Service Bulletins 19-08-26 and 16-05-23 Published: Nose gear leg and fork replacement
Van's has published two RV-12 Service Bulletins to the Van's Safety and Service Information section of our web site.
SB 19-08-26: WD-1201 Nose Gear Replacement
SB 16-05-23: WD-1230 Nose Fork Cracks
Van's has published two RV-12 Service Bulletins to the Van's Safety and Service Information section of our web site.
- SB 19-08-26 is a new SB and applies to both the original RV-12 and the RV-12iS
- SB 16-05-23 is an updated SB (originally published in 2016) and applies to the original RV-12 model only
Parts related to these service bulletins are available to order. Prices listed are effective as of the date of this posting. Note that it is the policy of Van's Aircraft to price parts associated with service bulletins at the lowest possible cost to the buyer.
SB 19-08-26: WD-1201 Nose Gear Replacement
This is a new service bulletin, which is being released along with new parts and related tools that can be ordered from Van’s. You can access and read the Service Bulletin here.
Explanation: On one RV-12 aircraft, in use at a flight school and flying for about 1700 training hours at the time of the incident, the nose gear leg cracked and failed near the top of the leg. This is the only instance of this failure we have seen. Van’s conducted an analysis and determined it was best to release an updated version of the nose gear leg and make it available for installation on existing aircraft, which is the purpose of this kit.
The service bulletin directs the owner to replace the nose gear leg at or before the aircraft's next annual inspection. Note that no affected gear legs have been shipped by Van’s since June 10, 2019. The part number on the affected gear leg is WD-1201, and the updated leg is part number WD-1201-1. A version of the WD-1201-1 that is manufactured specifically for retrofit on aircraft that already have a gear leg installed is included in the kits, details of which are listed below.
Kits and Tools: There are two retrofit kits available, one for the RV-12 and another for the RV-12iS, as well as three long drill bits that can be ordered from Van’s. Note that the bits can be ordered individually or as a set of three (and when ordered as a set, the cost is lower). Details are in the service bulletin document for those who wish to procure their tools elsewhere.
SB 19-08-26 $350.00 (for original RV-12)
SB 19-08-26iS $350.00 (for the RV-12iS)
TOOL-00040 $20.00
TOOL-00041 $21.50
TOOL-00042 $23.00
TOOL-00038 $58.00 (All three of the above tools as a set)
NOTE: If you have not yet completed the steps to install your original-style gear leg on a RV-12 build in progress, please call us to acquire the new gear leg. You will not need the retrofit kit in that case. If you have already drilled and attached the gear leg to the firewall, you will need to use the retrofit kit listed above.
You may use this link to order these items from the Van's online store. Please provide your RV-12/12iS kit serial number when you place your order, as we need to assign the parts to a specific kit/aircraft when ordered.
Explanation: On one RV-12 aircraft, in use at a flight school and flying for about 1700 training hours at the time of the incident, the nose gear leg cracked and failed near the top of the leg. This is the only instance of this failure we have seen. Van’s conducted an analysis and determined it was best to release an updated version of the nose gear leg and make it available for installation on existing aircraft, which is the purpose of this kit.
The service bulletin directs the owner to replace the nose gear leg at or before the aircraft's next annual inspection. Note that no affected gear legs have been shipped by Van’s since June 10, 2019. The part number on the affected gear leg is WD-1201, and the updated leg is part number WD-1201-1. A version of the WD-1201-1 that is manufactured specifically for retrofit on aircraft that already have a gear leg installed is included in the kits, details of which are listed below.
Kits and Tools: There are two retrofit kits available, one for the RV-12 and another for the RV-12iS, as well as three long drill bits that can be ordered from Van’s. Note that the bits can be ordered individually or as a set of three (and when ordered as a set, the cost is lower). Details are in the service bulletin document for those who wish to procure their tools elsewhere.
SB 19-08-26 $350.00 (for original RV-12)
SB 19-08-26iS $350.00 (for the RV-12iS)
TOOL-00040 $20.00
TOOL-00041 $21.50
TOOL-00042 $23.00
TOOL-00038 $58.00 (All three of the above tools as a set)
NOTE: If you have not yet completed the steps to install your original-style gear leg on a RV-12 build in progress, please call us to acquire the new gear leg. You will not need the retrofit kit in that case. If you have already drilled and attached the gear leg to the firewall, you will need to use the retrofit kit listed above.
You may use this link to order these items from the Van's online store. Please provide your RV-12/12iS kit serial number when you place your order, as we need to assign the parts to a specific kit/aircraft when ordered.
SB 16-05-23: WD-1230 Nose Fork Cracks
This is an updated and re-released service bulletin, which was originally published in 2016. Only the update to make replacement mandatory and the requirement to periodically inspect on a more-frequent basis have changed. The two kits associated with this service bulletin have been available for some time to purchase and install, and have not changed. You can access and read the updated Service Bulletin here.
Explanation: A replacement for the WD-1230 nose fork was released a few years ago because it was found the fork was cracking in some cases. Unfortunately, people either have not been inspecting as required or have not been detecting cracks while inspecting the fork and as a result, a small number of nose gear forks have cracked and failed (broken). This new SB release makes it mandatory to replace the original-style RV-12 nose gear fork, where the original version of the bulletin allowed for periodic inspection. Owners are directed to replace the nose gear fork at or before their next annual condition inspection and to inspect every 25 hours until replaced.
Kits:
12 NOSE FORK CONVERSION $325.00
12 NOSE WHL FAIRING CONVERSION $75.00
You may use this link to order these items from the Van's online store. Please provide your RV-12/12iS kit serial number when you place your order, as we need to assign the parts to a specific kit/aircraft when ordered.
Explanation: A replacement for the WD-1230 nose fork was released a few years ago because it was found the fork was cracking in some cases. Unfortunately, people either have not been inspecting as required or have not been detecting cracks while inspecting the fork and as a result, a small number of nose gear forks have cracked and failed (broken). This new SB release makes it mandatory to replace the original-style RV-12 nose gear fork, where the original version of the bulletin allowed for periodic inspection. Owners are directed to replace the nose gear fork at or before their next annual condition inspection and to inspect every 25 hours until replaced.
Kits:
12 NOSE FORK CONVERSION $325.00
12 NOSE WHL FAIRING CONVERSION $75.00
You may use this link to order these items from the Van's online store. Please provide your RV-12/12iS kit serial number when you place your order, as we need to assign the parts to a specific kit/aircraft when ordered.
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