Thread: Elevator / Horizontal stabilator slight "Flutter"

When flying in calm conditions, I notice slight fluttering (if that is the right description) on the stick. It is not severe, but noticeable and slightly intermittment. I checked the Elevator for excess play or loose tensioners, but all appears to be properly fastened and strong. There is also no play on the hinged trim tab section. In thermic and rougher conditions, it is difficult to notice small flutter movements because the outside air movements make everything worse. Reducing prop speed does not seem to make any difference. .
The rudder is fine as well
It is just weird when flying in crystal clear and calm conditions that it feels a little 'shaky'
Any guidance and advise would be appreciated... Thanks...Ron

Hi Ron,

You may be feeling the slight shaking of the wheel pants/main gear. I felt the same thing when i first got my SW, looking down at the gear you can see them shaking slightly and it might just resonate into the tail. If its more of a slight bumping now and then, check the elevator pushrod bearing block located in the center console tunnel behind the throttle quadrant. There are two nuts that on each side of the bearing block, I have found one loose on mine, snugged it up and the bumping went away.

Eric

I have experienced two elevator-related characteristics in my CT, both felt through the stick. The first is the intermittent "bumping" which is caused by turbulent flow off of the inboard flap hinge mount at the fuselage. The second was a large vibration in the stick and whole airframe. It occurred during flight near 120 kts. It would go away with a reduction in speed. This turned out to be the stiffness of the aft bulkhead of the stabilator and is covered under a Service Bulletin.

Thanks Eric and Glenn.... I will check out your suggestions and revert with any news. Take care

I went up this evening and did feel a very slight buffeting at flaps 15 and 70kts. It went completely away at flaps 0. I suspect it's normal.

That is referred to as stick bump. It comes from the seperation and reatachment of the laminer airflow on the stabilator. It happens because of the shape of the fuselage and wing attachment at the trailing edge. They made changes to the LS to try and fix the bumping. Tom

Are there more known problems with elevator flutter with the CTSW 2007. I heard that there are two types of stabilizer: one for Great Britain and one for the rest of the world (both with full span trim tab). The question is, why? Mike

Hi guys,
I solved the problem by installing the wings between the fuselage and flaps. Are the same as mounting the CTLS. The plane is fine without any vibration. The work is easy and not take off the flap.
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Dimitri,

Where did you get these? From FD? Or did you make them?

I made myself by using as a sample a winglet taken from a CTLS