Paul Eastham
Well Known Member
Hey everyone,
While I was putting the fiberglass tip on my VS, I spent some time going over the work I did so many years ago on the empennage...and found some cracks! Tiny little cracks on the *inside* of the VS, at the very edge of a few dimples.
As I recall, these two AD3 rivets had cleated over on me, so I drilled them out several times...and eventually put in an oops rivet. It also leaned over a little, leaving several tiny hairline cracks in the inner dimple edge (on the VS top rib in this case). I'm guessing the higher stresses associated with a bigger shop head caused the cracks in the thin aluminum.
I tried to dress them out a little, but no luck: the cracks go all the way through the aluminum.
So I guess there is a warning and a question here:
Warning: maybe that slightly-imperfect AD3 rivet is better than a cracked-up oops rivet.
Question: should I attempt some sort of repair here? We're talking about a tiny crack (hairline width, 1/64" long) -- difficult to see without bright light and very close inspection.
Paul
While I was putting the fiberglass tip on my VS, I spent some time going over the work I did so many years ago on the empennage...and found some cracks! Tiny little cracks on the *inside* of the VS, at the very edge of a few dimples.
As I recall, these two AD3 rivets had cleated over on me, so I drilled them out several times...and eventually put in an oops rivet. It also leaned over a little, leaving several tiny hairline cracks in the inner dimple edge (on the VS top rib in this case). I'm guessing the higher stresses associated with a bigger shop head caused the cracks in the thin aluminum.
I tried to dress them out a little, but no luck: the cracks go all the way through the aluminum.
So I guess there is a warning and a question here:
Warning: maybe that slightly-imperfect AD3 rivet is better than a cracked-up oops rivet.
Question: should I attempt some sort of repair here? We're talking about a tiny crack (hairline width, 1/64" long) -- difficult to see without bright light and very close inspection.
Paul
