[f-AA] Champ Annual Inspection newbie question...

[Sean P. McGrath]

Hi everyone,

I have a very elementary question for my fellow Aeronca enthusiasts.

My champ is going to have its annual inspection next weekend and this is my first Aeronca not to mention my very FIRST airplane. I have a great A&P who has done the last 3 annuals on the airplane so I have no concerns there. I ordered the annual inspection checklist from AAC also.

But, I did want to get some feedback from the group.

I want this to see a great learning experience to get to know my airplane.

What can I do or make the annual easier for my A&P?

What should I be looking for?

Any tips / tricks or obvious stuff you think I should know will not be lost on this very jr. (Little J) member.

Thanks in advance, Sean McGrath

Champ 7AC
N2177E

Sent from my iPad
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[Travis Gregory]

My I.A., also a Chief owner, wants me to know the airplane spinner to tailwheel. Thus I assist with the annuals. At this point I am not the owner but the grunt labor helper. He makes me look at everything and turn the wrenches. I'm a student in an A. & P. class during this time and have a ball!

travis

From: Sean P. McGrath <maver...@gmail.com>
To: f-aa <aer...@westmont.edu>
Sent: Thursday, January 2, 2014 9:01 PM
Subject: [f-AA] Champ Annual Inspection newbie question...

[Mark Peterson]

Some thoughts Sean:

Do an owner assisted annual.  The IA can help you understand the plane.

Also, before the annual inspection:

Grease wheel bearings.   After than annual, if you have Goodyear disc brakes, put silicone around the clips to keep them in place and not rattling.
Change air filter.
Change the oil, but leave the oil screen in the plane for the IA to inspect.   You'll need a new crush washer for the oil tank drain.
While you're changing the oil, its the best time to do oil analysis if you want to start doing that.
Clean the windows, remove the floorboards, vacuum out the interior, unzip inspection stuff in headliner.  Remove side interior panels.
Remove all fairings and covers, wings, fuselage and landing gear fairings.
Get all log books in order, write up the oil change, air filter change and greasing of wheel bearings as owner maintenance.  If you can do it yourself,
get it done without the annual inspection fee.
Get a bag or two of #4 3/8" stainless steel screws.  You'll go through them with the fairings and such.

That should get you started. 

---

Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2014 19:40:13 -0800
From: nc4...@yahoo.com
To: aer...@westmont.edu
Subject: Re: [f-AA] Champ Annual Inspection newbie question...

[Sean P. McGrath]

Thanks for the advice. 

I am very excited about it and want to be as involved as I can. 

I have owned a number of "toys" if you will and can turn a wrench, but their is this mystique around aircraft maintenance I would like to get over....if that makes any sense.  

Sent from my iPad

[rjcap...@aol.com]

Sean,

What part of the world are you in?

There are probably some Aeronca folks near by who would be glad to assist in getting your feet wet.

Joel

[Thomas Holmes]

Sean, 

airplanes are not complicated if you've been around pretty normal working on bikes and cars, etc.  The difference comes in the attention to detail.  Airplanes are unforgiving to carelessness, sloppy work, etc.

A checklist is very handy for being able to review the process of what you are undertaking, so that you can think it thru before you start.

Tom

[Sean P. McGrath]

I am in North Texas 58T

Sent from my iPad

[Mark Peterson]

"mystique around aircraft maintenance"

Makes perfect sense to me.   I had a feeling that working on an airplane was something out of NASA working to build a Saturn V...
but hanging around IA's during the annual inspection makes it seem more like being around the Ford dealership.   Yes, details,
perfection and following the rules makes it different than cars and motorcycles, but the basics of mechanical machinery are
the same.    It's still spark, air and gas to make the big fan go round and the airframe is all about keeping the powers of nature
at bay, as in all things seek to return to the earth.

---

From: maver...@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2014 22:03:50 -0600

[Ian Harvie]

Sean, Attached is a check list I use every year for my Chief. It may
have come from Roy Johnston an old list member (What happened to Roy?)
I have a couple more but can't lay my hands on them.

Ian

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[psa...@graffitis.com]

Good on you to get involved!

First, highly recommend NO stainless hardware on our old birds. None!
Get an assortment of plated, cad or zinc, "B" style screws.
(not pointed sheet metal screws)
Replace all you take out with new.
Need the sacrificial plating to keep corrosion at bay.

Get a bunch of baggies to label & hold parts, ziplocks are fine.
Blue painter's tape is handy too.
Get some pink flagging survey tape to mark anything not completed.
You will get distracted..
A clipboard for all your notes & checklist.

Enjoy!

Paul
Beech N35
GCBC on floats

----------------------------------------
From: "Mark Peterson" <mrpet...@msn.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2014 10:44 PM
To: "The Fearless Aeronca Aviators" <aer...@westmont.edu>

Subject: Re: [f-AA] Champ Annual Inspection newbie question...

Some thoughts Sean:

Do an owner assisted annual. The IA can help you understand the plane.

Also, before the annual inspection:

Grease
wheel bearings. After than annual, if you have Goodyear disc brakes,
put silicone around the clips to keep them in place and not rattling.
Change air filter.
Change
the oil, but leave the oil screen in the plane for the IA to inspect.
You'll need a new crush washer for the oil tank drain.
While you're changing the oil, its the best time to do oil analysis if you
want to start doing that.
Clean
the windows, remove the floorboards, vacuum out the interior, unzip
inspection stuff in headliner. Remove side interior panels.
Remove all fairings and covers, wings, fuselage and landing gear fairings.
Get
all log books in order, write up the oil change, air filter change and
greasing of wheel bearings as owner maintenance. If you can do it
yourself,
get it done without the annual inspection fee.
Get a bag or two of #4 3/8" stainless steel screws. You'll go through them
with the fairings and such.

That should get you started.

----------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2014 19:40:13 -0800
From: nc4...@yahoo.com
To: aer...@westmont.edu
Subject: Re: [f-AA] Champ Annual Inspection newbie question...

My I.A., also a Chief owner, wants me to know the airplane spinner to
tailwheel. Thus I assist with the annuals. At this point I am not the owner
but the grunt labor helper. He makes me look at everything and turn the
wrenches. I'm a student in an A. & P. class during this time and have a
ball!
travis
From: Sean P. McGrath <maver...@gmail.com>
To: f-aa <aer...@westmont.edu>
Sent: Thursday, January 2, 2014 9:01 PM
Subject: [f-AA] Champ Annual Inspection newbie question...

[Richard Murray]

Paul,

I recall hearing once that stainless was bad, but being an OF darn if I can remember the reason. Be so kind as to explain it to me again?

[j...@joea.com]

Sean,

The below pretty much covers everything. Use the checklist that Ian provided then save it for
next year. Make a fresh copy every year and keep the old ones so that you can see what
needed help last year and double check them this year.

I would also pull the seats yourself. You do the grunt/dirty work and first off you get to know
the plane better, and it also cuts down the cost by a lot.

As for stainless hardware, I have used it for years and will continue. They are on my cowling,
gap seals and so on, nothing structural.

I do a 100 hour on the airplane and after checking my work (I am an A&P) and doing his
inspection, the IA signs off the annual.

Joe A

On 2 Jan 2014 at 19:42, Mark Peterson wrote:

From: Mark Peterson <mrpet...@msn.com>
To: The Fearless Aeronca Aviators <aer...@westmont.edu>

[Roger Anderson]

Hi Sean.  Like many of the others said, I do as much as possible myself on my Chief before the IA arrives.   That includes oil change (if needed), wheel bearings, all inspection plates, cowling, access fairings, floor boards, all pulleys and hinges oiled, tailwheel and oleos lubbed, and anything else that can save time for the IA (as in money saved).  I even have the ignition harness off the plugs and them loose in the cylinders.  I also do as much inspection up in the wings as I can see, just to make me comfortable that all is looking good still.  I have the logs out and ready, and have an AD inspection checklist sheet available for him.   Since we know what the ADs are and have been through the years, and that there are no new ones, nothing has changed from the previous year.  The very few to be confirmed are simple ones.  The same IA has done mine 10 years now, so he knows what he's looking for pretty quickly.  When he is through, I put it all back together again.   I know the airplane pretty well by now.   roger

---

From: "Sean P. McGrath" <maver...@gmail.com>
To: "f-aa" <aer...@westmont.edu>

Sent: Thursday, January 2, 2014 9:01:11 PM

Subject: [f-AA] Champ Annual Inspection newbie question...

[Dan Vandermeer]

Sean
Owner assisted annuals are never easier for the AP. But having an interested and involved owner can be a good thing for both of you. Remember it is the AP's tools, time, knowledge and experience you are asking for if you assist to learn. I suggest you concentrate on learning the things you can do yourself between annuals.
For example:
-Drain and refill the oil. Make a note of the oil the AP recommends for each season. Learn how to safely remove, clean, and replace the oil screen and where to get replacement crush gaskets.
-Note which lubricants are used on hinges and other moving parts.
-See how to remove, inspect, clean, and gap your plugs. Make a note of the proper torque numbers. Ask how to anneal the copper washers.
-Have the AP show you how to safely remove a tire from the wheel. And how and where to check for cracks in the main wheels. Tire inflation is critical. The number on the wheel may not be appropriate for your situation. Also learn how your tail wheel should work.
-Find out where the "P" leads are and where they should be attached and which mag fires which cylinders.
-Watch which tools the AP uses. Some simple maintenance requires an uncommon tool and uncommon knowledge.
-Ask every dumb question that comes to mind. It is what you don't know but think you know that can kill you. Airplanes are not cars or motorcycles.
-Remain clear of the prop and of MMO.
And disregard most all of these suggestions if you are paying an hourly rate rather than a flat fee for this annual.
Dan v

[Sean P. McGrath]

I talked with my A&P and is working on the flat fee plus he was said he is happy to share his knowledge and make it a learning experience for me.

Aviation folks are simply the best.

Sent from my iPhone

[jcpa...@comcast.net]

Sean,

I echo Roger's recommendations below.  I, personally, can not adequately stress the importance of establishing a relationship with your IA.  You will need to earn his confidence in whatever you do, it is after all his name going in the logbook.  You will see that over the years he will learn/ know your limitations/abilities and allow you to be more involved the the inspection and/or maintenance.  I help my IA perform inspections on other aircraft and take advantage of these as learning experiences.  I may be one of the fortunate to have an IA that enjoys sharing his knowledge.

My two cents.

Jim

[Rich Dugger]

-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Vandermeer
Sent: Friday, January 03, 2014 12:33 PM
To: aer...@westmont.edu
Subject: Re: [f-AA] Champ Annual Inspection newbie question...

[Mark Peterson]

And Sean, you have someone who knows your plane which means that every year you don't have to show the IA:

1.  Yes, Aeronca ailerons are designed to float as an anti-flutter device.  They aren't loose.
2.  The tire pressures are supposed to be 12 to 15 psi, so they look low.  It's in the Aeronca manual.
3.  No, the AD isn't every year for the wing spar.  This Aeronca is in a different type catergory, look up the AD.
4.  No, these Bendix mags aren't those ones.
5.  The Wheel bearings are called out for every 100 hours for a regrease in the Aeronca manual.   We can skip it this year after a function test.
6.  Be careful about those Goodyear disc clips.  They worth their weight in gold and the silicon glue around them is just fine.
7.  The parking brake is under the panel.
8.  Hmmm, you have to hand prop it.  There is no starter.
9.  You can cross out the radio, electrical and hydraulic systems on your checklist. Other than the ELT.
10.  Yes, those are the old spark plug ends, not the modern ones.

---

Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2014 23:43:07 +0000
From: jcpa...@comcast.net
To: aer...@westmont.edu

[Sean P. McGrath]

Thanks so much for all the information. 

When I wanted to buy an airplane I flew in a a lot but wanted a tail dragger and something special. 

My first ride in a champ was love a first sight. I ended up buying the champ I took the ride in I loved it so much. 

What I did not know what a wonderful community I was joining also. 

Thank you everyone, I hope to meet lots of you this summer.  

Sent from my iPhone