109JB stumbled on another Kitfox IV project

[109JB]

I'd heard from other folks that live near me about a Kitfox that lived on a farm about 5 miles from my house. It had not flown for about 5 years from what I heard. Well, about 3 weeks ago we had some bad storms roll through the area. My weather station recorded a peak gust of 68 mph and while the storm was going on I consistently saw it reporting 50+. We lost a huge oak tree in our front yard, and it turns out the shed the Kitfox was in partially collapsed on it. A friend of mine was in the group of guys that helped the farmer pick the roof of the shed up and get his stuff out. That friend told me about the kitfox and I decided to go talk to the guy. Well, one thing led to another and I bought the airplane.

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Here is the list of what I saw needing repair.

1. One prop blade chipped (Will replace all 3
2. A bit of upper forward cowl damage
3. Bent aft fuselage
4. Bent rudder and vertical tail
5. Left forward wing strut tube bent
6. Tip rib on left wing cracked
7. Left fiberglass wingtip needs repair
8. Windshield and cabin root ribs cracked

I already started on the aft fuselage repair by cutting out a section of the top fabric and peeling the side fabric off the longerons. Then I used my straightening tool to pull the upper longerons back closer to shape. Unlike the other 2 fuselages I have straightened, this one will require cutting out a section of one longeron and welding in a splice. That one is the S-shaped one in the pictures below. I still have some tweaking to do of the other tubes in that area but they should be okay.

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The shed roof landed on the rudder and pretty much mangled it and that bent the fin slightly to one side. I could straighten the fin, but am going to take the opportunity to enlarge it and make a larger rudder too because this is an early Kitfox 4 with the smaller tail. It is a 1050 gross weight model.

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The airplane had a custom trailer as shown in the picture above, but I didn't buy that. I told him I would put it on the forums to see if anyone was interested in buying it. It was too high priced for me at $3000 but maybe someone else doesn't think so. It is well built and works well. The way it is built, without modification, it would only work for standard gear like the Kitfox 4 came with. It is in Morris, IL, if anyone is interested.

[Eric Page]

I'm glad to hear you're giving it a second chance. You better update your signature to add a fifth airplane!

[109JB]

So while working on this project, I discovered that the static line for the instruments are just open to the back side of the instrument panel. I know many do this, but since I have the aft end fabric off of the fuselage I was thinking this is a good time to add static ports to the side of the fuselage. My preference would be a dual tube pitot static setup on the wing but am not going there on this one. I don't know if this airplane will ever get a transponder but if it does, I'm wondering about transponder checks. So, a few questions:

1. how do those with cabin static sources get your transponder encoder checked?
2. Any pushback from the shop on using cabin air for transponder encoder.
3. If I do a fuselage mounted static, where is the location recommended by Kitfox?

I did find this picture online showing one builders location. Is this where kitfox say to put it?


Thanks.

[jrthomas]

I installed the dual static ports just like those pictured per the Kitfox manual. They work!

[Delta Whisky]

John - regarding the transponder test: if you are talking about the 91.413 test, the transponder connection to a static source isn't an issue. (It refers the reader to FAR 43, appendix F which can be done on a bench.) If you are referring to 91.411 - well that is a different issue BUT my experience is that the bigger issue is finding maintenance personnel that agree only a 91.413 is required. 91.411 is required for IFR flight and adds appendix E of FAR 43 which is where the altitude accuracy comes in. I've experienced several test stations and personnel that think compliance to 91.411 test is required. Others say not it ain't!! Find one of them. (Disregard all of the preceding if you fly IFR.)

BTW - discussion for another day is: if you have ADS-b, why isn't an inflight test report sufficient (in lieu of a 91.413 test)?

[alexM]

BTW - discussion for another day is: if you have ADS-b, why isn't an inflight test report sufficient (in lieu of a 91.413 test)?

Because your ADS-B "out" is using your mode C altitude encoder, and not GPS? The question mark is because I'm only making a partially educated guess. I installed Stratus ESGi transponders in two different planes to meet the Jan 2020 deadline. I remember being surprised that they still needed an altitude encoder, and also that encoders weren't just built into every transponder since the 1980s.

As an end user of those transponders I can recall that they display pressure altitude if you want (and I did).

[DesertFox4]

Nice work John. Good as new! 👍

[109JB]

I'm very motivated on this project and am in "don't think too hard., Just do it" mode.


Got more done today.

Got a windshield made and installed today
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Got the patches on the horizontal stab painted last night
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Installed the tail surfaces for the final time
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Also started the fabric that closes out the fuselage to the root ribs.
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I also installed the tailwheel and redid the springs because I didn't like how the previous owner did them. Once I paint the root rib closeouts the doors will go back on and it will be essentially fixed except for finishing the cowl repair and the engine stuff. Later tonight I'm going to pop the cylinder head off to make sure it is still standard bore and will order the top end kit for the 582.

[109JB]

Rolled the fuselage outside to clean the shop and also check the paint match in sunlight. Came out very close. Just about perfect. About another week of work and this one will be back in the air.

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[DesertFox4]

Congrats John. Happy all your efforts culminated in a great flying Kitfox.😀👍