cessna 172 elevator deflection

[kiloindiapapa]

I have a 1963 Cessna 172 D. I was wondering what the degrees of deflection are supposed to be for full up elevator and down elevator. Anyone know what the specs are supposed to be?

It feels like it does not have enough authority on landing with the control column full back. Ive been told to leave 1200 rpm on landing to combat this, or put weight in the back. I dont have enough time on the plane to tell if this really helps. It just feels that I cant hold it off the runway. Also went to do a stall the other day and at idle and full back control column it just sit at 55 mph indicated, with stall horn screaming and it would not drop the nose. I know the 172 is noted to have really good stall characteristics but this seemed weird. I also could not trim it out to slower than 75 mph indicated when practicing a forced landing at idle.

Not sure if any of that information matters. Just would be nice to check for proper deflection on the elevator.

[iflyforpie]

Control Surface Movements

Elevator Up 28° Down 23°

(Neutral position is with bottom of balance area flush with bottom
of stabilizer.)

http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_an ... E/3A12.pdf

[BoostedNihilist]

Next time you are at 55 with the stall horn blaring take a peek at your vsi...

[kiloindiapapa]

Did the measurements. Down is around 32 and up is only 25. Interesting thing is that up at the stops is 25 degrees but when I pull full back on the control column, the elevator does not hit the stop and is actually free to move close to a quarter inch up to the stop so effectively it is only giving me maybe 21 degrees up elevator.

As far as adjustments the elevator stops can bemoved but where is the adjustment to the cables have to be done so I will get the full travel on the elevator when I am full back ont he controls? In the tail section?

[iflyforpie]

The best thing would be to get the manual and make sure you have somebody who is licensed and experienced fix your aircraft. This is a dangerous condition...

[kiloindiapapa]

My AME has been looking at it with me and he will make the changes it needs. We are looking at a few service bulletins about the elevator on the 172. The plane was torn down and painted and I think it was not rigged right at that point.

[longestboat]

Get the latest revision of the airframe maintenance manual /shop manual and rig the control IAW that. If the info is not in the manual (it will be)....call Cessna`s product support.

I cant believe someone is asking advice on how to rig a flying control on an internet forum ...WTF.

[kiloindiapapa]

I cant believe someone is asking advice on how to rig a flying control on an internet forum ...WTF.

Well thats your opinion. If its so hard to believe then why are you offering advice on an internet forum.

My AME will fix it so what is the harm in me educating myself as much as I can about it by asking advice on here or doing other research on it. I guess i did not know that it was bad to talk aviation on an aviation forum.

[longestboat]

Papa

I`m just suggesting it may not be in the interest of saftey to rig a control IAW someones say so, and I am not giving out control deflection angles / figures as advice.

This maybe an Aviation forum but I don`t think its the place to get control rigging figures.

No offence intended

[Rudder Bug]

I have a 1963 Cessna 172 D. I was wondering what the degrees of deflection are supposed to be for full up elevator and down elevator. Anyone know what the specs are supposed to be? SNIP

Kiloindia,

Are you aware of this forum?

http://www.cessna172club.com/forum/

I own a Tri-Pacer and the ShortwingPiper forum is priceless to me.

Good luck with your rigging problem!

Giles

[kiloindiapapa]

Papa

No offence intended

No problem

Kiloindia,

Are you aware of this forum?

http://www.cessna172club.com/forum/

I own a Tri-Pacer and the ShortwingPiper forum is priceless to me.

Good luck with your rigging problem!

Giles

Ya ive looked at the forum. Really useless information at this point. I think the forum is too new and the people on there are too interested in themselves rather than aviation.

Im very disappointed in the rigging. I cant believe that it was not set up right. From what I understand it is relatively easy adjustments. Just need the time and money now. Looks like I am grounded for a while.

[kiloindiapapa]

You guys have been alot of help to me. In my opinion the rigging on my elevator is not safe and not right as per the specs for the plane.

The guy who rebuilt the plane did really good work on the aircraft and he pays great attention to his work and to the details. He did the work 9 years ago so he cant remember what exactly was done. The log book says the control surfaces were removed painted, reinstalled and balanced ect....

I just have a hard time believing that the rigging can be so far out. I want to make it right but in your guys opinion is there any reason that it may have been rigged this way? When I havt it fixed so the rigging on the elevator actually gives me the 28 degrees deflection up I should notice a difference right?

[Dagwood]

I've flown a 172C on one occasion. It does run out of elevator control in the flare. The owner said it is normal. The "pro" way of landing it is once full aft elevator is applied, give it a shot of power to pop the tail down for a soft landing.

Maybe your 172D control rigging is not defective and consistent with early 172 versions?

[kiloindiapapa]

Maybe your 172D control rigging is not defective and consistent with early 172 versions?

See this is what I am wondering because there should be no reason for it to be rigged this way unless the AME who rebuilt it was just negligent.

But if the faa regulations stipulate the 28 up and 23 degrees down.....is that not the way that it is supposed to be. With mine at 30 down and 25 up it would be rigged wrong and not airworthy.....right?

[cgzro]

The control deflections are given in the Type Certificate.
If the controls do not have sufficient or have too much deflection the aircraft does not meet the type certificate.

I'd treat something like this as a red flag to check all the control rigging from front to back, wing tip to wingtip. You may have obstructions, slack cables, etc.

Probably would not hurt to re-weight the plane to ensure the C of G is where it is supposed to be also.

Peter

[rgomes11]

Did the measurements. Down is around 32 and up is only 25. Interesting thing is that up at the stops is 25 degrees but when I pull full back on the control column, the elevator does not hit the stop and is actually free to move close to a quarter inch up to the stop so effectively it is only giving me maybe 21 degrees up elevator.

As far as adjustments the elevator stops can bemoved but where is the adjustment to the cables have to be done so I will get the full travel on the elevator when I am full back ont he controls? In the tail section?

Here you state that your deflection is 32 degrees down and 25 up, and near the bottem of the post you indicate that it is 30. What did you use to measure the deflection? Did you use a calibrated inclinometer?

Did you check the cable tension? Are the cables in the run through all the pulleys? Maybe the the control Y for the yokes is hitting it's stops or miss rigged (If it even has secondarys on this plane not sure). I would let your AME review it, it sounds like maybe rig pins weren't used to set up the tensions or the stops, like the cables weren't tensioned with the control surface in the neutralized position.


Hope this helps