Service Bulletins 19-08-26 and 16-05-23 Published - Nose gear leg and fork

[NinerBikes]

Let me suggest this: if you had to do a retrofit on some other plane similar to a RV-12...

Say a Sling 2 from South Africa, or one of those fancy CZech planes or a Bristell... you don't even want to think or guestimate how long it would take to get to the USA with the replacement part.

I own a VW Touareg TDI, and it was insane, even without having to re engineer or redesign the part, just get it shipped from Germany, a simple plastic molded shifter box for an 8 speed automatic transmission, all plastic. It was a well known issue, the daily driver was down for 6 weeks, due to a faulty electric switch that wouldn't release the keyfob, from the dashboard. The car was "hot" and could have been stolen at any time, due to inability to remove the fob out of the locking device in the dashboard.

Take, for example, Bing Constant Velocity altitude compensating carburetors, and sinking floats in those models, and how long it's taken to fix the problem, with numerous and various vendors.

So, in the grand scheme of things, with the re engineering and new build and heat treating, I'd say Van's is doing remarkable under the circumstances.

I'd also probably give priority to any S-LSA's that are used in pilot schools being first in line. It's a major liability issue for them, they need flying planes to teach students, to stay in business. Grounded planes make them no money, at all.

[rag]

Having spent almost 40 years in manufacturing - The Van's team is doing a most fantastic job. We are soooo lucky. Imagine having A 1989 ANTHING and getting factory parts and support for it?? I can still buy parts for 1989 RV4. I'm so happy I decided to build a RV back in 1986.

[greghughespdx]

Originally Posted by lon@carolon.net

... it triggered a "Not again!" gut response...

Hey, Lon. We're all human, and we're all in this together. No problem, friend. And as I said before, there was a good and reasonable question in there.

[rsipp]

Ordered parts about 36 hours after SB published. Shipped 2/3 scheduled delivery 2/7. Thanks for the great service!

[RFSchaller]

Greg,

Being an engineer I have a geeky question. Everything I?ve learned makes me expect a crack to initiate on the outside radius of a bend, so when you said the accident failure initiated on the inner wall of the landing gear tube I was perplexed. Then I thought the front wall of the tube is bent forward with the outer radius on the inner wall. Is that where the crack indicated: on the inner wall at the forward bend? Do you guys think it?s a residual stress issue from the bending process?

Rich

[Piper J3]

Originally Posted by RFSchaller

Greg,

Being an engineer I have a geeky question. Everything I’ve learned makes me expect a crack to initiate on the outside radius of a bend, so when you said the accident failure initiated on the inner wall of the landing gear tube I was perplexed. Then I thought the front wall of the tube is bent forward with the outer radius on the inner wall. Is that where the crack indicated: on the inner wall at the forward bend? Do you guys think it’s a residual stress issue from the bending process?

Rich

I think the inner radius bend would be in compression and not high stress. Outside radius would be in tension and subject to repetitive stress. Perhaps...

[joedallas]

Originally Posted by Piper J3

I think the inner radius bend would be in compression and not high stress. Outside radius would be in tension and subject to repetitive stress. Perhaps...

I also think the wall thickness is thinner on the outside radius at the point of most tension

My view

[NinerBikes]

Originally Posted by Piper J3

I think the inner radius bend would be in compression and not high stress. Outside radius would be in tension and subject to repetitive stress. Perhaps...

Not an engineer, but that's surely the way concrete starts cracking in stress tests under load. The tension side cracks first, due to the lack of elasticity of the material. Later, the compression side on top starts crumbling/folding/wrinkiing.

The 1994 Northridge , CA Earthquake was a grim reminder of this, where I live. Tons of freeway with steel rebar and concrete falling down as our road structures collapsed.

[DonFromTX]

For what it is worth, as an elderly A&P who does condition inspections yet but only on Vans products, as well as owning two of them, you can rest assured that Vans does not forget you after the sale, and never knowingly sells anything except first class products. It has always been that way!

[mwardle7]

FYI, I ordered my nose fork and leg yesterday and they quoted me a July/August ship date.