Cracked Spars!!!

O

olbellboy

New member
Well it's been a disappointing week here. It's been too hot to work in the hangar on the Cruisair project. Last evening I went out to work on it and saw new longitudinal cracks running through both front spars that were not there before. I couldn't believe my eyes. Those spars looked almost as good as the day they came out of the factory.
The only thing I can attribute this to is the excessive heat. The airplane has been dropped on both wingtips as a result of gear failures, but I inspected the spars carefully and found no signs of compression stress or yield around the hardware mounting points. These cracks seem to have resulted just from the heat alone. Maybe there were internal stresses on those spars that manifested themselves (fortunately) before the wings were covered and flying.
My point here is, with all of this excessive heat and the age of a lot of these aircraft it might be prudent to just sneak in there and get a gander at your spars. I don't know for certain what caused my issue, but I'm really hoping no one else had this happen on a flying aircraft. Stay safe out there!!
-Olbellboy (Ron)
 
When wings are repaired at the factory, they paint a thick sealant on the ends of the spars. It is like a silicone but I know that it isn't silicone. It is supposed to seal in/out the moisture. I don't know why a good coat of silicone wouldn't do the same thing.
Gary
 
It is the same stuff Arborist use when they take a branch off a living tree. I'm told it keeps the moisture content in and in the case of the tree disease out. Sure is like shoulder harnesses better than nothing. Lynn the crate :P
 
Gary, those wings are HEAVY! It took 6 guys to lift them when I reinstalled them on the crate. None of us realized how heavy they were. Like lifting trees. I have often wondered why Bellanca didn't do an aluminum or composite replacement. Plane would perform so well that it would pull the rinky dink tail off and the useful load would at least double. I love wood and a man who has a 1991 Tri-gear T-Craft ran his tractor with recently installed roll bar into the right wing. Heavy damage to aileron and broke the welds for the aileron controls off the frame for the ailerons. Hit the thing so hard as to knock it over 30 degrees. I fixed it and was amazed that the wood spar was not damaged as wood has no memory to a point. As the Bellanca legend states you can take out fence posts with that wing they sure are heavy and strong. I'm deep into a 1939 Spartan Exec and that is the strongest wing I have ever seen. It is built like a bridge girder out of very large 4130 tubing WOW. Lynn the crate :shock:
 
Wood Dan, We are talking about Wood. I'm trying to keep the Forum interesting and readable. I sure can't compete with JB but it is a great place to put out ideas and opinions. Everybody learns from experts like yourself who have been there and done that. I have learned a good amount reading what people have expressed here. Lynn :D I should of said that everything was on the wing but the wheel. Makes it quite heavy and I needed all those people to hold and align to put the wing bolts in. :oops:
 
My 14-13 wings don't seem to be that heavy. My wife weighs about 108 pounds and she and I can easily move them around. They are awkward to carry because of the size but I doubt they weigh much more than 100 pounds. However, I've never tried to weigh one.
Gary
 
Gary, I agree with you on the weight of the wings. My wife and I have turned these back and forth on the sawhorses by ourselves with only the awkwardness issue. You mentioned the sealant on the spar root which is probably what happened to mine. The sealant has pretty much worn off and the grain is somewhat opened up on those roots. Oklahoma is plenty humid and I'm sure that spar sucked up the humidity in that hot hangar. I guess I've learned my first invaluable lesson about wood (albeit an expensive one as they ALL are in aviation). I didn't think there was a danger in not addressing that sealant issue right away and my gamble was wrong. I'll have to check the moisture content to verify that theory. Thanks for everyone's input!!
OlBellBoy (Ron)
 
The moisture content of aircraft wood should be around 12-15%. Checks in the spar butts are common and acceptable for the most part. Major cracks are not. I would sand the butts until you got to fresh wood and give several coats of epoxy varnish.
Dan
 
Thanks, Dan, I SO wish I could just sand them down. However, the cracks I saw run about 12" or more longitudinally out from the butt of the spar, so I'm screwed. I guess it's God's way of telling me I need to learn how to rebuild wooden wings. I can honestly say that it does leave you feeling vulnerable when you know the aircraft has been on both wingtips and access to the inside of that wing for detailed inspection is limited. Thanks again to everyone for your input!! Once we get rolling on this I'll try to post progress reports.
OlBellBoy (Ron)
 
I don't think that the fact that both wingtips have been on the ground necessarily caused your spar butt cracking. There are publications dealing with this problem........In any case, the wing shop at Alexandria is a backup. Not cheap, but they do a good job. Keep us posted.
Dan
 
Dan, isnt there any shop on the west coast that will do spar splices? The shipping to the factory and back might double the cost of a splice. Many years ago I was told an outfit called Blue Sky, or Big Sky aviation would do Bellanca spar splices. I believe they were in Oregon. Does that name ring a bell with anyone?____Grant.
 
If anyone is interested, I know a guy who has a set 14-13 wings that came out of the factory probably fifteen or twenty years ago and have never been covered or used. They look great and I think he would like to unload them for $3,000 to $4,000 for the pair. They are in South Dakota.
Gary
 
Big Sky is in Oregon City, Oregon. Run by John Pike, ph 503-631-3144. They make Stearman wing kits and have done some CH series Bellanca wings. I don't know if they'll do the 14 series wings. I'ts that or put 'em in your pickup and drive them to Alexandria. Then stop by Blakesburg on your way back.
 
Hey, Gary, I'd definitely be willing to look into those wings in SD FOR SURE!! I'd love to get this one flying sometime in the first half of this century and that would be the best way to go. If you know his contact information I would sure appreciate a hook up!
Ron Hall
417 274-0460
 
Hi Ron,
I found him on the Fly Market page but he isn't there anymore. I do have his name and phone number in my cell phone so I'll give you a call.
Gary
 
All, I would be interested in the SD wings as well. If nobody has yet spoken for them I will. I have two beautiful wings but they aren't making anymore...

Please send me contact info for the wings if at all possible.

Robert

203-829-5578
rtod@voloaviation.com

Thanks

RT
 
Robert,
I think the S. Dakota wings are spoken for but I believe that I know where there is another pair for sale. It will take a few days but I'll check on them and get back to you. One advantage of living five miles from Webers and the factory and having coffee with them several days a week is I hear a lot of Bellanca "stuff". :)
Gary
 
Robert,
I do know about another pair of 14-13 wings. If you will send me your email on this forum I'll contact you and give you the information. Shoot!! I should be a parts broker. :D
Gary
 
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