I bought a replacement wing for my plane and the wing tube socket doesn't have a stopper at the end of the tube. I flew it once like that and the wing tube itself nearly migrated all the way though the wing leaving only a few inches left in the other wing side. That wing could have easily snapped off! I tried gluing a small piece of wing tube into the end of the wing socket with Hysol, that didn't hold and the tube migrated again! The wing tube socket and the wing tube itself are both carbon. Can I drill a hole through the socket and tube in the fuselage location to hold the wing tube in place with a through bolt? with this structurally degrade the tube? This is on a 38% Krill Lasar 2300 MkII

I have drilled wing tubes before for retention but I don't know that I would do it again. A small hole probably wouldn't cause any problems though. In another case I held a tube centered by using a small screw type hose clamp on the fuselage tube. Minimal tightening of the clamp was necessary to retain the wing tube in place.

I had the same problem on time.I drilled a small hole under both wings at the end of wing tube,then used a small dowel rod to block the ends.You don't have to go through the top of wing socket.

I had a carbon wing tube fail catastrophically on the first flight on a used plane where the previous owner drilled a hole for retention, so I definitely wouldn't recommend that.. I would try a hose clamp around the tube socket in the fuse; however, if that is carbon and not phenolic then that may not be a great idea either. Ideally you need to cap the ends of the receiving tube in the wings.

Yeah, I'd open up the bottom of both wings and do it right,,, A patch in the covering is better than a totaled airplane

I believe the OP said his plane is a Krill. Aren't those all composite skinned wings? If so, opening up the wing to cap the wing tube sockets might be more than a patch of Ultracote.

Originally Posted by RCAddiction

I believe the OP said his plane is a Krill. Aren't those all composite skinned wings? If so, opening up the wing to cap the wing tube sockets might be more than a patch of Ultracote.

I've never seen a Krill that wasn't all composite. Doesn't mean they do not exist but I would no bet on it and patching an all composite wing is a project not for the feint of heart....

If the OP bought that wing from either Krill direct or a dealer, I'd send it back and tell 'em I wanted a new wing.

I agree that the easy solution is use a metal hose clamp on the tube socket in the fuse. Has been working for 20+ years in my Aeroworks Edge 540T. That wing tube is short by 12" or so as well.

tape on the wing tube to make it a tight fit

Originally Posted by RCAddiction

I believe the OP said his plane is a Krill. Aren't those all composite skinned wings? If so, opening up the wing to cap the wing tube sockets might be more than a patch of Ultracote.

My Bad,, I missed that detail

The Krill is all composite n not easy to repair or patch. I ended up cutting part of my wing tube and glued the piece to the end of the wing socket. I used more glue this time and hope that it will hold

Originally Posted by AHP

I had a carbon wing tube fail catastrophically on the first flight on a used plane where the previous owner drilled a hole for retention, so I definitely wouldn't recommend that.. I would try a hose clamp around the tube socket in the fuse; however, if that is carbon and not phenolic then that may not be a great idea either. Ideally you need to cap the ends of the receiving tube in the wings.

It's still a good idea,,, he could just cut a short say 2" long thin slot in the tube with a cut off wheel,, that would allow it to compress around the wing tube and wouldn't really cause any loss of strength,,

On my CARF SuprExtra 330L 3.1M, I had a similar issue like yours but my issue was with the FWD Elev CF Rod. I solved my migrating rod issue by epoxying a stop ring made out of a scrap piece of some 1/8" G10 material. I centered up the tube in the fuselage by ensuring both ends measured the same on either side and then slipped on the little ring that I made and glued it down up against the fuselage on the outside with some Hysol. The migrating CF Rod was solved for me.

So, for instructional purposes, I used my wing for some pics to give you an idea for a solution to your problem. You will need a sharpie and a straight edge.

Insert wing tube into the wing with the tube stop. Draw the line around the wing tube at the wing. Place the straight edge FWD and AFT of wing tube and make a mark. Between those 2 marks and the line is a "dead zone" as indicated by the dotted line.. This is where you would epoxy a "stop ring" either up against the fuselage or the wing.

ps,,, unless you can sand or scuff up the inside of the wing tube sleeve in the wing, nothing will stick to it because of the mold release that's left in there during the manufacturing of the wing tube sleeve.

Hope that helps

I like that idea Bill. Ill have to put that one in the memory bank in case i need it.

I had the same issue on a different wing and put a piece of balsa stick the same size as the wing hole so the tube could only go so far in.