4-2 STRUCTURES / STRUCTURES DESCRIPTION
ICON A5 / MAINTENANCE MANUAL CHANGE C2
4.1 Structures Description
The A5 structures are largely carbon fiber composite construction. Because the aircraft operates on
water and is approved for salt water operations, the vast majority of the fasteners and hardware are
stainless steel. Parts made of aluminum or other materials are corrosion-protected by anodizing,
painting, or other means.
4.1.1 Wing
The wing is a cantilevered design with flaps and ailerons.
The manual wing fold system allows the wings to be rotated and folded back along the fuselage,
reducing the A5 width from approximately 35 feet to 8 feet for trailering and storage. The wing fold
mechanism was designed to be simple, allowing one person to complete the task in just a few minutes
with no tools required using the procedures described in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook
WARNING: The handles built into the wing tips are to be used for wing folding
only. They must not be used for ground handling purposes or
pushing/pulling the entire aircraft.
4.1.2 Horizontal Tail
The horizontal tail tips are removable for trailering or shipping purposes. The tips have two switches—
one to detect the tip is fully installed and the second to detect the latch is secured. The removable tip
latches are located on the underside of the horizontal tail and are placarded to show operation.
4.1.3 Seawings™ Platforms
The Seawings™ platforms tips are easily replaceable by the owner in case they are damaged during
docking or other operations. When removed, they decrease the aircraft width for easier ground trans-
port or shipping.
4.1.4 Landing Gear System
The composite landing gear legs are lightweight and corrosion proof. The stainless steel wheel bear-
ings are corrosion-resistant and extend time between required maintenance when used in salt water.
The self-centering, full 360° castering nose wheel allows for ease of movement when moving the A5
on the ground and aligns the nose wheel to the correct position for gear retraction. Steering is accom-
plished while taxiing via differential braking actuated by toe pressure on the rudder pedals. Seaweed
fins ahead of the nose landing gear door are included to minimize seaweed fowling or entanglement.
The electrically actuated, retractable landing gear system takes approximately seven seconds to
retract. The left wing includes gear position mirrors used for visual confirmation of the gear position
after verifying the indicator lights on the center console of the cockpit.
In the event of IPS deployment, the gear automatically extends to absorb additional energy at touch-
down.
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