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

[David-aviator]

Originally Posted by gerrychuck

I did my initial inspection yesterday, but had a tiny niggling doubt about one corner. Went back today with a can of lacquer thinner from Canadian Tire (MEK and toluene). Cleaned the 10 year old overspray and primer very easily; only had to use 2 Q-tips to get down to shiny metal around the notch. Glad I did; my hi-res photos after cleaning leave no doubt that there is no crack, and the cleaning process only took me about 5 minutes.

Ten year old airplane and no cracks....some 15-20 years old and no cracks....newer machines are not passing muster. Maybe the aluminum is being imported like so many other inferior products.
Something has changed.

[Jaypratt]

The Borrowed Horse has no cracks! Well the pilot is a "Butt Crack" but that is another story,

RV8 2007

550 hours since new,
No acro,
A few scary landings,,,,
Lots of grass operations.
No EFIS, No Glass panel,
No notches in HS spar.
No cracks in H/S spar web
No cracks in rudder or elevator doublers

[scottg]

RV-6A completed 1997, 1993 tail kit
Original owner/builder
1,100+ hrs (tach)
O-320, Hartzell C/S
Mild Acro for the first 5 yrs- loops, rolls
First 14 years on grass, last 2+ on pavement
No notches
No cracks on both SBs

[Rotorheadrob]

Originally Posted by Mark Burns

Notches??
I'm guessing "No"

Mark

Correct, No Notches.

No Cracks.

Older kit.

Dispite this SB, total confidence in these stout planes.

An outstanding use of VAF community. Pulling together to determine cause and assist one another sort this and other issues. 😉👍

[gerrychuck]

Originally Posted by David-aviator

Ten year old airplane and no cracks....some 15-20 years old and no cracks....newer machines are not passing muster. Maybe the aluminum is being imported like so many other inferior products.
Something has changed.

Perhaps, but my plane only has 375 TT despite being 10 years old; not a high hour bird at all.

[jbDC9]

Finally got around to checking mine today; no cracks.
RV-8
2003 vintage tail kit
1090 hrs
No notches.
Some grass, easy acro.
O-360 180hp, CS prop.

[John RV8]

Finally Did my inspection

No Notches - No Cracks
Tail section built circa 2003, plane not finished until 2011
Total time 175 hours
some acro
some grass
lives on rough paved strip (52F)
rarely push on tail, (has retractable handles) so no need
Composite constant speed prop (MT)
180 HP

[Tom Schad]

Inspected me RV-8 yesterday. No cracks. Superior O-360 A1A Hartzell. No acrobatics mostly flown off of grass. Not a prepunched kit. About 500 TT. Also, checked son's RV 6. About 150 hours TT. Lycoming O-320 E2D no acro. Old slow built kit. Also flown off of grass. Jay dropped in while I had both airplanes apart and confirmed my findings. Guess, we dodged the bullet for now...

[nzrv8]

I guess I'm lucky, I built a second HS as I wasn't happy with the first.. And as of last month it is ready for priming and final assembly. I will be incorporating the SB fix now.

[Bob Gordon]

At 694.1 hours time in service I found no cracks in either the horizontal stabilizer or elevator as mentioned in their SBs. No aerobatics, hard surface runways. No notches on this 1997 tail kit.