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Building RV - Inspections during my build.
Hello friends!
I am located in BC and currently working on my RV10 build. I just started so even my vertical stabilizer is still on clecos. From what I understand in Canada, while building your own experimental airplane, you have to be always in touch with inspector who will look at each significant step after your build. Can you please briefly tell me what should be my steps in terms of inspection of my build and at what stages ? Soon I will be riveting my horizontal stab, after that will move on to vertical stab. At what point inspection is required, if required at this point at all ? Thank you! Vlad |
Mdra
Visit md-ra.com. Everything you will need is there. You have to fill a letter of intend prior to start building your amateur-built aircraft.
Good luck with your build. I am about to start building an RV-7. |
Call me...
Give me a call tomorrow and I?ll be happy to chat with you what I did when I built my 8.
Call me after 12pm Toronto time. 905 261 66onefive Cheers, Don |
Pre close inspection
After your letter of intent,
You will have to get a pre-determination approval from your MD-RA that your build kit follows the 51% rule. In the case of Vans kits, this is more of a formality than anything else. Your next inspection will be a pre-close inspection. Basically an inspection of your rivets and workmanship prior to putting the last skins on. Some people wait until all the wings and control surfaces are ready before ordering this inspection. I can?t remember exactly but I recall this inspection was north of $200 plus gas money. The next inspection will be your preflight inspection. Of course, you can always order as many inspections as you like but you pay for each one. |
Unless I misunderstood the rules, I don't think there is a requirement to be in contact with an inspector throughout the build. But you are welcome to call them if you have questions. You can have as many pre-close inspections as you want and finally the pre-flight inspection. But as rv6ehguy said, each inspection will cost you.
I'm leaving each subassembly open for inspection and plan to do the pre-close inspection all at once. I may do two pre-close inspections if I feel it might better to just close up the tail and wings and put them away in storage to free up room to work on the fuselage. Cheers. |
You?re right
MDRA requires requests for inspections for pre-closes and then the final inspection.
You can have one pre-close for the entire project and then once you close everything up, you can do the final when the aircraft is ready for flight. Each pre-close inspection is $540 and the final inspection is $1260. Don Fee schedule is here... http://www.md-ra.com/en/ |
Have others check your work as you build. Don't wait for a MD-RA inspection to get build feedback. It would be prudent to seek out other local builders to act as advisors. They will be a source of endless builder tips & techniques, and helping hands! It is always a good idea to have other eyes looking over your work to keep it (you) on the right track.
Join the local RAA or EAA chapter, enroll in some builder classes & seminars such as EAA Sportair Workshops. There are many skill sets you will have to master to get thru the build process. Good luck on your project! |
Wau! THANK YOU to everyone for providing your responses and suggestions! I appreciate your help.
Today I have contacted MD-RA, filled up the letter of intent and emailed it to them. After that tried to call them to make a payment but got voicemail. Hope they will call me back on next business day so I can complete my card payment. I read about rules and regulations and also confirmed that my RV10 kit is on Transport Canada list of 51% approved kits. Quote:
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Friends, can you please explain what "pre-close inspection" means ? For example at this time I am working on tailcone/empennage kit. It consists of few parts which needs to be closed and riveted. For example vertical stabilizer, rudder, horizontal stabilizer, elevator and tailcone. Am I able to actually assemble these parts and rivet them as per VAN's assembly manual or I should leave vertical stab, rudder, horizontal stab, elevator and tailcone opened somehow? My understanding that all parts still can be inspected even after riveting for example by use of snake camera (I have one for my other work needs). If I choose to do single pre-close inspection, that I assume means that I will have to leave lots of parts of airplane not riveted (wings, fuselage, etc) ? I am just trying to understand how much riveting can be done while pre-close inspection still can be performed. Will pictures taken during assembly help in anyway for that pre-close inspection ? Thank you for your help! |
My understanding is that the inspector must be able to see every rivet. So in some cases that means leaving things partially open. For instance leaving the rear spar out of the vertical stab. I believe the rudder can be closed in completely because all rivets can be seen through the lightning holes.
I am taking the approach that if in doubt leave it open. |
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