Coupers---
I don't like to beat a dead horse, but I've said this before: Many of
our coupes have intergrannular corrosion and we do not know it unless we
open up our wings like Mike did. The inspection holes specified in the
"Swiss Cheese" AD are located in places (in the V's of the ribs) that make
inspection of the spar caps very difficult. The AD was not meant to do
this. My mechanic and I have inspected over 36 wings and have found
exfoliation ranging from small pimple-sizes up to seeing the spar cap
coming
apart in splinters, looking like rotten wood or broom straws on 24 of the
36. Many of the wings with problems were on flying airplanes. This is
very
scary, to say the least. To my knowledge, no one has had a wing failure
yet
due to corroded spar caps, but I know it will happen sooner or later. We
have invented an inspection tool which consists of a tiny color video
camera
which is mounted on a telescoping handle which can telescope from 19" to
48". The camera head incorporates a light source which lights up the area
that the camera sees. The focal distance is adjustable from 1/4" to
infinity, and the image seen is shown on a TV monitor and can be recorded
on
a VCR. The resolution that the camera has in unbelievable.
Our inspection tool, called the Videoscope Model 3000, is not cheap,
and
is not meant to be sold to an individual airplane owner. He/she would not
use it probably more than once. The Videoscope is targeted at A & P / AI
mechanics, who would be doing inspections with it quite often, not just on
Ercoupes, but on all types of aircraft, plus pre-purchase inspections,
damage assesments, comparative analysis (comparing one annual to the
previous annual) and for routine maintenance. The unit is very durable.
One of our customers is an A & P school in Minnesota. The director of the
school recently told us that the students use it every day and he said "it
is student-proof." The purchase price is $1,995.00 plus shipping and
handling, which includes a hard-shell padded carrying case, a cordless
microphone unit for narrating onto the videotape, a 12V power adapter and
all necessary cables.
This message is not meant to sell cameras so we can make money. It is
meant to save lives. I will be glad to mail you one (or more) of our
brochures to give to your mechanic. We do not yet have a web site, but
are
working on it. I have scanned the brochure into my computer, but do not
yet
know how to attach the images to an e-mail.
If you would like a brochure please reply to this message with your
snail-mail address and I will be glad to send you one or more.Syd Cohen Wausau, WI NC94196 ---------- >From: Michael Gartke <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: Coupers <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Wing Problem >Date: Fri, Apr 9, 1999, 2:06 PM > >Yesterday I was removed the upper aft wing skin on my right wing to get >in and replace a couple of ribs that I found cracks in and discovered >the the lower spar cap was blown out with exfoliation corrosion. I am >now looking for either a metalized right wing or a set of fabric covered >wings. If anyone has a set they are interested in selling or knows of >anyone who does or is parting out an aircraft please let me know. > > >Thanks, > >Mike Gartke > >Ercoupe NC2022H > >
<<attachment: winmail.dat>>
