Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Hi guys, I have been looking at thorps for a bit. I have a lead on one half way across the country that looks nice but I have some questions about it. It had a landing gear failure on left side with damage to the wing in dec 2022. Older guy quit flying 3 yrs ago and his grandson took over. It has not been flown since the gear was repaired. i need to find out how it was repaired. He mentioned gear failure as a know problem with Thorps, but I have not found that in my research yet. i have found guys wanting new gear but not wanting to spend 4-5k on it , so either the gear they have is ok or they are not flying. Basically two questions.
1 how worried should I be with 200 hr o320 not flown in almost a yr and a half ( only taxied )?
2. What should I look for gear leg repair wise not being flown since repair?
3. Should I even consider this as I am feeling kinda like a test pilot? The guy seems honest in his communication and his grandson is either too busy or too scared after the gear failure to fly it or me with it. He is looking into getting his grandsons instructor to take me up if I go look at it.
Thanks Mark

"He mentioned gear failure as a know problem with Thorps"

Absolutely false, the gear is the stoutest component of the airframe right up there with the center section. You will not find any reference to weak gears on Thorps in any docs. Not sure what 'repaired' means though if it was bent and cold bent back that's ok .. any repair to any cracks in the other tube should be looked at carefully

I would not be too concerned about the motor sitting a year or so.

Does not seem like a test pilot situation as long as you have Thorp time. If you need a gear you can find one there are plenty of surplus gears out there.

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Thanks Lee!
I was really hoping you would chime in! I have since found out it is a total gear replacement. He said it was a “ newer design without the original issues”. It was a total crack that the plane ended up on its left wing tip. Claims no prop strike. The wing repair looks good at least in the pics. The plane is hangared on the New Hampshire coast if that makes a difference on your engine opinion. That is reassuring and making me feel more comfortable in spending the money to go look at it.
Mark

Glad to be of help ... still not concerned about the motor sitting a year ... do you have the N-Number avail?

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

N394AC. Aircraft comes back with an o290 on original aw in n number search. It now has an o320 as of a few years ago.Should that be a concern? Should it get a new aw or just have gone through a new phase one and sign off in logs?

If it has not been deregistered and you still have the original aw cert there is no need for a new aw cert. or a phase 1.

_________________
Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

If you have the customers name, I could tell you if we sold him a set of gear.
Lycomings don’t really like sitting, not being run. The cam is out of the oil. Having said that, I have brought back many Lycomings from having sat for a time. You should do it slowly annd IAW their SB on the subject. After it is running, I’d recommend oil samples to make sure the cam is ok.
If you are really concerned, you can pull a jug and look at the cam. I don’t recommend that.
Cubes

Pictures say a thousand words! Got some to share?

Cubes sent a pm

The plane only has about 25 hrs in the last 3 yrs with none in the last 17 months. Only a couple of taxi hrs. I do not think I am ready to try and fly it 1400 miles. If it was 200 miles that would be a doable trip to look at it . Thanks guys

PM replied.
Cubes