RV-6A Questions

Lama1125

Lama1125

Pre-takeoff checklist
Joined
Apr 23, 2025
Messages
104
Location
Franklin, KY
Display Name
Cherkoee383
Home Airfield
1M5
I had a customer come in after a very hard landing and wants me to inspect the gear. On inspection I noticed the strut covers are cracked rather severely. This type of strut appears to be filled with bondo or something. Any mechanics with more RV experience than me have any advice on what is serviceable and not? I don't really work on a lot of them. I'll try to get some photos on my phone and upload them when I get the chance.
Thanks.
 
Am not a mechanic, but own and owner assist on the conditional inspection(s) for my aircraft (RV7A).

That must have been some landing to damage the strut covers:oops: Be that as it may, most RVs do their first 40 hours of flight without strut covers or wheel pants. I think your customer wants to make sure the "gear box" attach points aren't damaged. I've never seen a strut with bondo before and would imagine that wouldn't survive a hard landing anyway. Might get better responses over at VansAirforce.NET
 
I'll give them a look. He got the nose wheel pant pretty bad, blew the tire, and cracked both main as well as the nose strut covers.
 
Lama1125 said:
I'll give them a look. He got the nose wheel pant pretty bad, blew the tire, and cracked both main as well as the nose strut covers.
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If he lands like that, he'll need the "AntiSplat" nose gear stiffner (can go to that website).

If that nose strut is bent, that'll be bad news. Guess make sure no struts bent, and that the main gear attach points (gear boxes) look ok.
 
tsts4 said:
Calling @kyleb -- he built and owns a 6A
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Mine is a -6. But I’d love to see a picture of the “strut covers”. Are those the gear leg fairings? Those are non structural. My first pass inspection would be to check the straightness of the main gear legs and check to see if the weldments where the gear sockets attach are damaged.
 
There are no struts.

I also assume you are talking about the intersection fairings which are completely non-structural, and might crack from normal use depending on how well they are made. If the gear legs are straight, the only concern would be the weldment that they attach to, and where the weldment attaches to the wing spar.
 
Also check the engine mount well. Pay special attention to where the gear leg socket is welded in to the mount.
 
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