Hey Crashem,

How often do you take your hinges out and check them or for that matter have you check the engine mounts in your car by removing the engine.

Some things are reasonable to perform maintenance on and some are not. It you give a tug to the control surfaces and they feel tight are you going to fly? I am, I also stated in my post that this airplane had seen several hundred hours. Was I surprised when the hinges failed...yes, I had never seen this failure before in anyones airplane.

Now, I have used these hinges before with only one failure and that was due to high speed flutter on a old Sig Kouger. I saved the plane that time by being lucky it was only the rudder that failed.

I really don't fly too many trike geared trainers anymore so maybe this is old hat to some having big control surfaces that move 45 degrees both ways. It is new to me and thought I would share my findings with all. If you want to blame me go ahead, it was my plane not yours. Also, don't pay attention to my advise on this, keep using those hinges and good luck.

As far as roughing up the hinge, I installed them by the directions and don't recalled either company stating one should rough before installation.

We are not in disagreement here, I am sure that when you crash your airplanes, that it is your fault too.