Painful Sight to see (LCP's)

[mulde35d]

This is what destroying likely perfectly good parts looks like because you can't definitively prove they weren't laser cut. Had to cut these open to retrieve the nut plates, lead, and counterbalance weights that Van's doesn't provide through LCP replacement. The worst was taking the Sawzall to the fiberglass wingtips that have been riveted and then fiber glassed in place on the elevators to gain access to the counterbalance weights.

 

[kirkbauer]

My old elevators look about the same -- although I hadn't put the fiberglass on yet.

I fully rebuilt my VS and Rudder -- I kept the old ones for backups.

 

[nohoflyer]

Well except for the tips (which look nice btw) the control surfaces will be easy to rebuild.

 

[rocketbob]

Appears you didn't do any research.

Van's Engineering Presentation: Testing Analysis and Results for Laser-Cut Parts - Van's Aircraft Total Performance RV Kit Planes

The Van’s Aircraft Engineering team has recorded two presentations related to the acceptability, use, and testing results of laser-cut parts in RV aircraft. The below videos include an 18-minute summary presentation with an introduction by Dick VanGrunsven, as well as a highly-detailed, 2-hour...

www.vansaircraft.com

"In short, the results of extensive testing of laser-cut parts manufactured for Van’s Aircraft shows that the parts are safe for use in aircraft construction."

 

[kirkbauer]

Appears you didn't do any research.

My concern was primarily resale value. Based on what I have seen, I don't think the LCP issue was much of an issue. But I don't want to spend the time and money it will take to build an RV-10 only to have wary buyers one day in the future. Nor do I want to have to replace something in the future when an AD comes out -- I was early enough in construction that it wasn't the end of the world to replace them.

 

[rocketbob]

My concern was primarily resale value. Based on what I have seen, I don't think the LCP issue was much of an issue. But I don't want to spend the time and money it will take to build an RV-10 only to have wary buyers one day in the future. Nor do I want to have to replace something in the future when an AD comes out -- I was early enough in construction that it wasn't the end of the world to replace them.

Like saying climate change might reduce the value of beachfront property.

 

[Ben Ellis]

Appears you didn't do any research.

Van's Engineering Presentation: Testing Analysis and Results for Laser-Cut Parts - Van's Aircraft Total Performance RV Kit Planes

The Van’s Aircraft Engineering team has recorded two presentations related to the acceptability, use, and testing results of laser-cut parts in RV aircraft. The below videos include an 18-minute summary presentation with an introduction by Dick VanGrunsven, as well as a highly-detailed, 2-hour...

www.vansaircraft.com

"In short, the results of extensive testing of laser-cut parts manufactured for Van’s Aircraft shows that the parts are safe for use in aircraft construction."

But they also recommend that builders replace certain parts, for example red category parts, which they say are “difficult to inspect” and have a “reasonable chance of fatigue cracks developing in service”.

 

[scsmith]

But they also recommend that builders replace certain parts, for example red category parts, which they say are “difficult to inspect” and have a “reasonable chance of fatigue cracks developing in service”.

I thought it was "difficult to inspect OR have a reasonable chance of fatigue cracks developing in service." Extensive testing has not found any parts that have a reasonable chance of fatigue cracks developing in service..

 

[BruceW]

Im taking mine to the gun range.
Im thinking slinging some lead at the now worthless aluminum will be carthartic for me!

 

[BruceW]

I thought it was "difficult to inspect OR have a reasonable chance of fatigue cracks developing in service." Extensive testing has not found any parts that have a reasonable chance of fatigue cracks developing in service..

Yeah. Let's revisit this in about 10 years or 1000 hours, whichever comes first.

 

[Ben Ellis]

I thought it was "difficult to inspect OR have a reasonable chance of fatigue cracks developing in service." Extensive testing has not found any parts that have a reasonable chance of fatigue cracks developing in service..

I think there have been slight inconsistencies in the various deliveries of the Van’s position. I was just quoting the bullet points from the service letter for how they described red category parts. They don’t indicate whether it is one or all of the bullet points that qualify it for that category.

 

[dmattmul]

Review SL-00092

​

 

[Dr_Dave_MT]

My concern was primarily resale value. Based on what I have seen, I don't think the LCP issue was much of an issue. But I don't want to spend the time and money it will take to build an RV-10 only to have wary buyers one day in the future. Nor do I want to have to replace something in the future when an AD comes out -- I was early enough in construction that it wasn't the end of the world to replace them.

AC 39-7D Airworthiness Directives - AD’s only apply to type - certificated aircraft, engines and propellers, and appliances (?)

As a buyer I would be more wary of the builders shoddy craftsmanship and lack of pride in build before non-red LCP parts in an RV aircraft.

 

[blaplante]

A lot has been written about LCP "resale value". The typical resale goes to someone that hasn't been reading every post on VAF for the last 5 years and are new to RV's. They are thrilled with the paint, avionics, and performance. For a pre-buy they go to the local A&P who is also pretty RV ignorant. Biggest concern (well justified) will be the engine. I doubt they will even know about laser cut parts until they own the plane for a year or more. Just my opinion!

 

[PCHunt]

Like saying climate change might reduce the value of beachfront property.

Unfortunately, it already has!

 

[PCHunt]

AC 39-7D Airworthiness Directives - AD’s only apply to type - certificated aircraft, engines and propellers, and appliances (?)

As a buyer I would be more wary of the builders shoddy craftsmanship and lack of pride in build before non-red LCP parts in an RV aircraft.

Well said, IMHO.

 

[scsmith]

I think there have been slight inconsistencies in the various deliveries of the Van’s position. I was just quoting the bullet points from the service letter for how they described red category parts. They don’t indicate whether it is one or all of the bullet points that qualify it for that category.

I interpret it as any one bullet point is sufficient to qualify.

 

[scsmith]

Yeah. Let's revisit this in about 10 years or 1000 hours, whichever comes first.

Testing has reproduced conditions equivalent to something like 14,000 hrs of continuous, non-stop aerobatics combined with flight-school level landings and other abuse. So lets revisit this in about 100 years or 10,000 hrs, whichever comes first.

 

[AlexPeterson]

I don't recall, in the Van's summary and detailed engineering explanation videos, any mention of testing of non-dimpled parts. Maybe I missed it, but it seemed glaring to me as I'm sure there must be non-dimpled joints in internal areas.