How not to do it

[Patrol28]

Don't know if any of you BH LSA builders follow this guy on another site but he never ceases to amaze with his workmanship. This guy started with a set of LSA plans and a rib kit and then proceeded to turn good aircraft grade raw material into scrap. This pic is just the tip of the iceberg.

[Chris In Milwaukee]

Not familiar. Have a reference URL? Maybe we can offer guidance to keep the builder safe.

[Patrol28]

That's a noble thought sir but he has no intention of listening to anybody. Many quality builders have offered him suggestions. I'm sad that one of Bob's great designs is getting butchered. He is of course free to do as he wishes as he is building in the EAB category but I hope no new builders think this is one way to do it.

[JimParker256]

That guy is something else! Even though this particular piece was only a mock-up for the real bellcrank, he has made so many changes (all of them completely unnecessary, IMHO). His engineering team is whoever responds to his posts. Scary! And he only listens to people who agree with him. And the final irony: He says he only wants to make changes that make the airplane simpler and more reliable. This after adding flaps, drooping ailerons, changing from cable to pushrods for the controls, and all sorts of other mods. Like I said - Scary!

[N942VT]

Stay Away!

[Chris In Milwaukee]

URL? I'm intrigued now.

[Patrol28]

He only said the bell crank was a mock up after he got called on it. He would go with it if anybody would validate his work. The thought process and workmanship you see in the bell crank picture is prevalent throughout the project. There are many scary looking welding pics on the fuselage and other steel parts. As said, he only listens to those that think he is doing well. I love Bearhawks for what they already are. He will not make it a better airplane.

[whee]

In my mind experimental aviation is all about experimenting. If he wants to make all those mods to the airplane then more power to him even if we think the ideas are bad. I am very concerned about the welds I see in that picture. If that is how the rest of his welds are then someone is going to get killed when that thing suffers a structural failure. I hope he becomes willing to learn what is going wrong with those welds and how to correct it.

[Patrol28]

No Whee, he thinks his welds are fine. I wrote in my first post that he is free to do what he wants. The strut and wing attach welds aren't as good as the bell crank, he's getting better! I only post because I had a young guy ask me if I had seen the modified BH LSA. I don't want him or anybody else new to homebuilding to think that's airworthy work, otherwise it's none of my business.

[mswain]

I am suddenly feeling much better about my welds.......

[Mark Goldberg]

FYI - that is not a modified Bearhawk LSA. It is a NEW design done by this builder with some similarity to Bob's LSA. So many things are changed on this project that it can not be considered a BH LSA at all. Mark

[Mark Moyle]

Yesh! I may go off the reservation at times....nobody has ever picked on my welding ability....this guys sucks!


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[Bdflies]

Really makes one pause for a moment, on several counts. If all the welds are that bad, failure, in normal flight conditions could be possible. When the aircraft is finished, it might be sold. Imagine seeing those welds, in a condition inspection of the plane you just bought. (Yes, I realize a good pre-buy inspection should catch that.). And then, there's the risk of posting a photo of one's 'craftsmanship' and having it re-posted, as an example of "how not to do it"!
I think my camera just broke....

Safety before all else!
Bill

[N3UW]

Don't know if any of you BH LSA builders follow this guy on another site but he never ceases to amaze with his workmanship. This guy started with a set of LSA plans and a rib kit and then proceeded to turn good aircraft grade raw material into scrap. This pic is just the tip of the iceberg.

So what is the link to the site he is posting on.

[patrickh99]

I prefer to post pictures and invite critique before Darwin has a chance to critique my work. Unfortunately, it sounds like Darwin's critique will be the first one this guy actually listens to.