VG-21 Squadron

NEWSLETTERS

Varga Pre-buy Inspection

Spinner – FAA no longer approves stopped drilled cracks or doubler repairs.  Replacement cost $700.

Propeller – Length = 74”.  Check the trip tracking.  Also, leading edge and blade back side to be free of dings and indentations.  Cost $2,500.

Engine Cowl – Free of cracks.  Good latching action.  Check that attachment hardware is all the same size.  Note the gap between top of spinner and bottom of spinner in relation to the nose bowl.  Large gap at the top indicates worn engine mount bushings.

Engine – Standard engine checks.  Exhaust system requires the most attention (springs broken).  Check mufflers and tailpipes for contact with engine mount and firewall.  Oil leaks.  Condition of cowl baffles, wires and ducting.  Cabin heat control box condition.

Nose Gear – Lift nose gear and check wheel bearings, shimmy unit, and inner cylinder surface area for pits and/or rust.  Wiggle gear and check torque links are secure and free of cracks.  Note if it secured by pins or bolts/nuts.  Turn wheel left and right and check steering stops and freedom of travel.

Wing – Check lower skin area around landing gear for skin wrinkles (evidence of hard landing).  Also, area just forward of flap hinges for being deformed, that is evidence of flaps being lowered at high rate of air speed.  Push on upper wing skin just forward of aileron hinges.  A pop sound indicates a broken wing butt rib.  Move aileron full travel and note any signs of binding.  Note overall condition of wing for hangar rash.  Verify fuel vent system is operational by removing gas cap; blow air into vent line and note air flow at cap.  Operate fuel tank sump drain and check for free flow of fuel.  With fuel tank shut off valves closed, open drain valve on the gascolator unit.  With a container positioned at the gascolator, open tank shut-off valve for 5 seconds.  Note fuel amount in container.  Repeat for the other tank.  These last 2 checks are looking for blockage caused by fuel tank sloshing com pound (brown flakes and/or tar looking material).

Landing Gear – Place shoulder under forward wing spar and lift wing and release.  Note that gear lower (inner) cylinder moves freely in upper (outer) cylinder.  Check inner cylinder surface area for pits and/or rust.  Check brake for wear and caliper for leaks and condition of wheel brake disc.  Check torque link (same as nose gear). Stand in front of the plane and look to see that each wheel appears to be vertical (gear not bent).

Fuselage – Check overall condition of fuselage and note missing screws in access panels.  Remove the one large panel under rear seat to check flight control mechanism.  Verify no cracks in elevator push pull rods and view aft fuselage area.   Remove side panel under horizontal stabilizer to check flight control area.   Remove tail cone and check elevator control horn, etc.  Reinstall all panels removed.

Empennage – Inspect elevator and rudder hinge fittings and hardware.  Check to see if there is a shim installed under forward stabilizer attachment angle, both sides (shim is not a factory installation but helps reduce elevator trim forces).  Note that control surfaces move approximately the same degree each way.

Cockpit – Verify throttle, carb heat, mixture, and fuel shut off valves move freely with no binding.  Note condition of cockpit glass.  Check that canopy opens and closes smoothly and latches in all positions.  Verify all fuse holders and switches are operational.  Check that stall-warning horn is operational and that all lights are working.  Check condition of seatbelts.