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marooncobra -> Help Required - Repair to Stab - Rambler 45 (5/5/2008 11:45:18 PM)
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I have just been given a Rambler 45 that sustained a crash approx 8 months ago (low level, inverted and tail hit ground) and has been collecting dust in one of our members shed. Damage was cracked fuselage, broken off tail section, damage to wing tip and minor blemishes. I was given the plane to practice take off and landings with a tail dragger as at present I have a tricycle trainer.
I have repaired the broken off tail section, cracked fuselage, damage to the wing tip etc and had the member that owned it originally fly it last sunday but had to end the flight early as the wing covering was coming off the leading edge of the wing. During the flight he did manage to put the plane through its paces and said that I had done a good job on the repair. On getting the plane home and reapplying the covering with an iron I decided to go over the whole plane with it to tighten up the covering. It was at this time I noticed that on one side of the rear stab it had wrinkles on the covering.
As I heated the covering I noticed that on one side of stab one of the ribs was cracked in the middle. I then started to twist the stab and noted that where all of the ribs join the leading and trailing edge there is slight movement. I assume the glue/bond has been compromised in these areas? The other side of the stab is fine.
For a quick repair I do not want to remove stab from fuselage as it is epoxied in and will take a considerable amount of effort to remove. I think the options I have open to me are as listed below. Some advice please on the best method from below or one of your own if you consider it a better option:
a. Do nothing and take bets on when it will fail (Not best option as my RX, engine and servos may be damaged but what a sweepstake that would be, eh!!!)
b. Remove covering from the bottom side of the stab (both sides), infill all of the sections with balsa, glue with CA or if gap is too large epoxy, recover and fly it.
c. Remove only the areas of covering where the failed rib joints are including the known cracked one, CA these areas, recover and fly.
d. Remove covering from bottom of stab, sheet with lite ply, recover and fly.
I feel the best option would be Option 'B'.
Finally, if Option 'B' is the best method what is the correct way to fit the infill pieces for maximum strength i.e. grain direction? Grain direction running in line with fuselage or across fuselage? Or alternate grain direction between each infill piece?
Many thanks
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