c-152 rudder???

in talking about that, one of the people at my base....not at
"aces"...
told me they have been hearing about faa looking into a structural
problem with c-152 rudders. since they've got several and since i'm
almost certainly going to be buying one in the next few months we're
kinda curious about what might be going on.

Of the thousands that have been built and flown hard as trainers, a few
dozen have developed some cracks that were found on inspections (not by
the tail coming off - that never happened on any C-150 or C-152) and
there's going to be an inspection required for cracks (may already be
out) on a periodic basis. This type of AD is very common on all-metal
airplanes and not a big deal.

BTW - you should consider the Tomahawk if you are in the market for a
C-152. Generally more bang for the buck, roomier, better visibility,
carries more fuel, and a bit faster. Not as good for soft/rough fields
though.

Michael

tomahawk??? ya got me....i'll google it. thx


dan

Oh, the Trauma-hawk. If there has ever been a plane plagued with AD's up
the ass, this is the one.

--
www.geocities.com/ralphsnart2004/index.html

"houstondan" wrote in message
oups.com...
tomahawk??? ya got me....i'll google it. thx


dan

ok, i found the tomahawk. nope, living in houston, i just think the
sun beating down on me thru that bubble would be too much. i've talked
to people here who say it's pretty bad. it does look like a great a/c
tho.


dan

living in houston, i just think the
sun beating down on me thru that bubble would be too much.

Your call, of course, but before you make the decision, you might drive
on over to Pearland Regional (formerly Clover) and fly one of Mike
King's when summer comes around. I've never found it to be a problem
because on the ground it's easy to keep the doors open, and once
airborne the ventilation is excellent.

I've seen Tommy's with low time engines and airframes and good IFR
panels going for $20K.

Michael

i'll check it out. do apppreciate the input.

dan

The vertical fin on a C-150 is held on to the fuselage with a welded
steel bracket riveted into the aluminum structure. The welds are in
the corners where the stress is highest. The steel undergoes galvanic
corrosion when it is close to aluminum. These aircraft are being used
well beyond their original intended lifetime and this steel fitting was
cracked in the welds on the two 150s I'm familiar with. I thought it
was a recent AD or at least a recent service letter. They were
certainly not airworthy.

This should be checked at annual on any 150 since it is an area of
known service difficulty.

The 172s don't have this problem with the bracket as it is an aluminum
forging - not prone to corrosion.

It would be one thing to lose a rudder, but losing both the rudder and
vertical fin would be pretty exciting. It would be even worse if the
rudder cables kept the separated surfaces attached to the rest of the
airplane.

Which is what would happen. Any control surface falling off is a
death sentence.
Besides, the rudder is part of the vertical surface contributing to
lateral stability. The airplane would be inclined to fly sideways
without the rudder. Some aircraft, like my Jodel and many of the Zenair
airplanes, have no fixed vertical surface and rely almost entirely on
the rudder for stability.

Dan

Any control surface falling off is a death sentence.

I know a pilot who lost a control surface in a 150 Aerobat who will be
very surprised to hear it. Rumors of his death are highly exaggerated.
Michael

wrote in message
oups.com...
Which is what would happen. Any control surface falling off is a
death sentence.

Not.


Besides, the rudder is part of the vertical surface contributing to
lateral stability. The airplane would be inclined to fly sideways
without the rudder. Some aircraft, like my Jodel and many of the Zenair
airplanes, have no fixed vertical surface and rely almost entirely on
the rudder for stability.

Dan