Challenger Ultralight Aircraft Maintenance

Tip #6 – Corrosion Prevention

During the inspection for my Challenger Advanced Ultralight Certificate of Conformance, the inspector, Bruce Brown, disassembled the spherical rod eyes that are attached to the ends of the various control rods used to actuate the elevators and the flaperons. He showed me the condition of the threads. I was very surprised to see the small beginnings of corrosion appearing on the threads.

This was especially surprising because the airplane was new. Although I had taken almost 4 years to build it, it had always been stored indoors away from the elements including moisture. Yet there was corrosion forming on the most critical control components already and it had not even flown yet!

The solution, however, was easy and cost very little. Bruce had brought with him a spray can of corrosion inhibitor developed specially for the aerospace industry. This product is called LPS3 and is now readily available at automotive and industrial supply companies. LPS3 coats metal surfaces and in time dries into a waxy coating that remains on the metal surface, lubricates it and prevents corrosion.

A small squirt of LPS3 on the threads before they are assembled will ensure that these critical components do not fail due to corrosion. The LPS3 should also be applied to the aileron, rudder and elevator hinges to provide smooth friction free movement.

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