TRAINING NOTES

CODE: D-206/009
IIAE Airframe Structure - I
TECHNICAL RESEARCH CELL

ENGINE MOUNTS

Introduction

An engine mount is a frame that supports the engine and attaches it to the fuselage or
nacelle. Engine mounts vary widely in appearance and construction, although the basically
features of construction are well standardized. Ideally engine mounts are designed so that the
engine and its accessories are accessible for inspection and maintenance.
Light-aircraft engine mounts may be of welded-steel tubing or aluminum alloy sheet
metal. The construction will include some forged and metal-plate components. Two types of
light-aircraft engine mounts are there. The vibrations that originate in reciprocating en gines are
transmitted through the engine mount to the airplane structures, therefore mounts for such
engines must be arranged with some sort of rubber or synthetic rubber bush ings between the
engine and mount-attaching structure for damping these vibrations. These bushing, are often-
a part of the engine-mounting bracket and may be installed on the engine at the factory. The
maximum vibration absorption is obtained when the mounting bolts are tightened so that the
engine can move within reasonable limits in a torsion (rotating) direction but is restrained from
any fore-and-aft movement. The torsion motion is then damped by the restraining action of the
pads or cushions and the friction of the metal surfaces held by the bolts. If these bolts are too
tight, the mounting structure tends to vibrate with the engine, which is undesirable. For this
reason, technicians should always consult the manufacturer's service manual when tightening
such bolts.
Most turbine-powered aircraft use forged metal mounts bolted to the airframe attachment
points and to the engine.
Many transport aircraft have the engine attachments designed to allow for a quick removal and
installation of a complete engine and mount assembly. This requires that fluid lines, electrical
cables, Control linkages, and engine- mounting attachments to the airframe be designed for
easy separation at or near the firewall. This type of arrangement is referred to as a QEC
<quick engine change) package.

WING ATTACHMENTS

Wings are attached to airplanes in a variety of locations, vertically and longitudinally. The
terms high-wing, low-wing and mid-wing all describe both airplane types and methods of wing
attachment. Wing design can be divided into two types, cantilever and semi cantilever. A
cantilever wing contains all its structural strength inside the wing
structure and requires no external bracing. This type of wing is
normally found on high-performance aircraft and on transports. The
semi cantilever design obtains its strength both by internal wing
design and external support and by bracing from struts and wires.
This type of wing is usually found on light aircraft designs and
relatively slow aircraft designed to carry heavy loads. Note that all
wings require span wise members of great strength to withstand
operational stresses, which are greatest during flight and upon landing. The shape and type of
wing used on an aircraft are determined "by considerations other than structural. The proposed
usage of the aircraft will dictate the structural design of the wing. Small, low-speed aircraft
have straight, neatly rectangular wings. For these wings the main load is in bending. Cost of
 TRAINING NOTES
CODE: D-206/009
IIAE Airframe Structure - I
TECHNICAL RESEARCH CELL

building and maintenance also influences wing design. Airplane wing designs represent a
careful balance of performance, cost, fabrication techniques,' weight, and strength.
The top aircraft has a cantilever wing attach-
ment, and the bottom aircraft uses a semi
cantilever design.

EMPENNGE ATTCHMENTS

The stabilizers and the control surfaces of an

airplane are constructed in a manner similar to
the wings but on a much smaller scale. They
usually include one or more primary members
(spars) and ribs attached to the spars. The
vertical stabilizer (fin) may be constructed as a
part of the fuselage
The vertical stabilizer for an airplane is the airfoil section forward of the rudder; it is used to
provide longitudinal (yaw) stability for the aircraft. This unit is commonly called the fin. The
construction of the vertical stabilizer is very much like that of the horizontal stabilizer, and, as
mentioned previously, it may be constructed as an integral part of the fuselage. The rear
structural member of the fin is provided with hinges for the support of the rudder. On many
aircraft a dorsal fin is installed immediately forward of the vertical stabilizer. The function of the
dorsal fin is to improve the yaw stability oft he aircraft and to provide streamline fair ing
between vertical stabilizer and the fuselage.