About our Chief Engineer

The Chief Engineer, Michael McGettrick, has over 30 years experience in the aircraft industry.  He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Aeronautical/Aerospace in the state of Kansas, as well as an FAA Structures and Loads DER.  Before starting McGettrick Structural Engineering, he worked seven years at Beech Aircraft gaining fundamental knowledge of composites and metal aircraft design, manufacturing, and repair.  He earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree at Wichita State University in Aeronautical Engineering, and he is an IFR and Commercial rated pilot of single engine propeller planes.

Examples of Our Finite Element Modeling

Click picture to enlarge & view slideshow

Past and Current Projects

• Adam Aircraft Inc.  Static strength, buckling stability, and modal analysis of all-composite M500 Carbon Aero.  Structural DER support of certification program.
• AdamWorks, LLC.  Finite Element Analysis of composite module.  Analysis of Equipment Rack components, and review of Pallet FEM.
• Aeronautix, LLC.  Finite Element Methodology report submitted per 23.301(b) Amdt. 48 for Thrush S2 series aircraft. 
• Aerospace Turbine Rotables.  FAA/PMA support of Actuator Nut Assemblies including Certification Plan development, Test Plan, MDL, and Structural Analysis report.  Beech 400 main landing gear repair analysis for FAA repair procedure.  D&DT analysis of 400 MLG for service life extension.
• Airight.  Analysis of various landing gears.
• AkroTech Aviation.  Optimization of G-200 wing & aileron.  Design & analysis of G202 wing/aileron, fuselage, and control system.
• Altitude Group.  Radial Rocket Loads and Structural Analysis.  Wing, Empennage, Landing Gear, Engine Mount, Fuselage.  http://radialrocket.com/Page%2002.html
• Ayres Corp.  Finite Element Analysis of T660 Fuselage Truss.
• Bevan-Rabell.  Analysis of various antenna installations.
• Brenner Aerospace.  DER support of repair of Lear inlet ducts, and Cessna Elevators.
• CAV Aerospace (formerly Aerospace Systems and Technologies).  Structural DER support of various TKS, Known Ice – Deice systems.
• Century Aerospace Corporation.  Analysis and Finite Element Modeling of Century Jet wing, and fuselage.
• Cessna Aircraft.  Structural analysis and design sizing of landing gear parts.  Analysis of CJ3 windshield.
• Cirrus Aircraft.  Structural analysis of SF50 windshield.
• Columbia Aircraft/Lancair.  Analysis and DER support for modifications to Columbia aircraft wing.
• Epic Aircraft.  Structural analysis of wing, fuselage and engine mount. Modal analysis of all structures. Loads analysis report prepare and approval.
• FAR23 Loads Software Program..  Purchased copyright of program from Aeroscience Software, and made numerous improvements to software.  Product for sale via partner company, DARCorp.
• Flight Ice Inc.  Structural analysis reports for Beech Baron, and Cessna Caravan Known Ice System FAA Part 23 STC.
• Goodrich Cabin Systems (formerly Decrane Aerospace & Precision Pattern Interiors).  Structural Analysis Reports for FAA Part 25 cabinet certification of various interior cabinets.  FAA Static Test Plan and Structural Analysis Report in support of Boeing 727 Under-Bin Galley STC.  Executive Aircraft (747-200) structural analysis reports for 70 interior monuments.  STC administration of auxiliary galley table, including Certification Plan, Test Plan, Structural Analysis Reports.  Test Plans and Test Reports for Hawker Beechcraft interior cabinets.
• Global Aircraft Corp.  Finite Element Analysis of Quasi Constant Speed composite propeller.
• Global Engineering and Technology, Inc.  Structural analysis and documentation of cabinetry installation into Beech King Air series aircraft.
• Griffon Aerospace.  Design & analysis of Lionheart fuselage, empennage, and wing.  Analysis of Northrop Grumman’s Max Launch Abort System (MLAS) Fin.  Analysis of Lockheed Martin Crew Escape Module.  Support analysis of Target Wing.
• Guernsey Aviation.  Submitted structural analysis reports for various FAA Part 23 and Part 25 STC and field repair projects, including Saberliner and Beechjet 400A landing gear reconditioning, Cessna 172 camera and equipment installation, Mooney battery relocation, and others.
• Gulfstream Aviation.  Structural analysis of Interior Mounuments.  Unit Member.
• Hawker Beechcraft.  Model 4000:  Structural Certification of RH Fwd Galley.  Submittal of Test Plans, witness of structural tests for panel pins, inserts, and full scale galley.  Finite Element validation of galley based on test results.  Horizontal Stabilizer Optimization Challenge Project:   Analyzed four changes to the horizontal stabilizer by FEM and hand analysis following previous analysis methods; Included stiffness and flutter checks.
• Hensley Aircraft.  Design and analysis of Wolf fuselage, empennage, wing, landing gear.
• Lee Aerospace, Inc.  Analysis and DER support of various certified aircraft windows and windshields.  STC and PMA approvals.  Test Plans and Test Results Reports.
• Loads analysis of various aircraft.  Includes both piston and jet with mach speeds < 0.8.
• Management Sciences, Inc.  Consultant in support of NASA SBIR titled “Multi-disciplinary Workstation for Small Aircraft Optimization for FAA Certification.”
• McGettrick Structural Engineering, Inc.  STC for Bonanza N35/P35 100 lb gross weight increase:  Development of Certification Plan, MDL, and Compliance Substantiation Report.  STC for Cessna 182L and 182M 150 lb gross weight increase:  Development of Certification Plan and Compliance Substantiation reports.
• NIAR (National Institute for Aviation Research).  Witness NCAMP material property testing. 
• Parks Industries.  FAA/STC Structural analysis support and Finite Element Analysis of Beech T-34 wing spar, center section, and horizontal tail for repair and Durability and Damage Tolerance analysis to establish new inspection interval.  Development of Certification Plan, Static Test Plan, MDL, and Structural Analysis Report.
• Performance Aircraft.  Design and analysis of Legend fuselage, wing/aileron/flaps, empennage, and engine mount.
• Raytheon Aircraft.  Analysis of wind tunnel model, and Structural Analysis report per Wind Tunnel requirements.
• Rockwell Collins. Structural Analysis report RC-4000-SA for Enhanced Vision System Installation on 737-700 aircraft. 
• Task Research.  Analysis and layup design of the flying prop to be flown during conclusion of the movie, Flight of the Phoenix II.  Analyzed fuselage, empennage, and wing and provided layup schedules.
• Thrush Aircraft.  Structural Analysis support for propeller and engine installations.