sledman

My Feedback: (2)

I bent my aluminum wing tube in my Super Kraft Texas Hurricane during a deadstick/hard landing. I was able to reshape it, but I'm afraid that may have weakened it. I see plenty advertised that are 1-1/4", mine measures slightly larger in diameter at 2.269". Is that enough to matter?

BTW, the deadstick was caused by running out of gas......which I HAD to do, because the ball socket linkage came loose from the throttle horn, and I had zero throttle control. I had another pilot take over after a while to give me a break while we flew around at about half throttle waiting for it to run out of gas...............

Campgems

1" difference? You bent the larger one didn't you? No chance the smaller will hold up unless the wall thickness it twice to three times the large one. You are correct about it being weakend. Tubing, especially aluminum tubing doesn't take kindly to bends.

Wasn't there some wing or fuselage damage also? Something had to give to allow the tube to bend.

Don

Mr_Scale

My Feedback: (7)

I think you meant 1.269. Right?

da Rock

I'm guessing at a few details here..........

The location of the bend is out in the open right? It's not inside a close fitting tube, like in either wing panel right?

If the bend is out in the open, then reinforce it. You could wrap it in fiberglass. If it's a tube, then you could also reinforce it from within if the outside is not accessable.

You might also be able to slip a smaller OD tube into your re-straightened one. Or slip a close fitting tube over yours.

Does someone offer replacement parts for that model?

You don't have to use the same material again. Carbon fiber tubes are available.

The wing tubes can be retrofitted to match whatever you've found for replacement.

If the original tube is aluminum, I wouldn't trust it without reinforcement.

sledman

My Feedback: (2)

Oops, yeah, I meant 1.269............

sledman

My Feedback: (2)

It's aluminum, the bends are between the wing and the fuse, not out in the open. I would just as soon buy a new replacement, just want to make sure that 1.25" would work in place of the original 1.269". I don't want any slop.

And yes, the was other minor damage. The LG plate broke off clean, the fuel tank mount dislodged, there is a small hole in one wing from a wheel, and some slight cowl damage. It didn't hit real hard, but after bending the aluminum wing tube back, I can tell you that the tube is REAL soft.............

It will likely be repaired before I have a replacement tube............