Empennage Horizontal Stabilizer HS-00003-1 edge hole

[jonbo]

Drilled this as best I could with a 12 inch bit from HS-810-1 through HS-702 out to HS-00003-1 where I wound up with this bad edge hole. Any chance this could be fixed? Is it worth emailing Vans?

 

[mgroleau2125]

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Drilled this as best I could with a 12 inch bit from HS-810-1 through HS-702 out to HS-00003-1 where I wound up with this bad edge hole. Any chance this could be fixed? Is it worth emailing Vans?

If it was mine I’d replace that. It’s a doubler from a SB. Pretty cheap part to replace. $15.00

 

[jonbo]

If it was mine I’d replace that. It’s a doubler from a SB. Pretty cheap part to replace. $15.00

Thanks for the reply! The problem is the doubler is match drilled so the next hole will wind up in the same spot on HS-00003-1. It seems like I'll need to replace the spar, the splice angle, the rib and the doubler. Unless I can drill a hole somewhere else on the doubler but there's not a lot of space.

 

[Jonnyb]

If it makes you feel any better I did the same.
Vans said to replace all the parts, so I did. Made a better job of it the second time round

 

[nzrv8]

Yeah I did similar, twice. Replaced the spar, angle, doubler, on Van's advice. Sorry

 

[PaulvS]

The protective blue plastic should be removed (Van's recommendation) as soon as you get the parts. The vinyl is applied for manufacturing purposes at the factory and for shipping, but thereafter it serves no purpose and could possibly compromise final fit if it is left between parts that are being match drilled. It also makes it difficult to properly deburr holes and edges and can result in filliform corrosion.

 

[wirejock]

Going forward, make it a habit to draw edge distance markings on parts. If you don't see the line through the hole, stop and investigate.
Those are not horribly expensive parts. You will be fine

 

[jonbo]

Thanks for the relplies. Haven't heard back from Vans yet but it looks like I'll be re-ordering. Thanks also to the folks who mentioned they messed that part up too. It honestly makes me feel a lot better.

 

[Richard Connell]

View attachment 93586
View attachment 93585
Drilled this as best I could with a 12 inch bit from HS-810-1 through HS-702 out to HS-00003-1 where I wound up with this bad edge hole. Any chance this could be fixed? Is it worth emailing Vans?

Related to this - I reckon a lot of 7/8 HS spars have marginal edge distance on the top and bottom spar web to doubler holes ( the one you have circled in blue in the original photo )

It’s super tight and requires that the spar flanges are removed pretty much perfectly first time. A tough ask on possibly the first or second part a builder makes.
I wasn’t happy on my first go too and got it right the second time

I wonder if this is why the SB came along.