Best way to adjust rigging to correct slight right wing drop

Halhayden

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 4, 2021
Messages
59
Location
Prescott, AZ
Hey guys - I'm really enjoying getting to know my '76 8KCAB. I've gotten comfortable with it's flight characteristics, landings, stalls, etc. and am now embarking on instruction for mild aerobatics. I've noticed that the plane has a tendency to slowly drop its right wing in level flight with hands off the stick and I would like to correct that. I see on the ACA web site under FAQs that they have a couple of recommendations for adjusting the rigging, but I'd like to get input here from you on the forum before I start making any adjustments.

What have you tried and what do you recommend?
 
I recommend you get to know your plane much more before monkeying with the rigging. 😜

Keep in mind that yaw and roll are coupled. If your airplane yaws right, it will also roll right, unless you use stick to stop the roll. Then it will fly in a slight slip. What you think is a roll caused by the wing is most likely a yaw issue caused by other things.

The prop slipstream constantly exerts force on the left side of your fuselage and V-stab, causing your aircraft to yaw (and thus roll) left. If your aircraft was built straight, it would not fly straight; it would fly crooked. So your aircraft is built crooked, which causes it to fly straight! Specifically, the leading edge of the v-stab is canted to the left from the fuselage centerline. This creates right yaw to offset the force of the slipstream. See attached picture.
vstab.jpg

When the right yaw caused by the angled v-stab equals the left yaw caused by the slipstream, the airplane flies straight. But ... slipstream varies with power. More power = stronger slipstream = left yaw. Less power = weaker slipstream = right yaw. And yaw = roll. Bottom line, your aircraft is only built to fly perfectly straight at one speed and power setting. At any other power setting, it yaws, and when it yaws it rolls.

You do have a rudder trim tab that can be used to fine tune the yaw. Also, other parts of the plane such as wheels and pants can create asymmetric drag, which also creates yaw. Uneven fuel burn can create roll, which will create yaw when you counteract it.

So that was a long explanation, but the main point is this: your airplane will NEVER fly hands off at all speeds. It will only fly hands off at one speed. Your job is to find that speed.

Start by setting up in a typical cruise power setting, and pay close attention to the ball. Add power and see what it does. (Hint: ball will move right.) Then reduce power and see what it does. (Hint: ball will move left.) A little bit of trial and error will find the speed and power setting your aircraft is currently trimmed for. If you don't like that speed and power setting, adjust the rudder trim tab in small increments until it flies more or less hands off at the speed and power you want it to. At higher and lower speeds, you will always have to use rudder and stick to keep it straight and level.

If you already knew all that, then I'm sorry for spamming your thread.
 
Ed - thank you! I knew the mechanics of what you described, but I hadn’t thought it through well. Yes, my plane changes behavior at different speeds so I will experiment to see where it balances out. Good tip to start with the rudder trim tab. Appreciate the help!
 
Here is my take: if you cannot keep wings level by using rudder, then probably you need to check the wash in each wing. In Cubs the first thing I look for is mis-matched ailerons.
 
Here is my take: if you cannot keep wings level by using rudder, then probably you need to check the wash in each wing. In Cubs the first thing I look for is mis-matched ailerons.

Is 'Wash In' normal on newer Citabrias? My High Country Explorer looks like it has significant wash In and am wondering if this is good or not for aerobatic flying on this aircraft?
 
Back
Top