Please forgive me if this was covered already, but I've been on vacation and may have missed all the replies to the rudder cable issue.
A recent item in "To Fly" noted that at least one fatal accident has resulted from the use of rudder pedal return springs rather than a run-around "closed loop" rudder cable system. In the case mentioned, a nicopress sleeve let go on one rudder cable and the return spring on the opposite side pulled the rudder full over, resulting in an unrecoverable spin. There was just no way to pull the rudder over the other way or neutralize it against the pull of the spring on that side. Without return springs, if a cable or fitting fails, at least the rudder goes into the neutral/in-trail position. In the KR at the very least, the pilot is able to grab the rudder cables with his/her hand in the cockpit and pull the rudder over (unless the failure is from the cabin aft) so it's not the same issue as it is in planes where the rudder cables are not accessible by the pilot. The item in "To Fly" noted, as did Larry Flesner, that having the rudder pedals 'flop' without return springs or a run-around cable, has been done before and isn't anything more than a strange sight when nobody is at the controls. It's likely to be the same discussion as always: "less filling/more taste" (sorry, Cris... this refers to an American beer commercial that you Italians probably have never heard of ;o) Pick a system that appeals to you the most, and use it... but be educated as to the possibilities. Oscar Zuniga San Antonio, TX mailto: taildr...@hotmail.com website at http://www.flysquirrel.net
