jjohnpdq Loc: Lincoln AR. USA

Lmarc Loc: Ojojona, Honduras

Looks like it was a fabric covered plane, so sure this would work as long as the frame wasn't damaged. Wood-framed planes covered with fabric were used for many years, and served quite well. :thumbup: :thumbup:

imntrt1 Loc: St. Louis

I had a Cowling screw vibrate off on a Cessna 172 near Hannibal, Missouri several years ago. It was on a corner, with a pretty wide gap between it and the next screw. The Cowling began flapping in the wind and I was afraid it would break off and penetrate the windscreen, so I landed at Hannibal Municipal Airport and taxied to an FBO to see if they had a screw I could buy to replace the lost one. As luck would have it they had no spares, so I asked if had some Duct Tape, which they did. I secured the cowling and flew on to St Louis without any problems. Love that stuff. One note on the plane in this article. My take is that he was in violation of FAA Rules and Regulations unless the pilot was an A & P licensed Mechanic. On any plane that suffers damage that makes it non-airworthy, repairs have to be signed off by an A & P stating that it is airworthy to fly it.

Shutter Bugger

:shock:

Lmarc Loc: Ojojona, Honduras

Well, it was really kinda-sorta an emergency. I doubt there were many licensed mechanics around, though he might have flown one in. I'm guessing, however, he wasn't too concerned about the FAA at that moment.

Shutter Bugger

Cowling flapping in the wind is not airworthy! So unless you are an "A&P licenced mechanic" in violation of FAA Rules and Regulations.

Down here the only ones allowed to make changes, (ie tape instead of a fastener of original specs) are Aeronautical Engineers. And if ones to cross the Ts and dot the Is the
replacement of original items can only be done by AMEs (Aviation Maintenance Engineers). Having said that the Air Navigation Orders get complicated regarding home built aicraft
and aircraft designated as "Experimental". A 172 is an open and shut case though... Minimum requirement is an AME to fit a Dzus fastener., And it has to be inspected and signed off
by a LAME (Licenced AME).
Having said that, plenty of farmers down here work on their own 172s, 185s etc. It's breaking the rules but no one bats an eye lid... except for the CASA Federalies; CASA being our version of the FAA.

The Airlines down here are a different story though. No one farts
without paper work in quadriplicate. The goomer who lives across the road from me works for QANTAS; he's so brain washed he's had his power of free thought totally eliminated and thinks home built aircraft are a myth.

I should tell him to google Clive Canning VH-CMC... I sold Clive
parts and much of the hardware for the Thorpe T18 he meticulously built, and went on to fly it around the world.

imntrt1 Loc: St. Louis

The only reason I brought it up was that I recently read where a pilot did some sort of repair on his aircraft after a small mishap and then flew home and the FAA penalized him for it because a mechanic had not signed off on the aircraft being airworthy. I'm sure I would have done the same thing as this pilot, its just that the FAA can get a little picky at times. I think the story I read was a pilot clipped either a building or another aircraft and damaged his own wing tip...did some repairs and flew home without having the plane inspected and signed off on by an A & P. Wasn't trying to stir the pot....I'm sure that they could have penalized me for my repair had they known about it....but now 25 years later it would be hard to prove.

Shutter Bugger

I'll believe ya, millions wouldn't though. ;)

wonkytripod Loc: Peterborough UK

As they say, you only need 2 things in a tool kit, Duct Tape & WD40

If it moves and it shouldn't - use Duct tape
If it don't move and it should - use WD40