Project: TerryS     -     Entry

May 16, 2023 2 inspection peepholes Category: Fuselage
There is an inspection panel on each side of the tailcone under the horizontal stab that provide access to the elevator bell crank and pushrod assembly.

On a lot of aerobatic airplanes, there is a window in that area so you can visually check that linkage durning preflight.

That seems like a pretty good idea, so I've had this idea on my mental list of small projects that can be knocked out in a a couple of spare hours.

I laid out and drilled holes in each of the access panels that are about 1.25 inches. I say "about" because I cut these with a metric unit that I had in my tool box and I want to say the actual number was 38mm, which is pretty much the same thing. fabricated a lense out of some scrap 1/8" lexan I had in the shop, and a backing ring from some scrap .025 aluminum.

Attached everything with 4 squeezed rivets and a dollop of firewall sealant to make it more or less waterproof.

Note- I didn't notice until after I was done with this, but the firewall sealant I'm using is #m fire barrier 2000 and the fine print on the tube says don't use on polycarbonate, which I believe includes lexan. It seems to be sticking okay, but I don't know if it will get cloudy or craze at some point.

The nice thing about this project is that it will be super easy to redo if it doesn't work out.


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