I am a bit dismayed as to the quality of the ACK ELT antenna (E-04.8) that comes with the E-04 ELT. It broke. The problem is I have NO idea how it happened. I had it installed inside the tube fuselage using the installation manual for guidance. The antenna cracked all the way through. It's in a spot that doesn't get bumped. From what I have read I'm not the only one that had this happen. I emailed ACK with pictures and didn't heap a peep from them. SO much for customer service.
I think I found what may be a point of failure on the plastic portion of the ELT antenna. The plastic molded around the bottom of the antenna is very hard (brittle?) and stands just proud of the metal hex portion. When tightened it would keep the plastic portion under a constant bit of stress. Any bump or vibration would most certainly set up failure somewhere around the perimeter. I'm going to take a fine file to the replacement antenna and make the plastic base even with the metal hex portion, maybe even a slight chamfer around the perimeter.
Anyway, $110 later from Aircraft Spruce, I have installed a new antenna. Hopefully this one will make it to my first flight.
