Most critical aircraft part?

Most critical aircraft part?

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Discussion

Ayahuasca

Original Poster:

27,427 posts

279 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Had a passenger joyride recently in an 86 year biplane, powered by the same type of engine that took Lindbergh across the Atlantic.

Whilst hopefully few of the critical parts were actually themselves 86 years old, it did lead me to ponder on what single part, if it were to fail, would be most disastrous (pilot's heart excepted).

I opted for the nut that fixes the elevator cable to the elevator.

Any other thoughts?


Geneve

3,859 posts

219 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
The 'Jesus' nut.

EC225Eng

75 posts

162 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Either the tail drive shaft driving the tail rotor, bendix shaft in the MGB or perhaps the mixing unit. A FADEC could be important but in the event of an emergency an engine shutdown isn't the be all and end all if the conditions are right for autorotation. Obviously this is on the B1.3 side of our aircraft and the greenies would disagree. The B1.1s out there would have a separate list for fixed wing.

Edited by EC225Eng on Monday 27th July 18:23

227bhp

10,203 posts

128 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
The wings.
A wing...

Simpo Two

85,349 posts

265 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Geneve said:
The 'Jesus' nut.
On a biplane?

kurt535

3,559 posts

117 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
I'd say:

1. aileron control wire: port or starboard
2. elevator control wire
3. compression strutt - if this fails, wing will fold
4. main spar - things would look very bad for you if this gave up
5. control column failure
6. trim tab getting jammed could be interesting

least critical? probably the engine stopping!

Simpo Two

85,349 posts

265 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
You could argue that the only bit that really needs to work is the parachute!

Ayahuasca

Original Poster:

27,427 posts

279 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
You could argue that the only bit that really needs to work is the parachute!
Didn't get one of those!

maffski

1,868 posts

159 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
quotequote all
The atmosphere?

sherman

13,203 posts

215 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
quotequote all
The landing gear. If it falls off or doesnt come back out your crashing whatever way you look at it.

AngryPartsBloke

1,436 posts

151 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
quotequote all
maffski said:
The atmosphere?
Physics?

kurt535

3,559 posts

117 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
quotequote all
Nah. Wheels up landing are a non event and landing gear working is a nice to have but its failure will still see you walk away confirming any landing you walk away from is a good landing smile

Collectingbrass

2,206 posts

195 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
quotequote all
Standards people, standards. This is PH; surely the most critical part of the private jet is the champagne blow job?

In all seriousness, it must be pilot > autopilot > control surfaces > structure > landing gear?

rohrl

8,725 posts

145 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
quotequote all
The pilot's control stick? What would he do if it snapped or became detached?

kentlad

1,079 posts

183 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
quotequote all
Collectingbrass said:
Standards people, standards. This is PH; surely the most critical part of the private jet is the champagne blow job?

In all seriousness, it must be pilot > autopilot > control surfaces > structure > landing gear?
This. Champagne blow jobs are THE most critical part of an aircraft. Champagne optional.

DuraAce

4,240 posts

160 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
quotequote all
rohrl said:
The pilot's control stick? What would he do if it snapped or became detached?
Use the copilot's? (aircraft dependant of course)

I'd say main spar. You've a slim chance of a controlled/crash landing of sorts if various controls /systems fail, using engine thrust for directional control etc. If you're wings are no longer attached you are in trouble!

Simpo Two

85,349 posts

265 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
quotequote all
sherman said:
The landing gear. If it falls off or doesnt come back out your crashing whatever way you look at it.
I'll take a belly landing over a vertical wingless dive!

perdu

4,884 posts

199 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
quotequote all
The most critical part of any aeroplane flight I've had since being married is the wife

I don't like the way the hostess looked at you

...........................................me

................the man in the seat behind us

The way the pilot keeps us hanging about at the end of the runway

the way the aeroplane took off it was far too steep

............................................shallow

the in flight movie

the screen with the map showing where we are

the food

no food

Why is it taking so long to get to....

bless her, she's decided not to fly any more frown

ianrb

1,531 posts

140 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
The fuselage. If that falls off you're doomed!


Ginetta G15 Girl

3,220 posts

184 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
doogz said:
Aloha 243. Lots of them survived.
The fuselage didn't fall off - the roof did. rolleyes