New AD for wings.

[Gord Tessier]

Hi Herb, I used the wrong word earlier. I meant wing extensions without without fuel tanks.
There does not appear to be any problems with the wing tips. The ad refers to extensions with fuel tanks and extensions without. It appears the limitations are much more stringent on aircraft with the extensions but no fuel tank.
Either way, Saturday morning I start removing the mod. On Monday my engineer and I will do the one time inspection and be done with it. Probably saved my life.

[hharney]

Is there actually a mod for wing extensions without the tanks? I didn't understand that when I read the draft AD.

[Gord Tessier]

Hi Herb, it was news to me too. Why bother doing it at all if your not going to have the fuel tanks. Mine are coming off on Saturday. My engineer was beginning to worry after the last annual. He says it will probably save my life. The extended range was nice as a cushion on fuel reserve but I am really only good for a few hours at a time anyway. I think the mod should have come with a pilot relief tube but the FAA probably would have issued an AD on that too.

[stackj]

Ah, and once again my primary safety rule...

6 hour fuel range...

3 hour bladder range!

[rhurt]

There's a relief tube on this one. No need to give up coffee or even worry about a preflight pit stop.

I have four young daughters. Flying with five women made the mod essential.

[Gord Tessier]

Does anyone know how to reach Owen Bell?
My engineer has been trying to reach him.
I think one of he engineers (can't confirm as it was second hand) from the FAA has been trying to get in contact with him as well.

[WebMaster]

http://www.aviationenterprises.us/contact.html

[WebMaster]

Originally Posted by rhurt

There's a relief tube on this one. No need to give up coffee or even worry about a preflight pit stop.

I have four young daughters. Flying with five women made the mod essential.

Be careful about that. It has been known to cause corrosion. You should check the airframe carefully, "downwind" of the place where the relief tube exits the aircraft.

[rhurt]

Originally Posted by larry bowdish

Be careful about that. It has been known to cause corrosion. You should check the airframe carefully, "downwind" of the place where the relief tube exits the aircraft.

It is mounted slightly below the port spar attach fairing, so it's pretty much out of the way of the prop/boom/elevator downstream. I always flush the tube with an antibacterial soap /water solution after each use though, and inspect the prop/elevator in case the airflow is different that what i expect.