Adding a Larger Rudder

[blsewardjr]

I have a 40 gal 2003 DA40 with the small rudder. Does anyone have any experience replacing the small rudder with the larger 50 gal/post 2003 rudder? Specifically, my mechanic is wondering what is involved to "Resize the rudder mass balance cut out on the vertical stabilizer" as called for in WI-OSB 40-066 -- http://support.diamond-air.at/fileadmin ... ncl-WI.pdf Thanks. Bernie

[Steve]

Bernie: Not sure why you would do this (unless you had non-repairable damage on your rudder, and you could only get the larger rudder). At any rate, since the rudder is larger, the balance weight on the forward edge of the rudder is physically larger as well, There is a cutout on the rear of the vertical stabilizer to accommodate this, and it needs to be enlarged slightly. This can easily be accomplished with a die grinder or Dremel tool.

Steve

[blsewardjr]

Steve- Thanks for the info. The reason I want to do it is to increase my crosswind authority. I find that I have to push the rudder to the floor on all but the mildest crosswind. Bernie