Goose strike(s) make left flap go floppy
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 3:29 am
Looking for part no. 0525000 (flap assembly - wing - left) for a 1948 C170 -- could trade the floppy flap, if that's any help. These are the skinny simple hinge flaps. Are they interchangeable with 170A flaps?
Anyway, although both options (replace/reskin) are basically equivalent, mechanic feels replacing would be better and easier than reskinning/rebuilding, even including stripping the paint off a used flap (airplane's unpainted). Problem is, he can't find any. Where would you folks go looking for that part? Anyone got a spare they don't need?
I have video of the landing, where a flock of geese emerged from the late-sun glare (on Rwy 27 at the equinox, no kidding), when I was well into the flare and elected to hit them slower on the ground rather than in a go-round. Almost missed 'em, (prop missed 'em, whew) but they were a tad slow in scattering. There are 3 quick thuds in the video but the left flap appears to be the only casualty. Looks like impact(s) at the outboard end flexed the skins to the point where they buckled a bit -- enough to lose stiffness, so the flap will now flex under pressure. It's not really floppy, I'm playing with words there, I guess -- but with full flaps deployed at 75-80mph the left one only appears half down due to the flex, and the plane rolls mildly left. It's placarded against using flaps until it's fixed.
Thanks for any help.
PS Given what happened here, the first time I had my camera mounted & filming a landing -- evidently shooting video is dangerous. Won't be doing that again.
PPS No injured geese apparent afterwards. The geese and the 170 only got bruises, it seems. Tough birds.
Anyway, although both options (replace/reskin) are basically equivalent, mechanic feels replacing would be better and easier than reskinning/rebuilding, even including stripping the paint off a used flap (airplane's unpainted). Problem is, he can't find any. Where would you folks go looking for that part? Anyone got a spare they don't need?
I have video of the landing, where a flock of geese emerged from the late-sun glare (on Rwy 27 at the equinox, no kidding), when I was well into the flare and elected to hit them slower on the ground rather than in a go-round. Almost missed 'em, (prop missed 'em, whew) but they were a tad slow in scattering. There are 3 quick thuds in the video but the left flap appears to be the only casualty. Looks like impact(s) at the outboard end flexed the skins to the point where they buckled a bit -- enough to lose stiffness, so the flap will now flex under pressure. It's not really floppy, I'm playing with words there, I guess -- but with full flaps deployed at 75-80mph the left one only appears half down due to the flex, and the plane rolls mildly left. It's placarded against using flaps until it's fixed.
Thanks for any help.
PS Given what happened here, the first time I had my camera mounted & filming a landing -- evidently shooting video is dangerous. Won't be doing that again.
PPS No injured geese apparent afterwards. The geese and the 170 only got bruises, it seems. Tough birds.
) out for the aerial search. We had some concerns about the low vis and rain but what I never counted on that evening was the flocks of migrating ducks and geese. I only "HIT" two ducks and that was "two" too many! The prop took one and the left lift strut and horizontal stab took the other one. My airspeed was probably around 90K and the impacts sounded like a shotgun going off in the cabin. Fortunately the only damage was the fairing on the lower end of the strut and lots of feathers and internal ducky stuff on the prop, windshield and stab. I am so glad it was only "ducks" and not geese we flew into ! 
. . AN MEEN TOO 
AN I BETCHA FUR SURE IFN I NEED TOO - - MY OLE 170 WOOD FLY OUT TO YORE PLACE AN WE CUD KILL SOME PIGS. 