New SB issued 6 May 2016 (SB16-03-28) - Page 7

dmaib · #61 05-09-2016, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rv7charlie

Just out of curiosity, how does the company get this info out to owners? I *think* (but can't swear) that I have notified Van's that I currently own my purchased RV-4, but I've never received any notification directly from the company about any SB that applies to it.

Do they attempt to send emails to registered owners, or are we expected to check somewhere every day for service bulletins as part of our pre-flight? If so, where?

Not that I've got my panties in a wad over it, but I just gave about a half dozen Young Eagles rides, plus taking my wife to/from the event, the day after this SB was issued.

I realize that Van's is a small company; yadayadayada, and mailing letters might be seen as too expensive, but an email to registered owners??

Charlie

Can't swear to it, but it seems to me that I have received notification from Van's on past SB's. However, in every case, I found out about it from VAF or Matronics first. The Van's website has all SB's for all models.

kkmarshall · #62 05-09-2016, 07:33 AM

Scott,
Are you able to share which models discovered cracks?

sritchie · #63 05-09-2016, 07:42 AM

What do y'all think of applying this service bulletin to a set of Quickbuild wings? I'm close to the end of the wings and I don't see the referenced parts on the Vans site. Patience is probably the right way to go here. Just wait for the parts, perform the modification while it's easy and build on.

tc1234c · #64 05-09-2016, 07:47 AM

RV9A, 9 1/2 yrs, 1854 hrs, no cracks found.
RV9A, 10 yrs, 540 hrs, no cracks.
RV9A, 3 yrs, 150 hrs, no cracks.

StuBob · #65 05-09-2016, 07:55 AM

New kits will have new parts. Completed wings get inspected. What about wings under construction?

Dan92 · #66 05-09-2016, 07:59 AM

RV-7A, 5 years flying, 240 hrs, no cracks.

Dan

Snowflake · #67 05-09-2016, 08:20 AM

If the SB is dated 2016-03-28, why are we only hearing about it a month and a half later? Was it just posted to the Van's site, or has it been there for over a month now waiting for someone from here to find it?

Maybe a better question: If it's important enough to put a service bulletin out, wouldn't it be a good idea to make a post here on VAF, where (probably) the vast majority of owners check in from time to time? Certainly more frequently than one goes to the Van's site directly...

rvbuilder2002 · #68 05-09-2016, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kkmarshall

Scott,
Are you able to share which models discovered cracks?

I specifically haven't mentioned the models cracks were found because it really isn't relevant.
I don't want that info to bias anyone's thinking regarding any specific model.

I will say that of the three previously noted, they were not all the same model.

This can effect all models equally so all should be inspected.

BTW, this is also why I think a poll of inspection results is of no value other than to erroneously make some people think that one model is more or less likely develop a crack. The only model with a lower likelihood is the RV-6 because of the stub rib that is associated with hinge bracket attachment.

rvbuilder2002 · #69 05-09-2016, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflake

If the SB is dated 2016-03-28, why are we only hearing about it a month and a half later? Was it just posted to the Van's site, or has it been there for over a month now waiting for someone from here to find it?

Maybe a better question: If it's important enough to put a service bulletin out, wouldn't it be a good idea to make a post here on VAF, where (probably) the vast majority of owners check in from time to time? Certainly more frequently than one goes to the Van's site directly...

Even though Van's is not a huge company, there is still an extensive process for a SB such as this to grind through the company system (begin producing the new parts, get all of the documentation lined up, everyone educated one what is happening, etc.), so you shouldn't put to much emphasis on the date you see. It is simply the date that was attached to the SB at some point in that process.
It in no way indicates that it was ready to be announced on that date and then someone forgot and went on vacation.......

LettersFromFlyoverCountry · #70 05-09-2016, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironflight

We just completed the inspection on all three of our RV's. It took Louise and I less than an hour to remove the six covers, take pictures of the suspect area with a cell phone stuck in through the hole, and then put the covers back on. Would have been quicker if I let Louise use a power driver, but I'm old fashioned and use a screwdriver for inspection covers to avoid buggering things up.

I highly recommend using the cell phone camera. Email the Hi Rez to yourself and then use your big computer screen to really look at the picture. I had a scratch that looked like a crack until I blew it up.

Paul

I would think a Go Pro would be helpful here too.