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Broken rudder pedal spring

PostPosted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 7:22 pm
by rizzz
During my last aerobatic session I managed to break one of the rudder pedal springs.
I did not notice straight away but on the way back to the airport when I put my feet back on the floor and noticed the plane was not flying straight anymore. Initially I thought I had bent something doing aerobatics so I was feeling a bit uneasy about it and landed as soon as I could, turns out it was just a broken spring.

Anyway, rather than installing a new one I'm considering just taking the other one off as well. I remember reading others have done this as well.
Anybody see any issue with this other than not having tension on the cables when your feet are not on the pedals?
I know RV's don't have them either BTW.

Re: Broken rudder pedal spring

PostPosted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 7:49 pm
by gammaxy
I never installed rudder springs. I wonder if they help prevent the rudder from slamming against the stop if you managed to get negative airspeed in a tailslide or something? Otherwise, I haven't missed them while flying.

Maybe they improve handling while pushing the airplane on the ground? I've noticed some people seem to be able to push the Sonex in reverse from the front. On mine, I pull at the tail with my hand steering the rudder, otherwise it doesn't take much for the tailwheel to choose its own direction.

Re: Broken rudder pedal spring

PostPosted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 8:34 pm
by Bryan Cotton
I made my rudder cable adjusters shorter and without the hole for the spring. Dead weight as far as I'm concerned.