jaybannist(at)cs.com
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 Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:08 am Post subject: Zodiac CH601XL "Problems" |
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Here is my take on the Zodiac CH 601XL “problem”:
Chris Heintz designed quite a number of airplanes; for factory assembly, kit construction and plans building. There are thousands of airplanes of his designs flying, including CH601XLs registered in the USA as LSA, E-LSA, EAB and an extremely confusing array of registration designations in other countries.
There is a lot of discussion about whether the CZAW kits and airplanes are identical to the ones from the USA. There are those that claim that they are identical...except blah, blah & blah. They simply can’t be identical if there are exceptions. I suspect (another personal opinion) that there are differences that observers either will not; or, more likely, can’t recognize. For instance, can a builder tell the difference between 6061-T6 aluminum and 6061-Txx? Absolutely not. Can a builder tell the difference between the Avex rivets that Zenith supplies and substandard imitators? No. Yet these differences can be significant and can certainly effect the structural integrity of the airframe. The same applies to the different angle of incidence of the wing. Is the angle of the wing spar center section changed or is the wing twisted to change the angle? (The latter is the case) Analyzing the weight differences and plain old common sense tells me that there are more differences yet. In short, all CH601XLs are NOT identical, and cla iming so is simply engaging in fantasy.
European builders have given the argument that Chris Heintz’s name on all the drawings as evidence that Heintz is totally responsible for their airplanes. However, they assert that the drawings are the same as those in the USA....except for the added drawings by CZAW. Drawings supplied by CZAW with Chris Heintz name on all of them do NOT establish absolute responsibility for the finished product. That would require certification that the kit materials or the complete airplane strictly adheres to the requirements stated in those drawings, either by CZAW or the kit builder. CZAW obviously can’t make that certification, and I don’t know of any builder that has the technical expertise nor the materials documentation to make that certification. Therefore, the owner / builder has the final responsibility for their airplane.
As I recall, CZAW was started by an American in the Czech Republic as a program to assist builders to quickly assemble Zodiac kits. CZAW then morphed into a company that manufactured complete Zodiac airplanes and sold kits. It is unclear where the materials CZAW used actually originated. The Zenair - CZAW relationship ended for a reason. I don’t know what that reason was, but I strongly suspect (my opinion strictly) that it was because the CZAW organization did not exercise adequate quality control, especially over the materials they used and or supplied to kit builders.
So why are CH601XLs cr ashing? Is there a design flaw? The design has been verified several times over, through analysis and through testing. You can advance all sorts of convoluted arguments against this but the design simply does not have a flaw that causes a wing to fold. The XL design, as ALL aircraft designs, is based on clearly stated operating limitations. Operating outside the design limitations of ANY aircraft subjects that aircraft to structural failure; and many of them have failed and crashed.
So are there problems with the way pilots are operating? We all know the limitations, but some pilots forget about them, or fly into bad climate situations, or have untenable equipment malfunctions, or simply choose to ignore the limitations, because others have “gotten away with it”.
Are there problems with the materials used? I am personally confident in the materials supplied by Zenith. I do not have the same confidence in the materials supplied by CZAW.
Summation (Definitely my opinion): The Zodiac CH601XL “problem” is not design. The “Problems” are:
1) The way some pilots choose to fly the airplane, either on purpose or accidentally,
2) Possible substandard materials and unsound design changes (from CZAW) and,
3) Construction and maintenance errors on the part of builders/owners.
These are highly personal opinions and not cold hard facts.
A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all !!!
J ay Bannister (alias Jay in Dallas)
Zodiac CH 601XL N2630J “Lil Bruiser”
BTW, I have crashed in a Zodiac CH 601XLi (not mine). It had nothing to do with the design and the wings did not fall off.
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