Project: snicholson   -  
            All Project Activities / Entries :
    (Please mouse-over any icon to get a description of that function).


  
Builder Name:Simon Nicholson   -  
Project:   Bearhawk   -   VIEW REPORTS
Total Hours:519.5
Total Flight Time:6
Total Expense:$93749.45
Start/Last Date:Nov 03, 2019 - No Finish Date
Engine:Lycoming IO540
Propeller:Hartzell Trailblazer
 
Friendly URL: https://eaabuilderslog.org?s=snicholson

Home or Last Project Picture

Nov 09, 2021     Fuel sight gauges - (3 hours)       Category: Fuel System
Fuel sight gauges calibrated for both three point and level flight attitudes


 
Sep 24, 2021     Registration - (2 hours)       Category: Paint / Decals
Rego went on as well as making notes for all other decals/placards needed


 
Sep 22, 2021     Weight and balance - (7 hours)       Category: Inspection
Jacked up tail to the datum level using the lower floor/longeron. Using the BOP chapter scales the aircraft came in at 647 kg with a C of G 20.5cm aft of the leading edge. Very happy with the result.


 
Sep 12, 2021     Fuel flow testing - (7 hours)       Category: Fuel System
Lifted the aircraft to an 18 degree pitch attitude and measured the flow for 1 minute with the fuel selector on both/left/right. 3000ml on all selections. Just under twice the minimum required of 1600ml.


 
Sep 07, 2021     Ground power - (3 hours)       Category: Instrument Panel
Following Bob Knuckolls design I wired up a popper ground power plug do I can use ground power when setting up efis etc. it will also be able to be used to charge the battery and jump start the aircraft if required.


 
Sep 05, 2021     Avionics inspection - (5 hours)       Category: Inspection
Avionics, ADSB, ELT, NAV, COMM as well as the pitot static system were inspected today. Transponder needed a software update, which was strange as it's new. It took a while to get the GPS talking to the transponder but after some red wiring and configuration of the the gps it all came together.


 
Sep 04, 2021     Cowl door camlocs - (3 hours)       Category: Engine
Installed 5 camlocs each side the studs were-3 and the groomets were 4002-n.


 
Aug 27, 2021     Logbooks - (3 hours)       Category: Paperwork
Had help from Pip and Mike Scotter starting my logbooks and getting the required AD's. Spent today finishing them off.


 
Aug 08, 2021     Ground power plug - (1 hour)       Category: Cowling
Drilled the cowling to accept the piper ground plug receptacle


 
Jul 18, 2021     Door latches       Category: Fuselage
Had to modify the door latches to insert into the proper place in each door frame.


 
Jul 12, 2021     Main doors installed - (8 hours)       Category: Fuselage
100N gas strut holds the door up. Door covered in Acrylic which is more fuel resistant than polycarbonate


 
Jul 11, 2021     Planning instrument panel - (4 hours)       Category: Avionics
Laying out instrument panel and cutting. Pigtails arrived from RS components which will be used to ground the shielding on the comm wiring.


 
Jul 02, 2021     Prop bolts - (2 hours)       Category: Propeller
Torqued to 60-70 ft-lbs and lock wired.


 
Jun 21, 2021     FAB seal - (1 hour)       Category: Engine
Baffle seal added to the front of the FAB to seal around the cowl inlet scoop.


 
Jun 21, 2021     Oil added       Category: Engine
AeroShell 100 straight mineral oil added. The oil cooler was filled separately.


 
Jun 10, 2021     Shock strut assembly - (2 hours)       Category: Landing Gear
With Aidan and Fynn's help we did one of the first jobs, assembly of the shock struts which are a spring/oil dampened system which helps the Bearhawk “stick” on landing.


 
May 31, 2021     Ground power plug       Category: Electrics
Decided to install this to provide ground power while playing with the avionics and to jump start if required. Ground power solenoid (11-03161) $32.50USD. Piper type socket (11-00500) $27.50. Piper type plug (11-03159) $29.80. Brass plate from Miter 10 K&S $10


 
May 19, 2021     Taxi light mount       Category: Lighting
Cut a hole in the nose bowl and made a mount for the taxi light. After installing the lights in the wingtips, I realised that in the three point attitude they are all pointing to far up to be of much benefit taxiing.


 
May 05, 2021     Skylight replacement - (2 hours)       Category: Cowling
After cracking the initial skylight I purchased another sheet of polycarbonate. This time more care was done in deburring all the holes and removing any possible sources of stress risers. The holes were drilled to 6mm for 4mm bolts. The skylight is also fixed by Modified Silicone.


 
Apr 14, 2021     Aileron cable - (2 hours)       Category: Controls
Tensioned to 26 lbs and discovered the main turnbuckle had too many threads showing. Ended up being an easy fix as I had a long barrel which I swapped out with the short barrel.


 
Mar 19, 2021     Filtered Air Box - (4 hours)       Category: Engine
This FAB came with the Vans firewall forward kit. Assembled this and included the cutout for the mixture arm. I swapped out my straight arm for an offset one with a Aviation Power Supply


 
Dec 26, 2020     Engine/prop delivery       Category: Engine
Flew down to Christchurch to bring back my engine and prop after John Crawford's rebuild. I used a truck a friend sold to a guy in Thames and needed delivering so it all worked out. Left Christchurch at 1530 and arrived home at 0630 the next day.


 
Nov 27, 2020     Sight gauge and inter tank vent. - (4 hours)       Category: Fuel System
After cracking the last piece of schedule 40 1/4” pipe i took a little extra care when assembling.
2 pieces of 12” sched 40 pipe $4.02USD, 4X AN822 $47.80USD. 16 x AN818 nuts $12.80USD. 2 X AN824 tee $23USD. 16 x AN819 sleeve $13.12USD. 3m of 5052 1/8” tubing $103USD. After some reports of engine stoppages in low fuel tank states, I decided to make an inter tank vent line so that both tanks will always be at the same pressure. This was done by making a “t” off the top sight gauge and running an aluminium hard line forward across the front spar carry through behind the windscreen to the other side.


 
Nov 21, 2020     Wiring landing, nav/strobe lights. - (8 hours)       Category: Lighting
Using trailer wire as the heavy duty coating will withstand many years of being in the wings. I installed conduit in the wings before I closed them up and left a length of cord in so it was easy to pull it through along with the wire for the magnetometer in the RH wing.


 
Nov 11, 2020     Electrical system - (8 hours)       Category: Electrics
Attached the battery and starter solenoids to the fire wall along with the ANL fuse and forest of tabs grounding block. On the cabin side I wired up the components of the standby alternator and associated relay for the endurance buss.


 
Nov 08, 2020     Pitot tube final fit       Category: Instrument Panel
Now the wings are on I can install the pitot tube and hook up the tubes.


 
Nov 08, 2020     Engine rebuild - (2 hours)       Category: Engine
Update from John


 
Nov 06, 2020     Flap torque tube bolts - (1 hour)       Category: Controls
Drilled and reamed the flap torque tube to accept AN4 bolts. With both flaps installed you get a real sense of how big they are.


 
Nov 01, 2020     Flap cable - (1 hour)       Category: Controls
Made cables for flap control. Flap has minimal clearance from the wing trailing edge. Will need some spacers under the hangers to pull the flaps out.


 
Oct 30, 2020     Elevator rigging       Category: Controls
Inserted cotter pins in the elevator control cable attach bolts.


 
Oct 30, 2020     Tail wheel steering springs       Category: Landing Gear
Tension type kit (05-11457) used.


 
Oct 29, 2020     Wings installed - (2 hours)       Category: Wings
With Bryce's help we installed the wings for the last time.


 
Oct 29, 2020     Fuel tanks installed - (1 hour) Category: Fuel System
 
Oct 29, 2020     Tanks installed - (2 hours) Category: Fuel System
 
Sep 23, 2020     Wing root connections - (1 hour)       Category: Wings
Pitot tube and fuel connections at the wing root


 
Sep 21, 2020     Rudder cable penetrations - (1 hour)       Category: Fuselage
Measured the position that the rudder cable will penetrate the fabric.


 
Sep 21, 2020     ELT - (1 hour)       Category: Avionics
Expiry dates for ELT audio alert (Dec 2029) and remote (Aug 2023)
ELT battery expiry 12 September 2024


 
Sep 02, 2020     Engine rebuild - (2 hours)       Category: Engine
Flew down to Christchurch to see John and spend some time with him fitting engine accessories like the standby alternator and CPI2 ignition system along with the cooling baffles. All this so he can put the engine on the test stand and run the engine up.


 
Aug 20, 2020     VOR antenna mount - (2 hours)       Category: Avionics
Made a mount to strengthen up the vertical stabiliser rib which I am mounting the antenna to. Nut plates also installed to bolt the antenna base to.


 
Aug 13, 2020     ELT mount - (1 hour)       Category: Avionics
Doubler plate riveted to the floor board. ELT installed under the pilot seat.


 
Jul 03, 2020     GPS antenna mount - (3 hours)       Category: Avionics
Mount/ground plane for GPS antenna fabricated. This is installed behind the skylight between the stringers.


 
Jul 03, 2020     Magnetometer mount - (2 hours)       Category: Avionics
Magnetometer mount fabricated to be installed in RH wing in second outermost bay to isolate from ferrous metal and wingtip lights.


 
Jul 02, 2020     Gear leg fairing - (2 hours)       Category: Landing Gear
#6 nut plates installed on the gear legs for the fairing to attach to.


 
Jun 20, 2020     Door sills - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Made carbon fibre door sill.


 
Jun 20, 2020     Contactors       Category: Electrics
B&C contactor, continuous and intermittent duty. Fusible link


 
May 21, 2020     Electronic ignition invoice.       Category: Paint / Decals
SDS CPI2 ignition invoice.


 
May 20, 2020     Elevator trim - (5 hours) Category: Controls
After installing the trim initially without any turnbuckles. I have redone the trim for the third time I think.
 
May 20, 2020     Elevator trim - (5 hours)       Category: Controls
After installing the trim initially without any turnbuckles. I have redone the trim for the third time I think.


 
May 15, 2020     Fresh air vent - (4 hours)       Category: Fuselage
Following the Cessna vent, I cut a whole just below the leading edge in the inboard section of each wing. I made the adaptor out of scrap aluminium and 50mm plastic pipe fittings. These have been bonded together with epoxy, micro balloons and fibreglass. I added a fillet inside so any water that entered would not pool and would just run back out. I have also added a fine aluminium screen to keep bugs out.


 
May 15, 2020     Painting wings and side panels - (10 hours)       Category: Paint / Decals
Over the past few years I have been alodining and priming the aluminium pieces as I have gone. Now it's time for filler prime and top coat. I am using Autothane which is a PPG product matched to the Oratex Focker Red.


 
May 15, 2020     Flywheel - (8 hours)       Category: Engine
My flywheel came off an Aztec with heated props. I had to cut out the slip ring with an angle grinder before giving it to my friend Dave who took a further 500 grams out. It has now also been dynamically balanced by Wayne at Phil Shepherds engineering.


 


NOTE: This information is strictly used for the EAA Builders Log project within the EAA organization.     -     Policy     -     © Copyright 2024 Brevard Web Pro, Inc.