Bettsometer

A Bettsometer is a fabric degradation tester commonly used to measure or test the integrity of fabric coverings (and associated stitching) on aircraft and their wings.^[1]

The Bettsometer comprises a pen-like instrument (which functions much like a spring balance) and a smooth round needle or pin. The needle is inserted into the fabric and then the instrument is pulled to exert a specific force on the fabric in order to test.^[2] A visual inspection is made to check for any rips or tears at the needle insertion point.

The Bettsometer test is often a requirement for the annual 'permit' renewal and is usually carried out by an aircraft inspector who will know the requirements of the test (i.e. the areas of sail and stitching to be tested and the force to be exerted).^[3][4][5]

References

1. "Service Bulletin: Sail Life Extension and Condition Monitoring" (PDF). airborne.com.au. 2008-03-17. AirBorne Service Bulletin SB-7 Issue1. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
2. "Bettsometer BETTS-001". Ekmpowershop2.com. Retrieved 2011-05-12.
3. "Microlight Type Approval Data Sheets" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2011-05-12.
4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2009-08-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
5. "Department Of Civil Aviation" (PDF) (in Greek). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2011-05-12.