Urgent request from Steve of Flight Chops

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Hi Inderpal,

Here's a quick UPDATE, and URGENT request!

I am busy editing the next video that features a Carbon Cub build and still flying high from exciting Recent Adventures!

Earlier this month, I solo’d in the DHC-1 Chipmunk, it is a huge step toward the dream of flying a Spitfire...


We filmed the entire checkout and training process with the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association; it is a museum with operational flying relics and a team that trains new pilots to join the crew.

It was beyond an honour to become a part of this amazing organization, and I can’t wait to share the continued process of learning with them.

A week later, the Chipmunk C-FCYR in which I solo’d, went for its annual, and a rare part failed to pass inspection.

Apparently they have been looking for this part for several years as they knew it was wearing out… If a replacement can not be found, the otherwise perfectly airworthy plane may end up being sold for parts, which would be tragic.

Please help put the word out - Below are details about what they need:




The spinner on the Chipmunk is a 3 piece unit, a backplate, a mid-section also known as the "salad bowl" and the nose cone. The failed component is the salad bowl and it is worn right through. The part is obviously way out of production, and is extremely rare. Also - the U.K version of the chipmunk uses a different spinner entirely, this is the Canadian Chipmunk version.

If you have any leads for us, please reply to this email!
I also wanted to remind you about the contest that we have put together with our sponsors to give back to the community.


There are only 2 days left to participate in this month’s contest! The prize is huge with a Bose A20 headset leading the way!
Play Now!
I only agree to work with sponsors who promote products and services that I like and/or use myself.
Note: Even if you've entered a previous contest, you'll need to keep entering for monthly prizes because each contest starts fresh. But don't worry -- this doesn't make duplicates on the mailing list and no spam, ever.
Please share this email with any aviation enthusiasts that you think would appreciate it.


Look out for the next contest which will be our biggest ever!
Thanks for being part of the FlightChops Community,


Steve and the FlightChops Team

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Inderpal,
I used to own a Chipmunk, English version. I suggest you ask your question on this website.

http://www.caledonianchipmunks.co.uk/forum/

Someone there may be able to help. Parts can be tough to source.

Here are two possibilities:

http://www.skytradeinternational.co.uk/

http://splitpinengineering.com/

Congratulations on soloing the nicest flying airplane ever made. They say it's the poor man's spitfire.

Dave

Just had another thought. Can you change to a new Hoffman prop with a new backplate and spinner?

At least under US rules, there is a provision for owner-produced parts. Mike Busch discusses the rules in this blog post (you may have to scroll).

http://www.avweb.com/news/savvyaviator/ ... 316-1.html

Essentially the owner works with some sheet metal expert (usually an A&P with restoration experience, but sometimes just a machine shop) and supplies the old part for use as a model. A new part is created as an owner-produced part and installed on the airplane. I guarantee there are people in warbird restoration shops who can make that part, as good as new.

The purpose of this rule is because OEM parts are not available for many older planes - exactly your situation.

Owner-Produced Part

Here's yet another option: Even if the Skyhawk's battery box was on the verge of crumbling into primeval aluminum-oxide dust and was totally unrepairable, it would still be perfectly legal for the aircraft owner to produce one from scratch (using the original as a template and using the same dimensions and materials), and document it in the logbooks as an "owner-produced part" in accordance with FAR §21.303(b)(4). In doing this, the owner could enlist the aid of his A&P, a machine shop, or anyone else he likes and it would still qualify as an owner-produced part. It's an oddity of the FARs that mechanics may repair broken parts, but they have no authority to produce new parts from scratch. However, the FARs grant precisely that authority to aircraft owners, so long as the parts they produce are for installation on their own aircraft and not for sale or for installation on an aircraft they do not own. The owner need not actually make the part with his own two hands.

The FAA will consider a part to be owner-produced (and therefore legal) if the owner is meaningfully involved in its production in any of the following ways:
Provides the specifications or the part to be duplicated;
Provides the materials to make the part;
Provides manufacturing techniques or assembly methods;
Provides quality assurance; or
Supervises the manufacture of the part.

The only catch is that, to be legal, an owner-produced part must be airworthy. To be airworthy, it must conform to the aircraft's type design. Therefore, if you decide to fabricate a battery box for your Skyhawk, you must duplicate the original battery box as closely as possible, using the same dimensions, materials and construction methods used in the original. You'll usually need help in fabricating an owner-produced part, and the most likely person to ask to help you is your A&P. That's because the owner-produced part won't do you much good unless your A&P is satisfied that it is airworthy and is willing to install it and approve your aircraft for return to service. The best way to ensure you A&P is satisfied that the part is airworthy is to get him involved in its production. In fact, your mechanic can legally manufacture the owner-produced part for you provided you supervise his work!

I'll pass the complements along.
This post is from Steve Thorpe of Flight Chops. He produces some extremely awesome videos on his you tube channel.
http://Www.flightchops.com

]

First off, be very wary of fitting the Hoffmann prop to a Chipmunk! My Chipmunk had both the Hoffmann and the original Fairey-Reed; the aircraft has a much better cruise speed (at least a 10 knot improvement) and seemingly the same take-off and climb performance with the latter. Further, the Hoffmann sheds paint if it even gets near rain and (being a raving purist) the spinner doesn't look like the original item!

Unforuneately the two contacts you've been given deal with UK-built Chipmunks, although Dave Watson at Splitpin may be able to refer you to further contacts.

I've PM'd you with three North American Chipmunk contacts who may be able to assist.

Lastly, you should be able to get a competent metal worker to make you a new "salad bowl" - we have a terrific gent here in Queensland who made me a new nose cowl for instance, but I appreciate that he's logistically difficult for you.

Good luck with this.