REFLECTOR: Reflector Digest, Vol 71, Issue 45 -Delamination repairs
Mark Riley
the_rileys1 at verizon.net
Wed Feb 23 19:00:57 CST 2011
I had multiple delaminations in my Wingco wings on my first Velocity. I repaired them easily with no repainting. Drill a hole with a small bit (1/8 inch or so ) at the lower or downhill side. Drill another at the uphill side. Mix a thin mix of epoxy, milled fiber and a little Cabosil. Inject it in the low end until it starts to come out the top hole. To finesse it a little, duct tape the area around the holes and to seal the lower hole, duct tape a thin piece of aluminum and lay it over the repair with a bag of lead shot on it while the epoxy hardens. This keeps the repaired area from sticking up, yet prevents it from being a depression requiring fill. It also catches the mixture that oozes out the top hole. Once fixed in this manner, I never had repeat failures in the same area.
FWIW and I hope this helps.
Mark
On Feb 22, 2011, at 8:40 PM, reflector-request at tvbf.org wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
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> 1. Factory Elevator actuator re-installation (Scott Derrick)
> 2. Re: Delaminated Canard Top -- Safety of Flight Issues?
> (Bob Jackson (Jax Tech))
> 3. Re: Delaminated Canard Top -- Safety of Flight Issues?
> (Scott Derrick)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:08:06 -0700
> From: Scott Derrick <scott at tnstaafl.net>
> Subject: REFLECTOR: Factory Elevator actuator re-installation
> To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
> Message-ID: <4D645DF6.3030209 at tnstaafl.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> I am considering removing the Strong Pitch System I installed and
> re-installing the factory elevator actuator.
>
> Why?
>
> 1.) I never really liked the look of the strong actuator.
> 2.) The mounting end cap that is held on with a hose type clamp would
> flex apart form the body when maximum pull was exerted on it,
> specifically with full down trim and pulling up on the stick. I put an
> additional clamp on it which reduced the flexing considerably but it
> still moves a bit. It seems like it is a failure point talking to me.
> 3.) An AD(sic) was released a while back about this flexing.
> 4.) I thought I would get more trim range with the Strong system, I was
> wrong, its so close I can't tell the difference.
> 5.) The change would improve my single front passenger CG, requiring
> less dead weight weight(my flight bag and tool kit placed in the right
> seat or floor).
>
> I plan on using the Strong electronic control system which is far
> superior to the plans one. Solid state relays, built in brake and a
> speed control.
>
> I hooked up the factory actuator to the strong controller and all went
> well until I extended the actuator to full length. It would not
> return. If I screw it back in half a turn it works again.
>
> I remember reading about the actuator developing a bad spot and that
> there is a repair procedure.
>
> Any suggestions on how I can repair the unit?
>
> Scott
>
>
> --
> Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish.
> Euripides
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:18:48 -0500
> From: "Bob Jackson \(Jax Tech\)" <bobj at jaxtechllc.com>
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Delaminated Canard Top -- Safety of Flight
> Issues?
> To: "'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'"
> <reflector at tvbf.org>
> Message-ID: <295973.69548.qm at smtp114.biz.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> We would like to think and hope that it's just paint delamination. We do
> have several layers of Awlgrip polyurethane on the canard!
>
>
>
> How could you tell it was just the paint and not the skin and all when you
> had your problem? To my ear, our coin tapping indicates more than just
> paint problems.
>
>
>
> We're inclined to follow Scott Baker's advice and to fill the voids by
> injecting an epoxy slurry, while building a completely new canard to replace
> it with -- but, how concerned would you be with flying without making any
> repairs?
>
>
>
> Maybe it's just buckled paint -- that would be nice!
>
>
>
> Thanks for the ideas,
>
> Bob
>
>
>
> _____
>
> From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
> Behalf Of Scott Derrick
> Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 7:55 PM
> To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Delaminated Canard Top -- Safety of Flight Issues?
>
>
>
> Bob,
>
> Are you sure its not just paint de-lamination? I had that occur on my
> canard when I used a water born urethane product.
>
> Scott
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: REFLECTOR: Delaminated Canard Top -- Safety of Flight Issues?
> From: Bob Jackson <mailto:bobj at computer.org> <bobj at computer.org>
> To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
> <mailto:reflector at tvbf.org> <reflector at tvbf.org>
> Date: 02/22/2011 11:47 AM
>
>
>
> After 350+ hours of flying, yesterday while cruising at 18,000' with perfect
> light from a setting sun, we noticed some 'bubbling' along the top surface
> of the canard. Once back on the deck, a little coin tapping confirmed that
> the top canard skin had delaminated in several places. The worst bubble is
> right under the fifth set of VGs counting from the canard tip inward, and
> was about 6" long (fore-and-aft) and 2 to 3" wide (side-to-side). This
> bubble looked like it was raised almost 1/4" in flight at altitude! On this
> flight the gross aircraft weight was about 3400 pounds.
>
>
>
> In addition while in the air, another area of delamination that extended
> nearly to the canard tip, along the top of the spar and several inches
> fore-and-aft (but only separated about 1/8" above the canard foam) was
> visible. On a subsequent flight just up to 5000 ft (and about a 3100 #
> aircraft gross weight), only the slightest amount of delamination bubbling
> could be seen, and only under the 5th set of VGs.
>
>
>
> I believe our plane is more susceptible to canard delamination because of
> our very high max gross weights (3600 pounds), and high altitude operation
> (up to 25 Kft) where the sea level pressure air trapped inside the canard on
> take-off will be pushing outward on the canard skin when we're cruising at
> altitude before the pressures can equalize.
>
>
>
> Our canard was made by Alan at Wingco close to 15 years ago, and apparently
> he was using a two step vacuum bagging technique at the time that Dwayne
> Swing says was generally more prone to delamination than the standard canard
> construction process outlined in the manual. We still need to 'coin tap'
> test the bottom of the canard to make sure we don't have any delamination on
> the bottom.
>
>
>
> Eventually, we plan to build another canard that is a foot or two longer to
> better carry our higher aircraft weights and canard loadings -- so it
> doesn't bend up as much in flight, which will also create delaminating
> stresses.
>
>
>
> The questions for the group are:
>
> 1. How much of a safety of flight issue do you think it is to continue
> flying with this degree of canard delamination until we can repair it or
> build a new canard?
> 2. Who else has experienced canard delamination, and did you have
> similar 'extenuating circumstances' to ours (like high gross weight or high
> altitude operations) that might help to explain it. Also, was it with a
> Wingco 'Fastbuild' canard?
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob Jackson
>
> N2XF
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:38:40 -0700
> From: Scott Derrick <scott at tnstaafl.net>
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Delaminated Canard Top -- Safety of Flight
> Issues?
> To: bobj at jaxtechllc.com, Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
> <reflector at tvbf.org>
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> End of Reflector Digest, Vol 71, Issue 45
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