Cross-Linked Controls Possible on Mooney?

[201er]

I recently read a report about a pilot that took off in a baron or bonanza to find that pushing right on the controls was making him turn left. The more he'd push right to upright, the more it turned left. He finally tried turning the other way and the plane leveled. Turned out the ailerons were cross linked in reverse.

I am wondering if it is even physically possible for the controls on a Mooney (elevator, ailerons, rudder, flaps, gear, trim) to be hooked up such that they act in reverse? Is this something to be concerned about or is the very engineering of pushrod systems on the Mooney render this impossible?

[N601RX]

What you are describing usually happens on planes that use cables and pulleys. I can't think of any way to make this happen on a Mooney.

[scottfromiowa]

Flight Controls Free and CORRECT....Check.

[takair]

Near impossible on a Mooney. However, they are susceptible to other issues after control maintenance. There are numerous bolts and nuts. If they are installed incorrectly you can get interference or even jamming of the controls. Another hazard is if the nuts are not tightened. Frequently, during gear and control rigging there is a temptation to install the bolts temporarily to check rigging. If forgotten, these will work there way out. I recently had close calls with both situations coming out of the paint shop. One aileron bolt was installed backwards and had very tight clearance. They used washers to shim, but it still wasn't correct. Also, they forgot to tighten gear door bolt. Caught it before it became an issue. Long story short. Do, full control sweeps each flight. This could catch a loose bolt issue. Make sure you have only competent people work on your plane. If anybody else touches it, go over it with a fine tooth comb or have a competent person look it over.

[201er]

If anybody else touches it, go over it with a fine tooth comb or have a competent person look it over.

Now is this comb STCed or do you need a 337 for it?

[takair]

The comb has an A&P, has and eye for detail and knows Mooneys.

[N201MKTurbo]

. Another hazard is if the nuts are not tightened. Frequently, during gear and control rigging there is a temptation to install the bolts temporarily to check rigging. If forgotten, these will work there way out.

Every nut in the control system should have a cotter pin. If the hardware has been changed out to anything else your airplane is not airworthy. Nuts with cotter pins cannot come loose!

[takair]

You will find that there are few cotter pins in your control system. Most are self locking nuts. In either case, they must be installed correctly, in the correct orientation and torqued.

[jetdriven]

I assumed the same until recently when I purchased some new hardware from Spruce for my aileron pushrods. The end that attaches to the aileron does use an AN4-11 bolt with an AN310-4 nut and an AN381-2-2 cotter pin. The other (adjustable) end, though, uses an AN3-11A bolt with an AN363-1032 nut, which can not accommodate a cotter pin. Perhaps it was designed this way due to the area's poor accessibility? I don't know. But in any event, apparently there are exceptions to the must-have-cotter-pins-to-be-airworthy rule.

Jim

All of the elevator and rudder pushrod connections on my 1977 J use a simple nylock nut and bolt at the end of each pushrod. The parts catalog calls for a double locking style nut with a nylock and cotter pin ( MS17825-3 nut) but I am unable to find any.

[Alan Fox]

Every nut in the control system should have a cotter pin. If the hardware has been changed out to anything else your airplane is not airworthy. Nuts with cotter pins cannot come loose!

Not correct , almost all are self locking , I think the external rod ends on the ailerons and tail have Cotters...