Preflighting the Horizontal Stabilizer

[Flocker]

May 9, 2019 23:00:45 GMT ChrisConnor said:

What I did (and it works perfectly) is add a second Nylock nut to the end of the bolt, as a jam nut. I had plenty of bolt there. Niether side have come loose since. I added a paint line to visually verify it's where I left it during each preflight.

Great solution.  Do you recall the size of the Nylock nut?

[ChrisConnor]

I can check, but I believe it was 6mm x 1.0 thread pitch, standard height. Let me look and get back to you.

[TiPi]

They are standard M6 bolts, washers and nuts.

[cole505]

Hi All,

With all the mention of the elevator or stabilator, does anyone know the best and easiest way to access lube and maintain theses bearings ? Pictures and complete step by step instructions would be most appreciated.... have been through several Annuals and have numerous preflights...... But I am looking for the specifics of this procedure done by one of the Tecnam group members.... Thanks in advance for your valuable information....

Ray 😎😊🇺🇸👍🏻✅⭐️✈️✈️🔥

[akjeff]

We had the same issue with a P92 Echo Sport. Tecman US said the following, "They have found some airplanes in which incorrect bolts were installed (6-35
instead of 6-40 metric bolts). In those airplanes with short bolts (6-35)
the bearing surface rides partly on the threads and develops wear
prematurely. He said to pull to upper tailcone and that should give enough
access to see where the play is in the system. In any case, it needs to be
identified and eliminated." N72TE, N2414T, N797TB, and N846JM

[MarkGregor]

The stabilator is something we need to watch. Most will loosen up after break in period and need adjustment. If your service center is new to Tecnam this is an area to ask them to watch during maintenance.

There should be some slight movement up and down and back and forth but shouldn't feel like the attachment is point loose.

If it goes to far you will end up replacing some parts.

Mark G

[TiPi]

Another point to watch is the elevator to torque tube bolt. I found excessive movement between the torque tube and elevator. The root cause was a sloppy repair from the LAME when he drilled the holes in the new torque tube. They need to be drilled undersize and then reamed for the steel bush.
In-service wear could also happen if the bolt through the elevator is not tight enough. Another inspection point fo the annual.
Check is easy but requires 2 people: one an either side of the elevator, one holding it from moving (up/down as in elevator up/down) while the other tries to move it. Watch & feel for any movement and investigate.

[Flocker]

Seems like a good time to resurrect this post. I'm in for annual (763 hrs) and they found another worn out bushing in the HS. Different location as last time. I'll post some pics later.

[flywwlsa]

I service a P92 Echo Super and several P2004 Bravos in my shop. I have like the rest of you found pivot bolts loose. And on one Bravo I recently found a torque tube with play up and down. As far as the pivot bolts are concerned I have replaced several with new hardware and like Chris added a jam nut and paint mark. Regular inspections and torque checks seem to keep the problem under control.

[april3214]

I just investigated a floppy stabilizer on a P2008. The bolts were installed inboard, and the steel flange of the torque tube was actually riding on and wearing the threads of the bolt! Part of the problem was that one nut was not tight, too. The plane has 72 hours. Tecnam sent new, longer bolts and new nuts. They said the bolts should be installed from the outside in, which will keep the bolts from falling out, but with the 35mm bolt it was too short. The longer bolts can be installed this way and still have the torque tube riding on the shoulder of the bolt as it is supposed to. If you have excess movement in the elevator, check these bolts!