Pin on rudder control rod tore sheet metal

[AeroEng]

Hey everyone, quick question for the hive mind.  
 

I noticed today that the rudder control rod on my ‘07 Acclaim tore the sheet metal around the opening for the rod.  A pic is attached.  Anyone have thoughts on how this would happen?  Is this something I should be concerned about?

 

Relatedly, I’m wondering if there is any general guidance on the amount of “slop” that is acceptable for the rudder?  An inch of side to side at the edge of the rudder?  Two inches?

 

Thanks!

Richard

Edited October 12, 2021 by AeroEng

[Guest]

If the bolt was removed for maintenance the rod drops and the roll pin securing the rod end catches the metal opening.  Normally with the correct length of bolt there is plenty of clearance.

Clarence

 

[carusoam]

Welcome aboard Eng!

Wow, that’s a spooky first post!

Are you still getting binding in the control?  It passes the free and correct portion of the pre-flight?

Looks like boxing out the controls during the pre-flight one day must have been interesting….(?)

 

As far as rudder movement goes… while on the ground… it is mostly limited by the front tire being attached to it… so… no slop, but a collection of motion gets allowed…

It would take holding the rudder pedals in place to know the actual slop at the rudder…

Great pics!

PP thoughts only, not a mechanic…

Best regards,

-a-

[EricJ]

+1 that is probably happened once sometime during maintenance.    You could put some tape or something on it and see if it ever gets rubbed again.

The specs for the control surface play should be in the maintenance manual for your model of airplane.   I have the specs for a J, but they probably don't match yours exactly.

 

[ArtVandelay]

I would check full deflection of rudder on the ground, carefully checked the front nose gear at same time. If it was because of a tow, the nose gear may be damaged.

[Guest]

I should have added, get your maintainer to file and blend out the small damage. 
 

Clarence

[1980Mooney]

6 hours ago, ArtVandelay said:

I would check full deflection of rudder on the ground, carefully checked the front nose gear at same time. If it was because of a tow, the nose gear may be damaged.

This is an internet pic of a J. (I would look at mine but it is still in the annual from hell)  It looks like it might be rubbing also. However yours looks like the rudder deflected further allowing the control rod end to hang up on the edge of the aluminum.

Is it possible that your rudder has too much deflection and the limits are out of adjustment?  The J and K set-ups are the same and deflection is limited to 23 degrees by rudder stops.   Your rudder stops may be out of spec.  But if you have greater deflection due to a bent/crushed truss in your nose gear then you have big problems because it has pushed over-limit through the control tubes.

m20k - Service manual.pdf

Edited October 13, 2021 by 1980Mooney

[AeroEng]

On 10/12/2021 at 10:05 PM, carusoam said:

Welcome aboard Eng!

Wow, that’s a spooky first post!

Are you still getting binding in the control?  It passes the free and correct portion of the pre-flight?

Looks like boxing out the controls during the pre-flight one day must have been interesting….(?)

 

As far as rudder movement goes… while on the ground… it is mostly limited by the front tire being attached to it… so… no slop, but a collection of motion gets allowed…

It would take holding the rudder pedals in place to know the actual slop at the rudder…

Great pics!

PP thoughts only, not a mechanic…

Best regards,

-a-

It is a spooky first post!  No binding in the controls whatsoever.  Passes free and correct.  I've had someone move the controls while I watch the rod move and it comes nowhere near the metal opening (moving ailerons, rudder and elevator).  I have no idea how it ended up banging/tearing that portion.  @M20Doc had the only explanation that makes any sense to me....

Thanks for the help!

[AeroEng]

On 10/12/2021 at 11:32 PM, EricJ said:

+1 that is probably happened once sometime during maintenance.    You could put some tape or something on it and see if it ever gets rubbed again.

The specs for the control surface play should be in the maintenance manual for your model of airplane.   I have the specs for a J, but they probably don't match yours exactly.

 

Thanks - adding the tape is a good idea.  I'll do that today.  Maintenance detachment is the only thing that seems to explain it.....

[AeroEng]

On 10/13/2021 at 3:19 AM, ArtVandelay said:

I would check full deflection of rudder on the ground, carefully checked the front nose gear at same time. If it was because of a tow, the nose gear may be damaged.

Thanks @ArtVandelay  I did check the nose gear.  No damage, no bent tubes or anything.  I understand that is an area of potential risk.   Thanks.

[AeroEng]

On 10/13/2021 at 9:22 AM, 1980Mooney said:

This is an internet pic of a J. (I would look at mine but it is still in the annual from hell)  It looks like it might be rubbing also. However yours looks like the rudder deflected further allowing the control rod end to hang up on the edge of the aluminum.

Is it possible that your rudder has too much deflection and the limits are out of adjustment?  The J and K set-ups are the same and deflection is limited to 23 degrees by rudder stops.   Your rudder stops may be out of spec.  But if you have greater deflection due to a bent/crushed truss in your nose gear then you have big problems because it has pushed over-limit through the control tubes.

m20k - Service manual.pdf 98.81 kB · 0 downloads

@1980Mooney This is very helpful information.  I can't believe you found the pic of another example of the same issue!  The securing pin on my M20TN is further up the control rod, so it is more likely to "catch" on the metal than in the pic you sent.  But, interesting to see another example of the same issue.  I will check my rudder specs with the appropriate service manual - thanks for that suggestion.  Its quite an odd thing because the control rod moves perfectly along its longitudinal axis when it actuates the rudder.  It doesn't appear to have any vertical movement whatsoever.  For that reason, even if I have too much rudder travel, I don't see it impinging on the metal of the elevator in the way it did.  Maintenance detachment seems the most likely culprit, but I'm going to check rudder travel to be safe.  

 

THANK YOU!

[Guest]

Sadly it’s not too uncommon to see these small tears in the metal.

Clarence

[Bentonck]

Welcome to the Acclaim life

 

I will be close to my bird tomorrow and will have a look, but at first sight I think doc is right, that was probably caused during maintenance.  That being said, they should have cleaned it up.

 

[AeroEng]

18 hours ago, Bentonck said:

Welcome to the Acclaim life

 

I will be close to my bird tomorrow and will have a look, but at first sight I think doc is right, that was probably caused during maintenance.  That being said, they should have cleaned it up.

 

Thanks very much. That seems to be the only way something like this could happen. Curious to see if yours has any similar rubbing/tearing.