Zodiac CH-601XL susceptible to wing flutter

[cap232]

Hi guys,
found this on the Zenith aircraft website and thought I should share:

"April 15, 2009:

NTSB Safety Recommendation to FAA: [url]http://www.ntsb.gov/recs/letters/2009/A09_30_37.pdf

Zenith Aircraft first became aware of the above NTSB Safety Recommendation Memo on April 14, 2009, at the same time the NTSB issued its press release to the public.

We continue to believe wing flutter will not occur if the control cables are adjusted properly. Nonetheless, we are carefully considering the points raised in the memo, including whether the Zodiac CH-601XL is susceptible to wing flutter. Each accident discussed in the NTSB memo occurred under different circumstances. Some of the accidents are still being investigated and what caused those accidents has not been determined."

[Stephan van Tonder]

Whether they like it or not - if the FAA grounds them and demand mods there is nothing Zenith can do but comply. Whether they insist there is no problem there is obviously a problem serious enough to consider scrutiny by the NTSB and FAA.
If I had one I'd certainly consider doing a mod to counter balance the ailerons. Just remember the issue is only on the newer XL model - not the older HD and neither our local copy the Carl Babst Raven.

full report here http://www.ntsb.gov/Recs/letters/2009/A09_38_40.pdf

[DAK]

Hi
Yikes ... good thing I have the old model ..... never had anything sort of flutter .... my aileron cables are not
very tight either ....
Had aileron flutter on a RC bi-plane I flew years ago .... only way to recover was cut power and wait for it to stop but by then the aircraft was in a strnge attitude .... if it happened at low level ... take the aircraft home in a bag.