REFLECTOR: Rudder cable attch point--fixed
Terry Miles
terrence_miles at hotmail.com
Sun Jan 20 13:16:59 CST 2008
Thanks to all who had an input. Here was my problem and here's the
solution. Earlier models just used routine cable clamps to attach to the
rudder horn. This was improved to using an AN111 cable bushings (look in
Spruce). My problem (and apparently I wasn't the only one), was that even
with the AN 111bushing, my cable could flip back on itself and jam the
rudder panel itself into about a 30% deployment and no manipulation from the
cockpit could correct this. It happened on displacing the rudder panels by
hand during preflights, and it happened once on the ramp w/ gusty winds and
no control locks in place.
The cable itself had distorted some right out of the swedge (sp?) (the cable
clamp)(See pic #1) which only made the tendency to do the backflip even more
frequent. The fix was very easy. See pic #2. I removed the horn from the
bottom side of the rudder and I drilled a hole in the horn and inserted a
zip tie that was inserted like a hypotenuse to the right angle that was the
cable and the horn plate. The zip tie limits travel to 90 degress and still
allows normal cable ops, but prevents the cable from flipping back on
itself. Any color zip tie will do, I recommend "pain in the butt purple."
(Oh and yes I trimmed off the tail.)
I hope this helps some one. Also, I had used some thread lock on those
original horn #10/32 attach screws since they go in heads down and I was
worried about them vibrating loose. If there is another lesson learned
here, it is that never consider any part to be a "permanent" install.
Again thanks to all who provided guidance.
Terry
_____
From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Ron Brown
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 8:19 AM
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Rudder cable attch point
These work pretty good. I swiped the idea from a Long EZ I saw at a fly in.
I made these using strips aluminum drilled with holes just smaller than the
plastic tubing. I don't park my plane outside a lot, but I have used these
in windy conditions and they seem to hold real well. For safety, they
should have some red ribbon or something to attract attention while doing
the preflight walk around.
Ronnie
----- Original Message -----
From: Joe Ewen <mailto:Jewen at comporium.net>
To: Velocity Aircraft <mailto:reflector at tvbf.org> Owners and Builders list
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 6:55 AM
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Rudder cable attch point
Are rudder gust locks available from the factory? Has anyone made a rudder
gust lock that they would like to share.
Thanks,
Joe
----- Original Message -----
From: Scott Baker <mailto:sbakr at comcast.net>
To: Velocity Aircraft <mailto:reflector at tvbf.org> Owners and Builders list
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 7:44 PM
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Rudder cable attch point
Terry,
What you describe is a common situation and one that has important safety
ramifications!
I recommend that you install the AN111 cable bushing, which allows the
rudder cable<>rudder horn connection to swivel, rather than bend.
The use of the AN111 cable bushing attachment does not guarantee the rudder
cable will not loop around the rudder horn, but it helps.
Important warning: Immediately prior to takeoff _always_ visually confirm
that both rudders are in their trailing position; and not deployed due to
the rudder cable looping itself over the rudder horn. If a rudder cable is
wrapped around the rudder horn, it is virtually impossible to 'undo' the
situation to bring the rudder back to its normal trailing position during
flight. If un-noticed and uncorrected, the aircraft will perform an
uncommanded turn towards the side of the deployed rudder. Aileron
counteraction alone will probably not overcome the uncommanded turn caused
by the rudder. The best way to regain directional control is to deploy the
other rudder (so now both rudders are deployed at the same time). This
causes drag, but at least the aircraft is now controllable with ailerons.
To those who have not experienced a rudder cable looping itself over the
rudder horn - it happens most often when the aircraft is parked pointing
downwind without rudder gust locks.
It can also happen during taxi operations or (for aircraft with the new toe
brake assembly) during runup if the rear of the aircraft is exposed to
strong winds. If the wind is strong enought, it will overcome the rudder
return spring - deploy the rudder - sometimes causing the slack rudder cable
to wrap itself around the rudder horn.
SB
----- Original Message -----
From: Terry <mailto:terrence_miles at hotmail.com> Miles
To: 'Velocity Aircraft <mailto:reflector at tvbf.org> Owners and Builders
list'
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 4:46 PM
Subject: REFLECTOR: Rudder cable attch point
XL-5
When I preflight my rudder, the rudder cable end flips over on it self at
the bell crank and then won't retract the control surface all the way back
because it's bent back on itself. A tap with an inserted long screwdriver
is all that is needed to get it to rotate back the way it should.
I checked w/ the factory. Solutions are replace what I have w/ an AN111
cable bushing. They also said some have fixed this with a strategically
placed zip tie or the like to prevent this. Even a gust of wind on the ramp
can do this to me. I cannot see in there good enough to say more yet until
I pull the rudder off, but I thought I would check in advance.
Anybody have any experience with this?
Regards,
Terry
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