Harley_Pilot
Member
It was bound to happen. I'm working on the empennage/Aft Fuselage kit and have completed the HS, Rudder, VS, trim tab and nearly done with the elevator. I keep the completed components on top of a cabinet in my workshop (garage). It has been over 100 degrees nearly everyday for the past couple of weeks so I leave the roll up garage door open at night about 6" to take advantage of cooler nighttime temps. Apparently, 6" is enough for a family of raccoons to come visiting.
The little blankity blanks, climbed up the cabinet and knocked the rudder off. It made quite the racket as it fell 6 feet onto the concrete floor. I rushed into the garage to see them staring back at me as if to say, "...wasn't us. The cat did it." Well, I don't have a cat so I know it was them.
My rudder didn't survive the short CFIT and there is no way to realistically repair it. Better to build another one. I called Van's and asked if they had a "Rudder Kit" and was told they don't. I would have to order each individual piece. I started going through the plans and writing them down but thought there must be a faster way. Maybe someone has decided to build a second rudder and they have a parts list composed??
The little blankity blanks, climbed up the cabinet and knocked the rudder off. It made quite the racket as it fell 6 feet onto the concrete floor. I rushed into the garage to see them staring back at me as if to say, "...wasn't us. The cat did it." Well, I don't have a cat so I know it was them.
My rudder didn't survive the short CFIT and there is no way to realistically repair it. Better to build another one. I called Van's and asked if they had a "Rudder Kit" and was told they don't. I would have to order each individual piece. I started going through the plans and writing them down but thought there must be a faster way. Maybe someone has decided to build a second rudder and they have a parts list composed??