crabandy

Well Known Member
Looking for input, lacking in edge distance (6/32) on one hole from HS angle into the left longeron. Message from vans was pretty generic ,
"These photos are too small to see much. Even if they were full size, we can't give you any
real engineering analysis from this distance.
Any reinforcement is bound to help. Note that the longeron is completely notched out just a
few inches to the rear."

5E77FD91-79EF-4A66-A704-AB36CFC65DBA-6518-000003297F9C45AC_zpscb1921f8.jpg

Looks way worse underneath, prob just the odd angle because the hole is straight.
1548D54B-54E2-4BE5-949B-A8078022865E-9318-0000047FF360C987_zps8ee6423c.jpg

Reinforcement spacer
8628B6F7-5064-41C4-93C5-C51AC98E7BDC-6518-0000032992EF2AC5_zpsfd2c9955.jpg

HS on the spacer
64ED14A1-413C-41B7-9826-D0CDA5FC6548-6518-000003298969CDE9_zps746747d2.jpg
 
I had a similar issue on my RV-6, however it was caught before any holes were drilled. I spoke to Vans and was told that it is not an uncommon issue on the -6. We talked through the fix which is just adding some doublers like you have done. Unlike your case, I moved both the bolt holes inboard of the longeron.

I had to raise the stab up about 1/4" (front and rear) so the stab would clear the deck (they overlapped slightly).

FP04032012A0004U.jpg


FP04032012A0004S.jpg
 
Last edited:
Get a beer or two and search for "Horizontal Edge Distance". That will get you a dozen or so posts to read through and the different approaches, or lack thereof, in dealing with this common issue.
Everything in this assembly has to be perfectly fabricated and aligned, prior to drilling, or the edge distance will not work out as you have found.
 
Thanks for the replies, I did another search as suggested but didn't find anything new. I think I will build on with my larger spacer/reinforcement found on previous posts.
Thanks,
Andy