Re: REFLECTOR: elevator cuffs

["James K. Glindemann" <jglind@netspace.net.au>]

Hi Simon

It would appear to me the gap seal they are refering to here is possibly a
flexible tape which totally restricts airflow between canard and elevator, a
different issue compared to the cuffs

regards

James K. Glindemann
>
>THE ACFT WAS RECOVERED & AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE CANARD GAP SEALS WHICH
>HAD BEEN INSTALLED TO ENHANCE PITCH AUTHORITY OF THE CANARD ON THE PREV
>FLT, WERE STILL IN PLACE DUE TO AN OVERSIGHT. WITH THE GAP SEALS INSTALLED,
>THE CANARD PITCH AUTHORITY EXCEEDED THE AUTHORITY OF THE WING.
>Probable Cause
>FAILURE THROUGH AN OVERSIGHT TO REMOVE THE CANARD GAP SEALS PRIOR TO
>AGGRAVATED STALL TESTING WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT ENTERING AN
>UNCONTROLLABLE FLIGHT REGIME.
>
>Now, are the "cuffs" not designed to "seal the gap" or what, if that logic
>is flawed, IS a gap seal?
>
>See my problem? The NTSB says the elevator had too much authority because
>the gap seals (aka cuffs) were in place; you say removing the cuffs makes
>for more elevator authority.
>
>I think you have it right and the NTSB has it wrong, - but who am I?
>
>What am I missing??
>
>Could it be that "canard pitch authority" and "elevator authority" are two
>entirely different things that are affected in opposite ways by the cuffs?
>
>Best
>Simon
>
>Simon Aegerter, Winterthur, Switzerland
>
>
>