Horizontal Stabilizer Mandatory Inspection - Zenith Aircraft Builders and Flyers2024-03-28T22:43:42Zhttps://zenith.aero/forum/topics/horizontal-stabilizer-mandatory-inspection?commentId=2606393%3AComment%3A548935&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHas any CH750 builder found s…tag:zenith.aero,2020-12-13:2606393:Comment:7910512020-12-13T19:21:16.809ZBill Bearhttps://zenith.aero/profile/BillBear
<p>Has any CH750 builder found similar cracks ? From the research I've done, this problem appears to be a CH601 problem.</p>
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<p>Has any CH750 builder found similar cracks ? From the research I've done, this problem appears to be a CH601 problem.</p>
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<p></p> I agree about not removing th…tag:zenith.aero,2020-05-18:2606393:Comment:7217832020-05-18T15:15:15.850ZDale K Dotyhttps://zenith.aero/profile/DaleKDoty
<p>I agree about not removing the stab every year, especially since it involves drilling out some rivets. But I hope everyone who didn't build their own plane is removing it at least once to check the workmanship. I probably will still remove the 4 bolts every year and do the rest with a borescope. </p>
<p>I agree about not removing the stab every year, especially since it involves drilling out some rivets. But I hope everyone who didn't build their own plane is removing it at least once to check the workmanship. I probably will still remove the 4 bolts every year and do the rest with a borescope. </p> My view on this is the "advis…tag:zenith.aero,2020-05-18:2606393:Comment:7214222020-05-18T13:15:55.249ZCharles Claytonhttps://zenith.aero/profile/CharlesClayton
<p>My view on this is the "advisory" was probably sent out because of what happened with the B mod. Zenith was looking to be proactive. I bought my plane and according to the log book it had over 300 hours before the B mod was installed which makes me suspect that the failures that led to the B mod may have had more to do with construction technique(as was apparently the case with the horizontal stab failure) than design defect. In any case, when I brought this advisory to the attention of my…</p>
<p>My view on this is the "advisory" was probably sent out because of what happened with the B mod. Zenith was looking to be proactive. I bought my plane and according to the log book it had over 300 hours before the B mod was installed which makes me suspect that the failures that led to the B mod may have had more to do with construction technique(as was apparently the case with the horizontal stab failure) than design defect. In any case, when I brought this advisory to the attention of my previous A&P he said that it looked like about 10 hours of work. As others have stated, I would think you are going to cause more wear and tear removing the stab every year to inspect it. When I bought the plane the previous owner(who was not the builder) showed me how to pre-flight it and this included rocking the stab to make sure it wasn't loose and checking all the mounting bolts. You have to believe the guy in Canada was not doing this. I'm satisfied with checking the stab before each flight.</p> I'm rather surprised there ha…tag:zenith.aero,2020-05-17:2606393:Comment:7217522020-05-17T19:13:59.632ZDale K Dotyhttps://zenith.aero/profile/DaleKDoty
<p>I'm rather surprised there hasn't been more discussion on this topic since 2017. I searched all of the forums and didn't find anything more recent so hopefully that means everyone has done their inspections and didn't find any problems. My plane was built by AMD and I didn't see any evidence of movement at the bolts. In fact, it looked like the horizontal stabilizer had not been removed to perform the inspection by the previous owner because the paint was still there on the bolts. My…</p>
<p>I'm rather surprised there hasn't been more discussion on this topic since 2017. I searched all of the forums and didn't find anything more recent so hopefully that means everyone has done their inspections and didn't find any problems. My plane was built by AMD and I didn't see any evidence of movement at the bolts. In fact, it looked like the horizontal stabilizer had not been removed to perform the inspection by the previous owner because the paint was still there on the bolts. My A&P and I removed it and found some issues (see photos):</p>
<p><a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/6H2EkazXcz5zhDcA6" target="_blank">https://photos.app.goo.gl/6H2EkazXcz5zhDcA6</a> </p>
<p>We found a gap between the trailing edge of the front left bracket and the fuselage, rivets that were not seated fully, elongated bolt holes, and a groove cut in the skin of the elevator by the fairing that is too close, We haven't even cut the holes to inspect the rivets attaching the brackets to the horizontal stabilizer yet! I agree with Matt Heinz when he says to remove the 4 bolts and inspect, no matter how good it looks.</p> Funny enough, in Canada, ther…tag:zenith.aero,2017-02-06:2606393:Comment:5506242017-02-06T16:56:58.498ZChad Scriverhttps://zenith.aero/profile/ChadScriver
Funny enough, in Canada, there are no AD's present for my airframe, aircraft on TC's website. Just thought that if Transport was so concerned, there would be SOMETHING pertaining to my registration. They don't miss other AD's. Very odd imo.<br />
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Chad
Funny enough, in Canada, there are no AD's present for my airframe, aircraft on TC's website. Just thought that if Transport was so concerned, there would be SOMETHING pertaining to my registration. They don't miss other AD's. Very odd imo.<br />
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Chad I did a visual inspection and…tag:zenith.aero,2017-02-01:2606393:Comment:5492932017-02-01T03:12:14.059ZRoger Bertschhttps://zenith.aero/profile/RogerBertsch
I did a visual inspection and all four bolts are solid with no indication of wear. They were painted 800 hours ago and look just like new. I see no reason to remove and inspect as said by Matt Heinz. However, I will be more careful to check these on preflight. Roger CH601HD. N16BZ
I did a visual inspection and all four bolts are solid with no indication of wear. They were painted 800 hours ago and look just like new. I see no reason to remove and inspect as said by Matt Heinz. However, I will be more careful to check these on preflight. Roger CH601HD. N16BZ Thanks John.
Your thoughts/p…tag:zenith.aero,2017-01-31:2606393:Comment:5489352017-01-31T03:05:03.280ZDon Honabachhttps://zenith.aero/profile/DonHonabach671
Thanks John.<br />
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Your thoughts/process on this was my gut take as well. Appreciate the clarification on US requirements!<br />
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Don
Thanks John.<br />
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Your thoughts/process on this was my gut take as well. Appreciate the clarification on US requirements!<br />
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Don John-
Agreed
Since mine is a…tag:zenith.aero,2017-01-31:2606393:Comment:5488142017-01-31T00:26:30.891Zbrad cohenhttps://zenith.aero/profile/bradcohen
<p>John-</p>
<p>Agreed</p>
<p>Since mine is a homebuilt and not manufactured by AMD, any issued AD would not "technically" apply to my ship. Of course the verbiage for me would be an SAIB, but I think differentiating the two is nothing more than mental masturbation.</p>
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<p>I think the bigger picture (In my small mind, that is) is this;</p>
<p>The information regarding the problem and inspection is now out there on the web in addition to the Zenith website. If my ship and the accident…</p>
<p>John-</p>
<p>Agreed</p>
<p>Since mine is a homebuilt and not manufactured by AMD, any issued AD would not "technically" apply to my ship. Of course the verbiage for me would be an SAIB, but I think differentiating the two is nothing more than mental masturbation.</p>
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<p>I think the bigger picture (In my small mind, that is) is this;</p>
<p>The information regarding the problem and inspection is now out there on the web in addition to the Zenith website. If my ship and the accident ship have enough parts commonality, I think there is an obligation to perform the inspection. It may be a pain in the ass to disassemble the tail to look at four bolt holes, but as inspections go, its not that onerous.</p>
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<p>Look at it from the viewpoint of someone who is not a 601 owner/operator; </p>
<p>if you wanted to buy a 601 and you knew this Canadian directive came out, wouldn't the first three questions be;</p>
<p>1) How much are you asking for the plane?<br/>2) Did you perform the 6ZU spar mods?</p>
<p>3) Did you comply with the Canadian inspection directive?</p>
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<p>The other interesting point is that the inspection is yearly. If the issue was one of fabrication wouldn't a one-time inspection to confirm proper construction techniques were used suffice? This leads me to believe that they feel fatigue, time in service may exacerbate the problem</p>
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<p>Do I HAVE to comply?-no, not at the moment</p>
<p>AM I going to comply?-yes</p>
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<p>My humble opinion</p>
<p>Brad Cohen</p>
<p>N969BC</p> Just received an email from M…tag:zenith.aero,2017-01-30:2606393:Comment:5487462017-01-30T18:27:06.996ZRoger Bertschhttps://zenith.aero/profile/RogerBertsch
Just received an email from Matt Heinz regarding my inquiry pertaining to my CH601HD: "A visual inspection is not sufficient. Remove the 4 bolts and inspect."
Just received an email from Matt Heinz regarding my inquiry pertaining to my CH601HD: "A visual inspection is not sufficient. Remove the 4 bolts and inspect." Brad and Roger,
I don't know…tag:zenith.aero,2017-01-30:2606393:Comment:5487382017-01-30T18:15:31.009ZJohn Austinhttps://zenith.aero/profile/JohnLAustin
<p>Brad and Roger,</p>
<p>I don't know whether Canadian Safety Advisories are compulsory or not, but for the US, this is not an AD.</p>
<p>John</p>
<p>Brad and Roger,</p>
<p>I don't know whether Canadian Safety Advisories are compulsory or not, but for the US, this is not an AD.</p>
<p>John</p>