ARF Trainer - Crack forming across firewall
10-18-2008 | 09:39 AM
#1
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From: Atlanta, GA
ARF Trainer - Crack forming across firewall
All,
I've got a problem that I don't know how to get to. I have an Alpha40 ARF that has a crack running across the firewall at the location where the "plate" for the nose-wheel screws into the firewall. It hasn't broken completely through yet, but it's definitely weakened. I would reinforce it from the backside, but getting to the back of the firewall on this plane is going to be a problem unless I tear more of it up.
What's the proper thing to do here? Suck it up, remove some sheeting, and reinforce from the backside? Make a new firewall? It'd be simpler to reinforce from the front, but would this cause any other problems, other than aesthetics?
Thanks.
I've got a problem that I don't know how to get to. I have an Alpha40 ARF that has a crack running across the firewall at the location where the "plate" for the nose-wheel screws into the firewall. It hasn't broken completely through yet, but it's definitely weakened. I would reinforce it from the backside, but getting to the back of the firewall on this plane is going to be a problem unless I tear more of it up.
What's the proper thing to do here? Suck it up, remove some sheeting, and reinforce from the backside? Make a new firewall? It'd be simpler to reinforce from the front, but would this cause any other problems, other than aesthetics?
Thanks.
10-18-2008 | 10:10 AM
#2
RE: ARF Trainer - Crack forming across firewall
Do you have a picture of the crack?
You could forcing epoxy down into the crack end maybe reinforce it on the outside with some fiberglass cloth. Another option would be to epoxy a piece of thin plywood over the existing firewall. You could cut the ply to fit the entire firewall or just an area slightly larger than the crack.
My biggest concerned though is how did it get cracked and what else is damaged? It sounds like the nose wheel took some impact and damaged the firewall. You might be better off getting deeper into it just in case there is damage you can't easily see.
You could forcing epoxy down into the crack end maybe reinforce it on the outside with some fiberglass cloth. Another option would be to epoxy a piece of thin plywood over the existing firewall. You could cut the ply to fit the entire firewall or just an area slightly larger than the crack.
My biggest concerned though is how did it get cracked and what else is damaged? It sounds like the nose wheel took some impact and damaged the firewall. You might be better off getting deeper into it just in case there is damage you can't easily see.
