SB 14-01-31; RV-6, 7, 8

[LifeofReiley]

Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002

-d-,
Leaping to a lot of conclusions there aren't you?

What would your response have been if it was announced 5 weeks (or so) ago when it was first discovered, but no fix was developed.
You probably would have been complaining about why would we notify about a problem and not have a fix for it
I think 5 weeks is pretty darn good.

Yes, the elevator one has been know about for a bit longer, but I am only aware of 3 or 4 airplanes (out of a lot that were inspected) that had the problem. And it doesn't even require removing a fairing or inspection cover to check. Just grab a flash light and look!

I guess I should have learned by now that there are people in the world that wont be happy regardless what you do.
Mods feel free to delete this, because it is likely to go no where good... just had to vent.

I'm done here.

Scott,

Not trying to pound on you! You answer randomly here when questions are asked. Van's needs to speak up and let us know (the maufacturers of the aircraft) what is going on. Take polls, send emails etc.. Just don't throw out two SB in a weekend and expect us all to be okay with it. Help us help you.

[Mike S]

Originally Posted by LifeofReiley

Scott,

Not trying to pound on you!

Maybe not your intent to "pound" on Scott and Vans, but it sure sounds like what you are doing to me.

Originally Posted by LifeofReiley

------ in ONE weekend, we're slammed with TWO SB's. What is up with Van's here? Not of business character for sure. Heck, before we get SB #3 this week on the VS, just send us all a new redesigned tail kit and be done with it! Sure would protect OUR investment.

Originally Posted by LifeofReiley

... Van's needs to come clean with the folks that spent their hard earned money on a kit, to learn that these issues have been known about and researched but not forwarded to builders and owners. We all can help with inspections etc... but an unknown blast of surprise SB's really sucks bigtime.

From what I can see looking at this thread, Scott has been very open with information, and has tried to deal with the issue in a manner that is well balanced and thought out. The explanation of the process arriving at the SB (computer modeling etc) shows that this is well thought out and engineered solution. This type of action does not happen overnight-----takes time to develop.

Originally Posted by JonJay

What am I missing. Vans discovered a problem, identified it's likely cause, and engineered and documented a repair. Not sure what else they can do.
That certainly meets my expectation.

Well said Jon.

[Andy Hill]

Reiley

I think you're giving Vans, and Scott especially, too much of a hard time and it would be a shame if Scott decided not to post as a result.

The 2nd SB is not news at all... been well trailed on here as discussed above.

In each case Vans has done a good job in not just alerting the problem, but also designing and starting production of a fix. Yes - we all are asking more questions (some of which are probably not possible to answer), but I cannot see how that could be avoided.

Scott - thanks for the updates and will await the "drill-less rivet removal" technique

[RV7DES]

New Zealand RV7
600h
Lots of Aerobatics,
Occasionally grass strips
Clear cracks on both sides.

In order to take out of hanger I need to lift the tail onto a tow bar. I have often used the horizontal stabiliser to do this, and wonder if this could a contributing factor to the clear cracks. In hindsight I should use the spike.
Have already removed the horizontal stabiliser and will not fly until I have fitted SB 14-01-31

Will add photos shortly if I can

[RV10inOz]

Originally Posted by Bob'sRV6A

Couple of RV builders I know will not do stalls anymore after observing their HS during full stalls. Lots of "loading/unloading"--maybe more so than aerobatics, or hard landings, tri-gear, or tail-dragger.
Perhaps Vans Demo planes do the most stalls per flight hour? Even though someone does lots of acro, maybe they do few stalls. And maybe someone who does no acro does more stalls?
Just my 2 cents.

And accelerated stalls.

We have a video in the APS course of George Braly doing testing on the T34 when the FAA were about to ground the fleet. He had strain gauges all over this thing and was replicating flight loads. GAMI subsequently came up with what I still consider to be the most brilliant solution to any difficult problem I have seen to date.

But the funny part was he collected some video of the tail feathers doing accelerated stalls at 117kts.

After seeing this video you will never want to do one ever again! And I mean it.

rvbuilder2002
Imagine the same thing from Cessna....timely, $10 fix?

Vans are at the pinnacle of customer service in the industry, along with a small group of others I can think of, but it is very small. Be grateful for what we have, it does not get better, trust me. Tried Lycoming or TCM?

[Robski]

Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002

I'm done here.

All of us (except maybe one) hope that's not permanent.

As for Van's response to the issues - try getting any on-going support from many other kit suppliers, let alone for discontinued models (RV6). Some people don't appreciate when they are well off.

[ILikePike]

Rvbuilder2002,
Your insight is very appreciated please do not hesitate to post. Your input carries the most weight with me. I wish the complainers would go work on their car or something. They should stay away from airplanes, airports, and this forum.

Would you be willing to comment on the relief notches vs normal smoothed radius as it relates to FEA?

[GLPalinkas]

I hope Scott continues to provide what he knows here on this and many more subjects.

In fairness, if the fact that the HS issue was just discovered and 5 weeks later a SB was engineered and put into effect was known earlier it would have eased a lot of minds. Maybe the SB should contain that information.

Scott, sincerely, THANK YOU for what you do on VAF to help builders.

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

It goes without saying that we appreciate Scott's efforts.

That said, it'd be great if a separate thread could be set up for the flame war portion of this discussion so that those of us trying to get solid technical information don't have to wade through the noise. This is pretty serious business.

[pa38112]

2004 RV6A
420 Hr. TT
O-360-A-1-A
FP Stensenich
50% grass
some Acro
No relief notch
No cracks !!