ASRA'S HUB BAR LIFE

[asra]

Birdy, I have a mate [some people think I don't]& he is a fixed wing instructor & he has a theory on gyro's that go's like this GYRO'S DON'T FLY THEY ARE JUST SO UGLY THE EARTH REPELS THEM. So those of you who dont like birdy's work horse don't worry he probably wouldn't let you fly it anyway.

[Brian]

Pete, I reckon your best pre flight is that few minutes just before you land, if all feels good , then most likely, all is well !! Anyone who can really "feel"their gyro knows immediately something isnt quite right. eg, you can have your whole gyro crack tested but that only tells you that there is no crack there NOW, 5 minutes time, that might not be the case !!Thats not a nice thing to say about gyros Butch. I reckon they are one of the most beautifull things that can fly and its poetry to watch someone who can really fly them !! Those who have watched David Jackson fly his gyro would agree with me I reckon.Brian

[asra]

I fly them I love them but there ugly and for the most part they look like flying gym sets and the statement is a dig from fixed wing flyers at gyro flyers based in jealousy as we can fly in conditions that ground them but where all mates in the end its just a joke

[birdy]

Ya spot on butch, I don't reckon i gota worry in the world bout sumone flogn me bird............. but if they did, theyd wana be sure i didn't find out bout it.The ferels been called alota things, including dangerous, a fly'n rotory hoist, poor mans chopper, spoton, a blowy on steroids ................... but never ugly.[ probably coz it goes without sayn.]Ignorance is bliss............but only till you realise you were.You can always get the answer you want, if you ask enough experts.

[asra]

Birdy, Nobody would ever flog your bird coz they'd never find it...Not without a 44 of degreaser and a high pressure pump anyway!I reakon you must walk out with a metal detector some mornings to find that thing.Only my opinion.Ha HaDeano.

[birdy]

Hmmmmm,............. I just got me gyro mag, and can now see why my baby looks like the ugly duckling[B)]. Its parked alongside Echo's beutiful yellow bird. Thatd make anything look ugly.[!]Can't understand why the pic is on the mag. I don't think any pic of me ferel would be appropriate for any mag[ you'll keep Ecka[}]]............ are you short of pix Barry??that oil slick is 'rust proofn' deano, same as on me tojo.[]BTW, your an idiot.............only my opinion ,heh heh.[]Hope to see you and many more at Biggerton[].[ or where ever the next nats is at.]Ignorance is bliss............but only till you realise you were.You can always get the answer you want, if you ask enough experts.

[asra]

I have to agree Birdy that checking the girl out when you are in the mood is more thorough than just before you want to hit the air. Had a brilliant fly today looking around paddocks for a mob of sheep that strayed away from a friend's property. Didn't find his mob but came across a few good lookin ones though...mmmm must be of NZ origin.Pete

[Brian]

I got into the air today, my rotors and new hub bar arrived back last night...hard to believe that they were sent from Mildura on the 28th of last month, supposed to be 4 days up, 4 days back, and a couple to make the new bar !! Was the 22nd yesterday.Anyway, chucked them on and rough as, phone call to Rob and I put the shim's off the old hub bar onto the same side of the new one and 'bingo' smooth as the old set up !! Trouble was I found a few mobs of goats in the big paddock so I decided I should round them up, would only take 30 minutes or so.....2hrs and 40 minutes later we finally got them through the gate.Kept on finding mobs as I went out and the mustering front got quite wide very quickly and I didnt have any ground crew till I got them rounded up at the gate and my wife came out to open the gate for me and give a hand. I reckon the blades arent tracking right yet, should I add some more shims till they track or check the balance now ???Brian

[Adrian S]

Guys,Just thought I would post a quick update since the release of the Hub bar AD.I have just recieved the test reports on two that were tested this week (this is in addition to the 5 others that I have that failed the test prior to the release of the AD)ragon Wings - 800+hrs failed test - serious crack found eminating from blade tang attach holes in end of hub bar. AK - 200+ hours, passed test.( note the AD didnt require the bar to be tested but the Pilots wife thought it would be a good idea anyway!)Guys if you have hub bars that have 500+hours read the AD and see what category you fit into and get them tested by an approved NDI testing facility.This AD covers all Alloy Hub bars- dont believe any one that tells you that they will never crack! Regards,AdrianAdrian StoffelsTechnical ManagerASRAMob 0427094552

[asra]

Adrian and all,I have the "Dragon Wings" hub bar in my possesion and can clearly see the crack at the attatchment holes.These blades have approx 100 hrs on a two seat gyro and over 800 hrs on a mustering machine.Both Gyros were fitted with electric pre-rotator.

[birdy]

Wot are DWs??? Are they the yank ones with the lead/lag hinge setup??Ignorance is bliss............but only till you realise you were.You can always get the answer you want, if you ask enough experts.

[asra]

Murray, can you provide more detail ie, was it a heavy machine? was the work environment harsh ie rough strip etc.

[Echo]

Q 1 : Of the tests performed on selected hub bars which cracks have been detected had the machine been subjected to taxing on rough terrain without the blades rotating?Q 2 : Is there a comparison of hub bars on machines operated between an experienced pilot & social flyer.Q 3: Does a pre rotator place damaging forces on the hub bar?Q 4: What are the reasons for hub bar failure ? Ground strike,poor workmanship/engineering,unsuitable material?Q 5 : If the hub bars are manufactured stronger/heavier where will the stress point be moved to?Q 6 : Is hub bar failure unique to machines in Aus., or are there problems OS. ?Q 7 : Was the pilots wife a TA ?

[Echo]

Whats the difference between a 'pretty' social machine that only does a few hrs/month & a working machine that does big hrs/day that may be dirty & "looks like a heap of ****" ?

[asra]

Birdy,"Dw's" are "Dragon Wings" rotors made by Rotor Flight Dynamics in the US. They are a fabricated blade,fairly light but with 1 or 2 pound tipweights.Like most blades there is no leed/lag provision.Barry,the first 100 or so hours was on a tandem two seater fitted with a Rotax 618.The last 800 hrs was on a Dominator style mustering machine also fitted with a Rotax 618.Both light machines but in the two worst enviroments for gyro usage.Eric,I have no doubt these blades or any others for that matter would last twice as long if we all had billiard table smooth strips,never went harder than a rate one turn and prerotated by hand.There is a common thread with all the latest failures.