5.3.3
Cables & Terminals
Wire Inspection
When necessary, pull protective covers back to expose cable nearest to the Nicopress
sleeve. It may be necessary to slide the red PVC coating back to see the cable next to the
sleeve.
Inspection of wires should concentrate on any areas where the wires come into physical
contact with other components. These areas may cause stress concentration and
mechanical wear. Some areas may need to be partially disassembled to fully inspect
wires. Kinks created during packing up, transport and storage should also be checked.
Any degradation of wires requires replacement. Check thimbles and stainless steel tangs
for deformation.
Control Cables
There is a single control cable on the iXess wing, used for the trim system. The trim
system wire is routed along the right hand down tube. The trim system should be checked
regularly for excessive friction and wear. Wear is most likely to occur at the ends of the
cables at the attachment points and the areas where the wire is bent.
5.3.4
Sail
Apart from the consequences of heavy landing, or of exceeding flight limitations, the
major factors requiring attention are fatigue, wear, UV exposure and heat.
Inspection
•
Check for tears in the sailcloth or any loose or unraveled seams.
•
Check that all webbing securing points (nose, keel end, tips) are not damaged or worn.
•
Check all inspection zippers to see if they function smoothly and close completely.
Fabric samples are stitched in the middle of the sail and above the keel pocket, behind the
kingpost. Each strip is made of two pieces of sailcloth sewed together. During each
overhaul, a strip must be cut off along the lateral stitching and on one of the transversal
lines, and sent to the Air Creation factory to be submitted to a test of wear and tear in our
premises. The results of the test will determine when the replacement of the sail becomes
essential for safety reasons.
Protection
Ultraviolet radiation from strong sunlight can ultimately reduce the strength of the
sailcloth, but this may be reduced to an acceptable level by careful consideration of the
wings use and exposure. In its bag the wing is fully protected. The sailcloth may be
cleaned with warm soapy water. Strong detergents must not be used. Thoroughly rinse
with plenty of clean water.
Minor Tears or Rips in the Sail
Minor repairs may be carried out by the owner of the aircraft, unless local regulations
prohibit owner maintenance for sails. A repair is classified as minor if tears are less than
20mm long, provided that no free edges (such as the wing trailing edge) are broken and
that the tear is isolated and not within 50mm of an existing seam line or 100mm of the
trailing edge. Also, abraded holes no more than 15mm in diameter are considered minor.
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