Van's Aircraft has published RV-12/12iS Safety Directive SD-00001. It includes a simple inspection and modification of trim tab motor units included in RV-12/12iS kits shipped prior to the publication date (May 14, 2020).
Safety Directives are considered mandatory in nature. This safety directive does not immediately ground existing airplanes, but does require a simple inspection before further flight and action to be taken at next annual condition inspection or by a specified time in service. Details are in the document.
Synopsis of what owners need to do:
Safety Directives are considered mandatory in nature. This safety directive does not immediately ground existing airplanes, but does require a simple inspection before further flight and action to be taken at next annual condition inspection or by a specified time in service. Details are in the document.
Synopsis of what owners need to do:
- Examine the stabilator trim motor installed in your aircraft and determine which model is installed.
- Examine the metal shaft on the trim motor to determine if it is bent.
- If bent, order the replacement trim motor and bushing parts described in the document.
- If not bent, determine which of two trim motor models is installed.
- For the older (no longer shipping) model, replace with the new model if time in service is 1000+ hours. You may, of course, replace the unit before that time with the new parts as well. Note that the Ray Allen Company, which manufactures the units, has set up a low-cost exchange program for affected units of the older model. Details are included in the Safety Directive document.
- For the newer (current) model, order a small and inexpensive bushing kit which MUST be installed before 1000 hours time in service. NOTE that Van's STRONGLY encourages installation now or at their next annual condition inspection since it is a simple, inexpensive and safety-related change.