Tom Martin
Well Known Member
While working on the RV14 fuselage I noted a concave area in the forward fuselage, aft of the firewall and forward of the main spar.
I am not sure if it is just my aircraft but I suspect not as the culprit is the F-01419 side skin stiffener. This is a formed .063 thou part that runs parallel, below the upper main fuselage longeron. It is fastened to the firewall and the main spar 1403 bulkhead. Note that the 1402 bulkhead is not installed in the picture. The 1402 bulkhead, clecoed in position did not get rid of the con-caved skin.
The picture below shows the gap in the skin at the location of this 01419 stiffener. The skin at the upper fuselage longeron and the stiffener lower then the one in question are straight and true. The curved nature of the missing 1402 bulkhead clearly shows that this area is not supposed to be concave, if anything it might even suppose to be convex, or push out, rather then in. The gap is not large but with paint applied it will most definitely show.
This particular part, as mentioned is made from .063, and as it comes out of the box it is curved in two directions. Clecoed in position gets rid of the curve in one direction but forces the part to dish inwards.
I am interested in what others have found in this area after riveting? A long straight edge extended from the firewall to the main spar bulkhead will tell the story.
I am not sure if it is just my aircraft but I suspect not as the culprit is the F-01419 side skin stiffener. This is a formed .063 thou part that runs parallel, below the upper main fuselage longeron. It is fastened to the firewall and the main spar 1403 bulkhead. Note that the 1402 bulkhead is not installed in the picture. The 1402 bulkhead, clecoed in position did not get rid of the con-caved skin.
The picture below shows the gap in the skin at the location of this 01419 stiffener. The skin at the upper fuselage longeron and the stiffener lower then the one in question are straight and true. The curved nature of the missing 1402 bulkhead clearly shows that this area is not supposed to be concave, if anything it might even suppose to be convex, or push out, rather then in. The gap is not large but with paint applied it will most definitely show.
This particular part, as mentioned is made from .063, and as it comes out of the box it is curved in two directions. Clecoed in position gets rid of the curve in one direction but forces the part to dish inwards.
I am interested in what others have found in this area after riveting? A long straight edge extended from the firewall to the main spar bulkhead will tell the story.