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  #21  
Old 10-14-2009, 03:50 PM
RVnoob RVnoob is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: London
Posts: 167
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron B. View Post
Transport Canada (Marine) has been this way for over twenty years at least. Recently they have had three inspectors leave for this same reason. Four inspectors in one office and all four request different things and some of them are major.
Get use to it, try to deal with the one that is more reasonable and move on. So far I'm very happy with our MD-RA. The only thing he won't budge on is the gascolator and he says it's above his head.
Ron

slightly OT:

can you remind me why a gascolator is not needed in a FI ?
I read it somewhere before, but forgotten.

TIA
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  #22  
Old 10-14-2009, 04:26 PM
rv8eh rv8eh is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Posts: 202
Default So far, I've been quite happy with the local inspector

I've been worried since the beginning, about having issues like those above.

I started out at the MD-RA site, and found it easy to use, for as far as it went.
I phoned and got the name of the inspector I'd be assigned, and contacted him to review my planned inspection points for the project.

I'm not quickbuilding anything, but I am working to the statement "show them every rivet before it's closed up and unavailable to be inspected".

So far that hasn't been any inconvenience to me, but I expect will certainly use more than just two inspections. I could leave stuff open and do a pre-cover and a final inspection only. I looked at this as an unacceptable risk to the project - what if I get to nearly complete, get a pre-cover, and find that there's something they needed that I have consistently missed, or mis-done?

So, for a few more (hundreds of dollars) inspection fees over the course of my $75K+ project, I should arrive at the final inspection with a fist full of more paper, and a lot less trepidation.

The local inspector has been very supportive and helpful.

He also told me that he doesn't want to be too familiar with the project, so that he gets a better review of it when he does the inspections.

This makes a lot of sense to me - if someone is very familiar with a specific project, and often involved, it would be a lot harder to check well.

For me, I've been happy that they are available to me.

-Howard
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Howard McKay VAF 573
RV-8A, empennage/wings
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  #23  
Old 10-14-2009, 05:08 PM
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flyboy1963 flyboy1963 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Lake Country, B.C. Canada
Posts: 2,416
Default MDRA woes

I didn't build, but my Dad built 2x, back in the TC inspector days, when Bob B. would come to your house on a Sat. & have lunch with you, and give lots of sage advise while praising your work ( if deserved).
Now following a neighbour building a -7, over the typical course of a 3-5 year build, out here in the BC interior, he's rarely gotten the same inspector twice, and has delayed the project waiting for inspections. ; "find an inspector you like" isn't an option, so I feel for builders in this quandry.
......this is where I guess we are supposed to feel lucky to be able to build at all!
While all this airing of problems is healthy, heaven forbid the feds decide to 'improve and overhaul' the MD-RA system! I, for one, rue the day.
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Perry Y.
RV-9a - SOLD!....
Lake Country, BC
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  #24  
Old 10-14-2009, 06:15 PM
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SMO SMO is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Salmon Arm, BC
Posts: 933
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RVnoob View Post
can you remind me why a gascolator is not needed in a FI ?
For reasons not to use a gascolator see post #4 here: http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ght=gascolator

However in Canada a gascolator is required, FI or not.

Much of the heat concern can be mitigated by mounting the gascolator inside under the floor and have the drain exit the floor through a grommet.
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Mark Olson
1987 RV-4 Sold
2003 Super Decathlon - Sold
F1 EVO Rocket, first flight May 31/14
First in line for the Sonex JSX-2T kit
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  #25  
Old 10-14-2009, 06:39 PM
RVnoob RVnoob is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: London
Posts: 167
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SMO View Post
For reasons not to use a gascolator see post #4 here: http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ght=gascolator

However in Canada a gascolator is required, FI or not.

Much of the heat concern can be mitigated by mounting the gascolator inside under the floor and have the drain exit the floor through a grommet.

thanks for the link.... this is exactly what I was looking for.
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  #26  
Old 10-15-2009, 10:41 AM
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llavalle llavalle is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Qu?bec, Canada
Posts: 420
Default

Just a note for everyone : my inspector told me I could cover the shop head of the rivet with pro-seal in the tank. I was wondering then : what is he going to inspect?

I asked him and was told that he wanted to see inside. I mean, what does he want to see? The vent line? My first guess was that he wanted to look at the fuel pickup but I just realized that it's on the cover plate. If I had bought quick-built tanks, he would not get access.

Well, this is my first "problem" with MD-RA. The inspection on the empennage went well. I guess I'll leave the baffle off for now. Not that I really mind working on something else than my tank now!
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RV-9A Kit Emp done, wings @50% - SOLD
RV-12iS@Empennage
Construction Web Cam
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  #27  
Old 10-15-2009, 11:55 AM
C-GRVT C-GRVT is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 305
Default seems hardly a problem

I think he's doing you a favour and accomodating a builder who wants to install the tank rivets "wet". That is what I did, and the inspector simply noted that he was unable to inspect those rivets - wasn't a problem.
But something that one would want to check with the inspector before proceeding - another example where consistency would be helpful, but if you asked for an "official" position, who knows what the answer would be.
As others have said, best to focus on building, and come to whatever understanding you can with the fellow who will be doing the inspection, if that is possible.
Bill Brooks
Ottawa, Canada
RV-6A finishing kit
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  #28  
Old 10-15-2009, 04:26 PM
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llavalle llavalle is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Qu?bec, Canada
Posts: 420
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Quote:
Originally Posted by C-GRVT View Post
I think he's doing you a favour and accomodating a builder who wants to install the tank rivets "wet".
Yep, I got that. What I did not get is why can't I put the baffles on if you can't look at the rivet? You can't even see if the parts are installed with a tight fit : the filet around the ribs hides the imperfections.

But you're right, the best is to ask. The problem is that I know for a fact that I have the same inspector as the guy prkaye is referring to... If he does not want me to close up the tail, I'll just leave the wings unclosed and start the fuselage. When I'm ready to close the top, I'll have the inspector inspect both the wings and the fuselage. Then, couple of months (years?) later, I'll do my final inspection.
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RV-9A Kit Emp done, wings @50% - SOLD
RV-12iS@Empennage
Construction Web Cam
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  #29  
Old 10-15-2009, 07:23 PM
C-GRVT C-GRVT is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 305
Default that is what I did

Empennage, wings, tanks, fuselage, all were inspected in one "precover" inspection. I left one side of each structure clecoed, except for the flaps, which can be inspected through the spar lightening holes. On the fuselage, the inspector wanted to be able to see behind the vertical covers on the F-604 bulkhead -once these were inspected, they could be blind riveted in. Floors of course have to be left open as well for the precover inspection. Next inspection will be the final.
Bill Brooks
Ottawa, Canada
RV-6A finishing kit
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  #30  
Old 10-15-2009, 08:58 PM
lorne green lorne green is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Oliver, B.C. Canada (Okanagan valley)
Posts: 786
Default MDRA

Bill, this exactly what I did. No issues, no snags.
Only the final inspection to follow. I've installed
"Canadian" dual gascolators which are mounted in
lowest point of the wing roots. My inspector was
impressed with the quality of the QB .
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Lorne
RV 7a tip-up
Pre-cover MD-RA Inspected.
Canopy completed. Bonded with Sika-Flex.
Up on her mains, Firewall Fwd and wiring on going.

Last edited by lorne green : 10-16-2009 at 02:22 AM.
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