I returned to Searcy, AR to continue training and to get the SparrowHawk certified. The first thing Ron Menzie noticed was the nose gear on backwards. In Mar it was correct according the the construction log. However, later, it was reversed. I felt really stupid.
Then Ron spotted 3 damper donuts that were bad. I replaced those with some Ron had and ordered replacements for him.
In preparing for the DAR, we did a high taxi/take off roll and the SH skipped hard to the left. Ron thought the left main tire was low. The book calls for 20 psi but Ron thought they should be 35-40 psi, so I added air. The next day, it was low again. Ron provided another tire tube and I replaced it.
The next take off was successful but is rotor pulled too hard to the left. We decided to remove most of the left offset in the rotor conrol rods and that helped alot.
The rotor tach reading were very flaky. I plan to replace it with one that counts the rotor gear teeth.
The brake never worked well. I remove all the slack out the control cables, but there is not enough leverage to pull hard. I will need to gang the left and right levers together and add a taller brake lever.
I never felt secure in the seat. It is too wide and I could slide left and right. I will need to change the seat covering to cloth (for better grip).
The pilot throttle knob is loose so a redesign is in order.
The prerotator pressure plaste rusted in the first rain. It will need to be painted or coated.
