I could greatly use your help here fellas...

A couple of months ago, our FBO ran our Seneca into another airplane in the hangar, damaging our right aileron. The FBO did a great job getting a replacement aileron acquired and installed and painted in a timely fashion. However, after the new aileron was installed, the airplane had a strong right wing heavy tendency. The mechanic tried to adjust the aileron 3-4X but the turning tendency remained. We just got her out of annual where we had a different mechanic take a crack at adjusting it still flies right wing heavy.

A photo of the damage as well as a video showing the turning tendency is below.

At this point, I feel that we need to bring in a rigging specialist with lots of experience with Senecas / Piper to identify how to correct the issue. Does anyone know of someone who would fit this bill?


[youtube]https://youtu.be/hB5MkKFV0pQ[/youtube]

First thing that comes to mind is a bent push-pull rod at the aireron bell crank. Seen that several times from hangar rash.

MacAir Aviation at the Greene County Airport (I19) near Dayton has extensive experience working on Pipers. They have a Seneca as a club plane along with Warriors, Archers, and Arrows. Back when they were on the WPAFB as the aero club, they had other Piper products.

They do good work but they aren't quick in my experience.

http://www.macairaeroclub.com/

I've rigged these myself with A&P supervision of course.

You have to make a bellcrank stop tool, two of them actually. Then you make an aileron/flap rigging tool. Both are simple to make, any machinist can do it. Drawings are in the service manual.

With the tools, rigging is a breeze actually.

If your plane was ok before the damage and is now way off, I would check the bellcrank and pushrods, but I would suspect rebuilt aileron. If it is slightly off, it will never fly right, no matter what you do to it.

But make the tools and start there. A digital level is a huge help when checking the travel limits. The service manual procedure is completely clear and easy to follow.

Don,

Call Frank Shumpert at 803-708-7191. I think he will be able to help. Frank is based at KCUB.

Try Ron Weck for a recommendation. I have owned three Senecas myself but he has owned more Senecas (dozens) than anyone out there and he is close by. This is the contact info I found:
Weck Air, Inc. 13961 RD 162; Paulding, Ohio 45879; Tel: (419) 399-5685 ...

Thank you very much for all the suggestions fellas. You're the greatest.

I'm going to follow up on all suggestions.