I discovered my right horizontal stabilizer got a bullet hole mid-span about an inch from the leading edge. Super Bowl partiers from nearby neighborhoods are kind enough to shoot into the air towards the airport where there are no homes and nothing to hit. Bullet went through the roof and ricocheted off the top skin. (did not go through). On polished aluminum BTW.
Pondering the options . . . .
Replace HS skin only; includes drilling out the spars and ribs and replacing skin. Assume the rear spar will need to be fully removed to gain access for riveting. May replace ribs anyway. Keep fwd spar and tie-in to left side.
Advantages- less work, keeps rigging the same.
Disadvantages- drilling out and re-rivet with the inevitable elongated holes particularly on the spars, structural strength, difference in skin condition between sides (w/polish).
Full HS replacement; get an entire HS kit from Vans and install new.
Advantages- good riveting throughout, new skin on right side for balance polish job at finish, insurance of all new parts.
Disadvantages- more work/time/cost, another chance to screw up HS-710 and other parts, re-rigging of tail parts.
Looking for input from A&P's and veteran builders with this experience.
Thanks in advance.
Pondering the options . . . .
Replace HS skin only; includes drilling out the spars and ribs and replacing skin. Assume the rear spar will need to be fully removed to gain access for riveting. May replace ribs anyway. Keep fwd spar and tie-in to left side.
Advantages- less work, keeps rigging the same.
Disadvantages- drilling out and re-rivet with the inevitable elongated holes particularly on the spars, structural strength, difference in skin condition between sides (w/polish).
Full HS replacement; get an entire HS kit from Vans and install new.
Advantages- good riveting throughout, new skin on right side for balance polish job at finish, insurance of all new parts.
Disadvantages- more work/time/cost, another chance to screw up HS-710 and other parts, re-rigging of tail parts.
Looking for input from A&P's and veteran builders with this experience.
Thanks in advance.