The lesson learned is:

"Always check all nuts, bolts, screws, connectors surfaces etc. prior to heading to the flying field.

I went to fly yesterday (Sunday). Fabulous day. I have been waiting for a day like Sunday. I showed up and asked Ralph to help me get into the air. I still have not soloed yet SO I can't fly alone (Rules and common sense). So, I had set up the plane and range checked it. Ralph checked the controls and said "I don't like that left aileron at all". It only went down and back up to neutral. Would not go higher. We spent a good bit of time checking it out and a little thin CA dribbled on the torque arm in the leading edge of the aileron solved the problem. Ralph then tried to straighten the nose gear (hard landing last week) and we heard a crack. Couldn't see anything though.

We started the engine and he shut it down right away. "Something's loose!" I didn't hear it but he did. Turns out, one engine mount bolt was missing and the other three were loose!. THe engine was secure on the mount but the mount was definitely loose.

Ralph took a long time explaining the things I needed to check (I am an experienced tinkerer but new to this hobby so I was a bit impatient - my bad). He suggested cutting a hatch above the fuel tank and double checking the back of the fire wall to see if the hard landing had caused a structural problem. I pulled the fuel tank on the Hangar 9 alpha and had a good view of the firewall using a strong light and a dental mirror. No damage, all t-nuts secure. No hatch to cut. I did notice that the firewall was not terribly well braced at the corners so I added bracing externally.

I replaced the missing screw and put everything back together with locktite. I noticed a bulge in the ultracote on the aileron top near the root of the left wing and removed a patch of ultracote for a better view. THe end of the torque rod "L" had broken through the balsa, explaining the aileron problem. I removed the broken chunk of balsa and patched it with much epoxy and a 1/64" ply reinforcement.

As I was taking it into the basement to hang it up, I noticed a gap at the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer. It wa loose!. Two bolts hold the tail together and they were both loose. I locktited them.

Moral? Always check from a-z before going to the field. Had I done that, I could have flown on Sunday. Also listen to the experienced guys (not all of them - use your BS detector and smile and say thanks to the ones you think are full of it)

Jeff