New DA40 owner | First Plane | what are common mistakes?

[astaib]

Arnaud:

While the elastomer elements are off for replacement, it would be a good idea for you, or your mechanic, to inspect the center tube in accordance with this SB:

http://support.diamond-air.at/fileadmin ... r-tube.pdf

I inspected mine a couple of years ago when I last replaced the elastomer elements on mine and it was OK. I can imagine a lot more wear if you land frequently on grass strips.

Hi Steve,

Very smart idea, thank you.

Arnaud.

[Charles]

Don't let the rear door open past the hinge stops. That can happen with strong gusts of wind or uninformed passengers. The area around the hinges is prone to cracking and the repair is non-trivial. I learned that the hard way.

I've installed a piece of Dyneema (non-stretching) rope between the ends of the pneumatic cylinder to limit travel just before the door hits the hinge stops.

Would you please share a picture?

Sure, but that will take some time, the plane is away right now, awaiting its engine that's being overhauled.

[jwx96]

I had the same experience as waynemcc999 with low tire pressure and a flat tire early on. I now check the pressures at least 1x per month. The fairings are off in the winter for the MN snow and ice anyway and I just leave them off for the summer too so that I can easily check the tire pressures, the tires themselves and the brakes.

[Joey]

In the first 2 years, I also had 3 flat tires. The new tires/tubes don't have that problem any more.

Of course, they only go flat when an airliner is circling to land and we and the crash crew are trying to figure out how to jack it up so we can get a furniture type dolly under the main landing gear to tow it off the runway. After 30 minutes of fiddling with it, two big crash crew guys and myself just got under the wing, put the wing on our backs and used the long wingspan as leverage and just raised up...it was enough to get it on the dolly and get off the runway.

[VickersPilot]

This is a fabulous little pump for the tyres. Note it has lithium batteries so consider handling/storage.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09JZWJ2 ... eva_mobile

[astaib]

Hi,

I take the advantage of my 1.000h visit to replace the 5+1 elastomer NLG spring.

I don't know if it was urgent to do it because I only noticed 1mm difference on each of the 5 big and 3mm difference on the small one.
This is done, I'm happy .

Do you know if the stamping on the elastomers are the manufacturing date? On mines it is written 21/16 on the big ones and 17/16 on the small one.

Thank you.

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