C42 Owner’s Manual (Microlight) Page 27
SECTION 10 - DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEMS
The C42 is a simple aircraft w
hose structures and systems are readily inspected and maintained.
However, since some of its systems differ from those found on conventional aircraft; this section should
be studied before dismantling, repair or inspection.
10.1 Airframe
Fuselage
A 165 mm diameter aluminium tube runs from nose to tail and carries all the major assemblies:
engine, seats, undercarriage, fuel tank, and tail empennage. The cockpit structure, consisting of
a thin walled aluminium tube frame, includes a welded aluminium box-section frame at its top to
which the wing spars’ roots attach, and which provides compression load carry-through for both
spars.
The composite seats are supported around their edges by attachment to the cockpit frame.
Around the outboard edges of the seats, some of these loads are passed via the composite
lower fairing to a lateral beam consisting of a 56mm reinforced box section. The ends of this
beam accommodate the wing struts and withstand tension loads from them.
All load carrying (structural) members of the airframe are aluminium alloy tubes; most of which
terminate in spherical bearings.
Wing
The wing has a ladder construction comprising leading and trailing edge tubes, connected by
compression struts at intervals along its span. The triangulated wing struts, terminating at a fixed
point at the top of the undercarriage, brace the wing against fore and aft loads. In normal +g
flight these struts are under tension.
In +g flight both leading and trailing edge tubes inboard of the wing struts junctions, experience
compression loads from the wing struts, as well as direct bending from lift loads.
The wing, tail empennage and all control surfaces are constructed of thin walled aluminium
tubing. They are covered by a reinforced polyester fabric, sewn into complete envelopes and
fitting tightly over their frames.
Undercarriage
The tricycle undercarriage has suspension on all wheels and damping on the main wheels. The
front fork is directly connected to the rudder pedals. Hydraulic disc brakes operate on the main
wheels only.
Main wheels’ suspension stiffness can be adjusted by varying the air pressure in the damper units
via the valves in their casings. A special high pressure pump is required for this purpose.
10.2 Power Plant
The 80 hp Rotax 912 or the 100 hp Rotax 912S is installed and drives the propeller via a gearbox
with a reduction ratio of 2.27:1 or 2.43:1 respectively. Both power plants are flat 4 cylinder, 4
stroke engines with air and oil cooled cylinders and water-cooled heads. Full descriptions of the
engine, its performance and maintenance requirements are to be found in the Rotax manual.
Engine limitations are given in Section 1.
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