to put an inspection opening is this vital area. This should be a heads-up to
new builders that an inspection opening might be a nice thing to consider, so
that when that hard landing comes or that rough field landing you weren't
expecting just rattled your teeth. you have a way to make sure your gear is
still in good shape before you go airborn again..
I need guidance starting with how to jack up the airplane. As I wrote
there is no outward damage but something is making a lot of "dragging a tin
can" noise, pretty loud too when I taxi. A visable movement of the tire
forward and reverse also as I wrote. Of course I've searched the
entire "list"! Not much help to me to read "how easy it was to repair", when
what I need is a step by step or even a scanned copy of the drawing of the
landing gear drab bracket area, so I can see what is on the inside. Tks all
caltrac@frontier.com



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[kpierson]

Most builders on this site are not engineers and are reluctant to
cut holes in a structure, however, if a hole is cut it should be well
reinforced.

Keith P. 318R



On 7/24/2010 10:02 PM, caltrac wrote to bransom:

-> 7-24-10, Bransom your answer was not very helpful. Well, what failed?
-> Sheered rivets maybe even bolts that hold the drag brace on. I don't have
a
-> clue untill I open up that area. To bad the builder and the plans didn't
think
-> to put an inspection opening is this vital area. This should be a heads-up
to
-> new builders that an inspection opening might be a nice thing to consider,
so
-> that when that hard landing comes or that rough field landing you weren't
-> expecting just rattled your teeth. you have a way to make sure your gear
is
-> still in good shape before you go airborn again..
-> I need guidance starting with how to jack up the airplane. As I wrote
-> there is no outward damage but something is making a lot of "dragging a
tin
-> can" noise, pretty loud too when I taxi. A visable movement of the tire
-> forward and reverse also as I wrote. Of course I've searched the
-> entire "list"! Not much help to me to read "how easy it was to repair",
when
-> what I need is a step by step or even a scanned copy of the drawing of
the
-> landing gear drab bracket area, so I can see what is on the inside. Tks all
-> caltrac@frontier.com




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[caltrac]

What are you telling me that for? Maybe you don't understand, that I didn't
order anyone to cut a hole in the structure. I said to consider an inspection
port to observe the gear attach points, useful to check how they are holding
up after a hard or soft landing. Are you sure you are a homebuilder? Maybe
you don't understand what the homebuilder movement is all about. Stop
trying lead my inquire. On 7/25/2010 6:55 AM, kpierson wrote to caltrac:

-> Most builders on this site are not engineers and are reluctant to
-> cut holes in a structure, however, if a hole is cut it should be well
-> reinforced.
->
-> Keith P. 318R
->
->
->
-> On 7/24/2010 10:02 PM, caltrac wrote to bransom:
->
-> -> 7-24-10, Bransom your answer was not very helpful. Well, what
failed?
-> -> Sheered rivets maybe even bolts that hold the drag brace on. I don't
have
-> a
-> -> clue untill I open up that area. To bad the builder and the plans didn't
-> think
-> -> to put an inspection opening is this vital area. This should be a heads-
up
-> to
-> -> new builders that an inspection opening might be a nice thing to
consider,
-> so
-> -> that when that hard landing comes or that rough field landing you
weren't
-> -> expecting just rattled your teeth. you have a way to make sure your
gear
-> is
-> -> still in good shape before you go airborn again..
-> -> I need guidance starting with how to jack up the airplane. As I
wrote
-> -> there is no outward damage but something is making a lot of "dragging
a
-> tin
-> -> can" noise, pretty loud too when I taxi. A visable movement of the tire
-> -> forward and reverse also as I wrote. Of course I've searched the
-> -> entire "list"! Not much help to me to read "how easy it was to repair",
-> when
-> -> what I need is a step by step or even a scanned copy of the drawing
of
-> the
-> -> landing gear drab bracket area, so I can see what is on the inside. Tks
all
-> -> caltrac@frontier.com
->




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[bransom]

Caltrac
I won't bother taking much offense at your statement. Rereading it yourself
perhaps you can see how you sound a little ungrateful to a helping hand. You
response is like someone going to the Dr and expecting a prognosis and
treatment with only having said "my stomach hurts".

You said you don't have a clue. Your rub is a little deeper when you then
sound like the builder is at fault for your predicament (lack of inspection
area). Good grief.

If you need to ask even basic questions to approach this problem responsibly,
like how to drill out rivets or take off fabric, feel free to ask again. If you're
not inclined to learn how to do this sort of thing (the basic first look, and
being gracious), then it seems unlikely you would be able to do a good repair
either. Obviously there are professionals out there that can help you too,
and for some that is the better, safer route.
-Ben

On 7/24/2010 10:02 PM, caltrac wrote to bransom:

7-24-10, Bransom your answer was not very helpful. Well, what failed?
Sheered rivets maybe even bolts that hold the drag brace on. I don't have

a

clue untill I open up that area. To bad the builder and the plans didn't think
to put an inspection opening is this vital area. This should be a heads-up

to

new builders that an inspection opening might be a nice thing to consider,

so

that when that hard landing comes or that rough field landing you weren't
expecting just rattled your teeth. you have a way to make sure your gear

is

still in good shape before you go airborn again..
I need guidance starting with how to jack up the airplane. As I wrote
there is no outward damage but something is making a lot of "dragging a tin
can" noise, pretty loud too when I taxi. A visable movement of the tire
forward and reverse also as I wrote. Of course I've searched the
entire "list"! Not much help to me to read "how easy it was to repair",

when

what I need is a step by step or even a scanned copy of the drawing of

the

landing gear drab bracket area, so I can see what is on the inside. Tks all
caltrac@frontier.com

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