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

[Richard Connell]

RV-7 S/N 72555
Completed AUG 2009
400 TT
IO-360-M1
Hartzell BA
Lots of grass.
Lots of short rough strips.
Some Mild Acro
Notches per plans - I remember doing a second set of front spars as wasn't happy with the first notches circa 2005.

[dabney]

"I would hazard a guess that many who reported no cracks are simply not seeing an obvious crack and moving on."

This comment was made a couple of replies ago.

Really?

I do not agree with your hazardous guess. I think RV owners after reading the extensive comments on this subject know where to look, how to look, what to do to prepare the surface for inspection etc, particularly after some earlier comments that some of the early inspections did not detect a "not so obvious" crack. Many owners are bringing an extra set of eyes into the inspection process, photos, magnification, borescopes etc to ensure any "not so obvious" cracks are not missed.

My a/c luckily did not have any cracks but I could post the pictures I took to prove it, if I knew how.

[JonJay]

Originally Posted by dabney

"I would hazard a guess that many who reported no cracks are simply not seeing an obvious crack and moving on."

This comment was made a couple of replies ago.

Really?

I do not agree with your hazardous guess. I think RV owners after reading the extensive comments on this subject know where to look, how to look, what to do to prepare the surface for inspection etc, particularly after some earlier comments that some of the early inspections did not detect a "not so obvious" crack. Many owners are bringing an extra set of eyes into the inspection process, photos, magnification, borescopes etc to ensure any "not so obvious" cracks are not missed.

My a/c luckily did not have any cracks but I could post the pictures I took to prove it, if I knew how.

Yes - really. This comment came after I assisted in an inspection AFTER, they had already reported "no cracks". They are removing the paint now to re-inspect. I do not expect them to find anything..... their build is top notch.
I did not "hazard" a guess, so I should not have worded it as such, and I should not have said "many". I certainly did not mean to offend you or anybody else.
From my past experiences, RV owners are not much different than anybody else, and with the long, long posting, it would be very easy to miss the prior comments you mentioned.
If my comments send one person back to inspect and that one person finds something different, it was worth reminding people.

[n747jg]

N747JG RV-8
No cracks (close-up HiRes photos)
No notches
Mild acro, less than 4 g's
Paved runways
590 hrs TT (first flight July 2008)
Lycoming (Barrett) I0-360-X 215 hp 10.1 pistons
Dual P-Mags
WhirlWind 200RV CS prop - professionally balanced

Regularly back the airplane and steer into the hangar using the empennage

Jim Gray
www.rmrairshows.com

[RV3bpilot]

I had a twisted aileron and tried to drill out the rivets to save the skeleton but after a few rivet holes enlarged I threw it all in the scrap aluminum pile in the corner and ordered a complete new aileron kit. I do feel for you all who find the cracks in the H.S. parts. I felt the worst part was re-painting.

[bret]

I have no cracks....or flt hrs, still under construction, but still, I drilled mine all apart this weekend and waiting for the parts to come in. No rivet holes were harmed. 4 Hrs

[kblack]

Building a 7. And I am the 3rd owner of a 6 purchased last summer with about 1,000 hours. My understanding is the builder worked for Gulfstream and used their paint system. Beautiful craftsmanship and paint (very tough) throughout - including on the parts that require inspection.

I was stumped on how to proceed, but posts to this thread clued me in. Planning to use Methylene Chloride based stripper (nasty, but won't harm aluminum), Q-tips, and plastic or wooden scrapers to remove the paint for a proper inspection with a magnifier or camera (borescope). I will report back with results.

Kudos to Van's for their quick follow up to develop and publish these SB's. And a special thanks to RVBuilder2002 (Scott) for his hard work to keep up with this forum, and for his patient and thorough answers to the sometimes "tedious" questions and comments. Keep up the good work!

While I'm at it, I can't say enough about this website and these forums. Way to go Doug Reeves for having the vision, skills, and tenacity to make it happen!

[dilamipo]

I-RVBL RV-7
No cracks
notches as plan
Mild acro
Paved runways 10% , Grass 90%
110 hrs TT (first flight April 2013)
Lycoming 0-360-A1a
Hartzel-Tonini CS prop - professionally balanced

Regularly back the airplane and steer into the hangar using the empennage

[Robski]

Originally Posted by n747jg

Regularly back the airplane and steer into the hangar using the empennage

Well stop it, then!

Use the tailwheel / spring, either in your mitt (I do) or via a tow bar!
The spring is designed to take the weight of the aircraft, in side loads as well as vertical ones.

Just because RVs are tough as old boots there's no need to treat one like an old boot!

[49clipper]

No notches, no cracks, 325.0 hrs/light acro, less than 3.5 g's, RV-6, O-320,
90% grass.

so what is the tally so far on cracks?