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-   -   SB 18-02-02 Potential cracking in the horizontal stabilator front spar (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=157839)

Dave12 03-02-2018 07:46 AM

Wow, those guys are fast!

AirHound 03-02-2018 07:58 AM

Hey Skunkworks, Thanks for the visual. Did you loosen cables in the process couldn?t tell. Or, just detach at the HS horns? Does that table adjust for absolute fit or just stuff a magazine or something to align? Thanks again!!

Dave12 03-02-2018 08:36 AM

I?ve done two so far and did not loosen the cables. Using the table, you might have to nudge the hs a little up or down when installing but works well and keeps the fuselage from getting scratched. I did my own using the table with no help whatsoever. You could use other stands, props,etc. having a stand that rolls is a big help.

AirHound 03-02-2018 02:58 PM

Dave12, very helpful, thank you.

mcems 03-04-2018 07:39 AM

Got mine done yesterday. 900 hours on plane no cracks found. I went ahead and installed the upgrade. The task is not as bad as it first appears. Vans did a good job designing this upgrade it really adds strength to that area. In the homebuilt world your really never done building.

Thanks to Vans for catching this and providing a fix at a reasonable cost.
Gone undetected this could have been a serious issue.

Brad Stiefvater
Salem SD
N124BJ First customer built RV 12 to get Airworthy and Fly

JBPILOT 03-04-2018 12:54 PM

ME TOO - -
 
Just finished an hour ago. Was able to pull on cable enough to get hooked up again. Not easy, but doable. Agree, it certainly strengthened the hinges. Getting the two main bolts back in is not a fun job. Getting thin washers in place and pushing bolts in to hold them is a challenge. The new gussets make it even harder to get fingers into the area. No signs of any cracks. 1,185 hours.

rjtjrt 03-04-2018 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBPILOT (Post 1243570)
Just finished an hour ago. Was able to pull on cable enough to get hooked up again. Not easy, but doable. Agree, it certainly strengthened the hinges. Getting the two main bolts back in is not a fun job. Getting thin washers in place and pushing bolts in to hold them is a challenge. The new gussets make it even harder to get fingers into the area. No signs of any cracks. 1,185 hours.

JB

PM sent.

JohnRussell

RFSchaller 03-04-2018 08:51 PM

I haven?t got to thes skin doublets yet. Would it be easier to put the stabilator back on and then install the skin doublets?

JBPILOT 03-05-2018 05:57 AM

Hmmm --
 
Don't think you could. Solid squeezed rivets would be hard to do. Flange to rivet to would still be there. I better say no you can't. Having smaller hands will help. Just not a fun job.

HDDAHL 03-05-2018 04:17 PM

just finished today. Not mentioned in the instructions is the potential for interference between the top tailbone fairing and the gusset at full displacement of the stabilator. Mine did interfere and I had to file an eighth of an inch of the fairing above the gusset.
Hate putting those two bolts in.

No cracks, but only 150 hours.
N72DJ


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