65C Wing (Damaged by falling off Jacks)) Anyone Interested?

[patriot3300]

Hello All,

 

I have purchased a project C Model and Plan to either Cut the wing for transport or strip and leave if someone can repair this.

Wing is near Seattle WA.

There are holes in both wings lower skins next to the jack points and the upper also has a hole on the right wing.

The wing has 6500 hours on it and is not perfect but appears to not have any additional damage(the 201 tips will be removed) so that may cause some additional issues.

Also there would be Some cost perhaps 500.00 dollars? for the BARE WING Meaning No Flaps/ailerons pushrods landing gear etc.

 

The work will occur this SAT-SUN so I need to know asap and THIS will be an option IF I have time to Strip the wing over the weekend otherwise it will be cut.

 

Please PM Me IF SERIOUS and I will see what I can do.

Plane sold for 76k a little over a year ago and was in annual when the fall took place.

Thank you,

Stuart

 

[corn_flake]

How did you get the 201 wing tip on a C?  STC, field approval?

[Hank]

3 hours ago, corn_flake said:

How did you get the 201 wing tip on a C?  STC, field approval?

It used to be a fairly common STC for many Pre-J models. A previous owner put them on my C.

[1967 427]

OK, I have to ask, how does that happen.  I read preliminary and final FAA accident reports so I don’t make the same mistakes others may have.  Even Mooney space is all about learning.  I regularly help my mechanic do my annuals, and we place my aircraft on jacks that I made.  We each work a main wing jack simultaneously calling out each pump so we stay in unison.  After about four pumps on the wings, we move to the nose and lift it up (via cherry picker) to maintain a level condition.  The main wing jacks are raised until a safety pin can be installed. Once the pin is installed the hydraulic jack is slow released to put load onto the pins and not the hydraulics.  I have reviewed our procedure many times thru my head to try and think if we’re missing anything that might make it safer.
 

If you know please share how the aircraft fell off the jacks.

[patriot3300]

Yes, they were installed in 1992 Under the STC.

I am sorry but I don’t know the exact scenario on the fall.

Only that they were installing tires.

[EricJ]

1 hour ago, 1967 427 said:

OK, I have to ask, how does that happen.  I read preliminary and final FAA accident reports so I don’t make the same mistakes others may have.  Even Mooney space is all about learning.  I regularly help my mechanic do my annuals, and we place my aircraft on jacks that I made.  We each work a main wing jack simultaneously calling out each pump so we stay in unison.  After about four pumps on the wings, we move to the nose and lift it up (via cherry picker) to maintain a level condition.  The main wing jacks are raised until a safety pin can be installed. Once the pin is installed the hydraulic jack is slow released to put load onto the pins and not the hydraulics.  I have reviewed our procedure many times thru my head to try and think if we’re missing anything that might make it safer.
 

If you know please share how the aircraft fell off the jacks.

I cannot find it now, but years ago there was a video going around of a Mooney in a shop putting the jacks through the wings.   Sometimes it rolls off scales or the gear is retracted when the jacks are under the wings but not set at the hard point, or faulty jacks are used or whatever.   I think people have researched many different ways to do it over the years.   

In A&P school we had an instructor who had spent a career at the airlines, and emphasized that whatever airplane it is, airliner, twin, single, etc., if it isn't being held up by the jacks, the jacks should not be under the wings.   Apparently it's a fairly regular occurence to put jacks through the wings of airliners, too.    A hangar neighor was weighing his Comanche and had the jacks under the wings while it was on the scales.   A dust devil came by and moved the airplane just enough to roll it off the scales and put the jacks into the bottoms of the wings.

[AJ88V]

Never thought about it much, but it would seem you could make a curved steel plate, conforming to the wing, lined with carpet, and big enough to cover at least two ribs.  Hole in the middle to install the jack points which would hold the protective plate in place.

Maybe a better idea would be to just make a small cup facing down and screw the jack points through the cup.  This way the cup would surround the top of the jack so it couldn't slide off the point.

[corn_flake]

Do you mean like this?  That's what I used.  The yellow part screw into the wing and provide a half sphere to go into the "cup".  The cup portion is secured to the to the top of the jack ram.  

[corn_flake]

13 hours ago, Hank said:

It used to be a fairly common STC for many Pre-J models. A previous owner put them on my C.

Mind sharing a copy of the STC?  I like to get in touch with the entity that owns the STC and perhaps do the same on my E.  

[AJ88V]

48 minutes ago, corn_flake said:

Do you mean like this?  That's what I used.  The yellow part screw into the wing and provide a half sphere to go into the "cup".  The cup portion is secured to the to the top of the jack ram.  

Take the yellow jackpoint and insert it into the bottom of a cup, open end towards the point.  Make the "outer cup" large enough diameter and long/deep enough to completely surround the grey (concave) receiver without actually touching the receiver.  Now the jackpoint could not slip out of the receiver when on the jack.

[Hank]

2 hours ago, corn_flake said:

Mind sharing a copy of the STC?  I like to get in touch with the entity that owns the STC and perhaps do the same on my E.  

I'll dig through my files and see what I can find.

[patriot3300]

2 hours ago, corn_flake said:

Mind sharing a copy of the STC?  I like to get in touch with the entity that owns the STC and perhaps do the same on my E.  

Hi,I’m afraid this STC is no longer supported but here is the Front Page.

Lasar also had an option but not sure if it’s the same STC and also seems to no longer be available.

Stuart 

[patriot3300]

3 minutes ago, Hank said:

I'll dig through my files and see what I can find.

Hi Hank,

I “think” The one I sent is the same as yours if you see this.

 

Thanks,

Stuart

[Hank]

@patriot3300 and @corn_flake, that is probably what I have. I have their guppy mouth closure.

[corn_flake]

Thanks @patriot3300  for posting the STC.  

 

Can you elaborate on why the STC is no longer supported?   Is Southwest Texas Aviation no longer in business and have effective abandoned the STC?  If so, I seem to recall FAA have some provisions in place to release all relevant data?  

[patriot3300]

10 hours ago, corn_flake said:

Thanks @patriot3300  for posting the STC.  

 

Can you elaborate on why the STC is no longer supported?   Is Southwest Texas Aviation no longer in business and have effective abandoned the STC?  If so, I seem to recall FAA have some provisions in place to release all relevant data?  

Glad to help!

Give them a call(I believe this is the same company)

And let us all know the STCs current status assuming this is in Fact the STC holder.

Stuart

 

Southwest Texas Aviation Inc.

Office: 737-206-3887

parts@swta.net

 

[A64Pilot]

11 hours ago, corn_flake said:

Thanks @patriot3300  for posting the STC.  

 

Can you elaborate on why the STC is no longer supported?   Is Southwest Texas Aviation no longer in business and have effective abandoned the STC?  If so, I seem to recall FAA have some provisions in place to release all relevant data?  

In a case like this where it’s not a complex mod using the abandoned STC it shouldn’t be difficult to get a field approval.

[Yetti]

15 hours ago, corn_flake said:

Thanks @patriot3300  for posting the STC.  

 

Can you elaborate on why the STC is no longer supported?   Is Southwest Texas Aviation no longer in business and have effective abandoned the STC?  If so, I seem to recall FAA have some provisions in place to release all relevant data?  

SWTC is still in business at Smithville Airport.    They also had a newer version of the wingtips they can do.   https://www.swta.net/

[hammdo]

SWTA still owns the STC but JD bought the company from the previous owners. They are not making STC kits. Sometimes they can fix/replace items (I had my windshield replaced by them).

-Don

[corn_flake]

Thanks, guys on the info on the STC.  I'll give them a call.  I'm happy to make the damn wind tips if would let me borrow the mold.  .

[patriot3300]

7 hours ago, corn_flake said:

Thanks, guys on the info on the STC.  I'll give them a call.  I'm happen to make the dame wind tip if would let me borrow the mold.  .

Sorry to say this is the situation I expected.......

 

• 
• Supporter
• •  18
• Location: Redding CA
• Base: O85

Posted yesterday at 09:44 AM

Hi all, my new to me 1979 J- model (serial 0905) has an STC (SA7609SW) for Texas Composites, Inc wingtips that was installed in 1995.  Both of the lenses covering the lights are cracked, one just around the screw holes which will be manageable for some time, the other is cracked right down the middle and needs replacement.

I can't find these and believe they are likely a slightly different shape than the LASAR tips or other tips that came from factory on later J models.  They do not have recognition lights.

Anyone else out there have these wingtips and had success finding lenses?  I contacted a 3D printing company about scanning and printing new lenses, but they want $2500 just for the scan.  I might as well get new wingtips.

I tried tracking the company Texas Composites, Inc but the larger corporation that bought them out doesn't respond to me. 

Donovan 

 

 

[corn_flake]

I don't think they are a large company.  Did you try to call the number on this page - https://www.swta.net/

By the way, 3d filment print is not the way to go.  you will never get to such level of clarity.  This will likely involve heat and plexiglass/polycarbonate and a mold.  

[Bolter]

On 2/4/2025 at 6:06 AM, 1967 427 said:

OK, I have to ask, how does that happen.  I read preliminary and final FAA accident reports so I don’t make the same mistakes others may have.  Even Mooney space is all about learning.  I regularly help my mechanic do my annuals, and we place my aircraft on jacks that I made.  We each work a main wing jack simultaneously calling out each pump so we stay in unison.  After about four pumps on the wings, we move to the nose and lift it up (via cherry picker) to maintain a level condition.  The main wing jacks are raised until a safety pin can be installed. Once the pin is installed the hydraulic jack is slow released to put load onto the pins and not the hydraulics.  I have reviewed our procedure many times thru my head to try and think if we’re missing anything that might make it safer.
 

If you know please share how the aircraft fell off the jacks.

At my old airport, Whiteman KWHP in LA, someone was working on a C or E, and when they swung the gear, the front wheel caught the ground, and pulled it off the jacks.  Same wing damage.  Most likely the jacks leaked a little overnight, so the plane was just enough lower.  I am told that the plane was repaired.  It was reskinned, as nothing substantial awas broken internally.  

[Bolter]

On 2/3/2025 at 5:37 PM, patriot3300 said:

Hello All,

 

I have purchased a project C Model and Plan to either Cut the wing for transport or strip and leave if someone can repair this.

 

 

If you literally cut the wings off, won't they be useless because of the continuous spar?  It would be a totally different disassembly if you want to fit the plane on a truck or in a container, AND have the wing repairable.  The popular options appear to be removing the total wing, or removing the tail, and carrying the fuselage sideways on the truck.  Either way, the wing spar is left intact.  

[corn_flake]

1 hour ago, Bolter said:

At my old airport, Whiteman KWHP in LA, someone was working on a C or E, and when they swung the gear, the front wheel caught the ground, and pulled it off the jacks.  Same wing damage.  Most likely the jacks leaked a little overnight, so the plane was just enough lower.  I am told that the plane was repaired.  It was reskinned, as nothing substantial awas broken internally.  

Steel collar is a must safety device whenever I put the airplane on jacks.  One goes on the cherry picker's ram as well.