Ultralight Aircraft - The Fuselage
UltralightNews.com
If you are buying an aircraft that features an enclosed cockpit look very carefully on the
floor of the enclosure, under the seat or gas tank, (this is an area that is difficult to
clean) for signs of rivet heads. This could indicate recent repair or a hard landing.
Check the area where the landing gear passes through the fuselage for cracking or
damage.
Check the area of the fuselage where the rudder attaches to the vertical fin for cracks .
Check the area where the pilot's enclosure or hull contacts the airframe for wear .
Check nuts and bolts for bending .
Many older designs used pit pins. These are no longer used! These corrode, are weaker
than an AN nut and bolt, and have reported failing under load . If the aircraft
you are looking has pit pins you should deduct the cost of replacing them with
AN nuts and bolts from the cost of the plane.
Check the engine mount for cracks.
Check the rubber mounts for cracks, failure, or UV deterioration .
Check plastic saddles for signs of failure
Check bolts securing struts to wing on early model wire braced aircraft for failure
of the securing bolts.
Check cable ends for signs of stretching .
Check all cables where they may contact metal for fraying .
Ultralight Aircraft, buying a used ultralight aircraft,
how to buy a used NOT abused ultralight!
Ultralight Aircraft Airframe: This is really the main frame of your aircraft sort of like your skeleton minus feet, arms, hands.
Connected to it is the landing gear (feet) and wings (arms). All the control systems (muscles, nerves) usually run along or inside it.
While many other parts are replaceable, you are not likely to replace the
fuselage. For this reason it is important to check it for signs of wear.
Wear will be most evident in areas of the fuselage that connect to the landing
gear, or a moving part like the steerable nose wheel, or engine attachment points.
Look for bent or cracked tubing , tubing with elongated holes , tubing worn from
metal on metal contact .
If your aircraft is riveted together examine the rivets at areas of the craft that
might flex, or is subject to vibration .
