RV-9A Wing Construction Log

Monday, June 14, 2004

Setback..... with some progress

I had a bad night in the shop. I was having trouble with my right wing bellcrank, the brass bushing wouldn't fit. At first I thought it was the bellcrank itself but figured out that it wasn't, so I had to turn down the bushing until it fit nicely. With that done, I started mounting the brackets/bellcrank. I had it all mounted and then I realized why the plans have the bolt holding it a certain way. I had the bracket that was closer to the top skin already on, and I just slide the rest of the assembly in place. I put the washer/nut on the bolt.. but that puts the nut on the side you can't see through the access cover. The plans show it the other way.. I figured they wanted it this way so you could easily inspect it to make sure the nut was still on. So I pulled it all apart and reversed it. I was torqueing the last bolt when it snapped off! I cussed for 10 mins. and worked on the other wing bellcrank, switching the bolt orientation. The only thing I can think of is that the bolt had been previously torqued and it stressed it or I had a weak bolt.

So I either have to pull the tank all the way off again to remove the tie-down bracket so I can replace the nutplate, or I need to figure out a way to remove the bolt.

I did continue to work on the left wing and completed one side of the rivets for the aileron/gap fairings. I sure miss the pneumatic squeezer and longeron yoke! I'll be bucking the rest that attach to the rear spar.

(Time: 2 hours)

- posted by Matthew @ 8:06 AM