If you own or are looking to purchase an RSA-5 that has not been overhauled in the last 12 years, then realize that it has to be overhualed before you fly with it, even on a homebuilt.
I'm not arguing against the prudence of actually performing the maintenance, I'm just wondering why the previous poster thinks that it "has to be overhauled" on experimentals.
Precision Airmotive LLC SB PRS-97 REV2 dated Aug 2013.
http://www.precisionairmotive.com/Publications/PRS-97%20Rev2.pdf
We've been down this road many times. Someone has to sign the aircraft off once a year in a "Condition for Safe Operation." I don't understand how you could do that without complying with some of these safety bulletins that are clearly mandatory for other aircraft. I can't imagine living with myself if someone got hurt because I thought I knew more than others who are the experts on their particular product.
Perhaps I am an anomaly.
Vic
Other than the obvious full tear-down and overhaul, what is the easiest/quickest method to determine if a Bendix RSA-5 series servo has had the newer (since 1986 I think?) fluorosilicone diaphragm and packings installed?
Ya'll amuse me.
Not a peep as far as an answer to the original question (which was settled long ago) for 3 weeks - but as soon as someone mentions "regulations" we go into a free-for-all.
Thanks for all the non-help on the original, legitimate question. I now return you to the irrelevant BS.
Vic, although I may agree with you on a philosophical level, are you saying that you research and comply with all manufacturer SB's, SL's and AD's for every component and accessory (including the engine) installed on every aircraft you inspect before you will sign off a CI?
(PS: last time I checked SB's are not "clearly mandatory" for any aircraft no matter how they are worded)
Greg (airguy),
What method did you use to determine if the Bendix RSA-5 series servo in your original question had the newer fluorosilicone diaphragm and packings installed?
Thank you!
After waiting a couple days for an answer on this thread, I simply emailed Don Rivera at Airflow Performance. I got a fast response with the information I needed...
So why not tell us?
According to what regulation?
Skylor
RV-8
Newer Op-Limits require mandatory compliance with any limits imposed on lifetimes by MFG's. We are required to abide by our operation limitations.
If you have an older homebuilt, this may not be in your Op-Limits.
Define "newer" please. My op-lims were issued in January and don't carry that requirement.
This is the op-lim guidance published by the FAA on 2/4/15 as 8130.2H...
"The aircraft may not be operated unless the replacement for life-limited
articles specified in the applicable technical publications pertaining to the
aircraft and its articles are complied with in one of the following manners:
(a) Type-Certificated Products: Replacement of life-limited parts
required by § 91.409(e) applies to experimental aircraft when the required
replacement times are specified in the U.S. aircraft specifications or type
certificate data sheets.
(b) Non-Type-Certificated Products: All articles installed in
non-type-certificated products operated under an airworthiness certificate
issued for an experimental purpose, in which the manufacturer has
specified limits, must include in their program an equivalent level of safety
for those articles. These limits must be evaluated for their current
operating environment and addressed in the approved inspection program.
All articles installed in non-type-certificated products in which the
manufacturer has specified limits, must include in their program an
equivalent level of safety for those articles. The article must be inspected
to ensure the equivalent level of safety still renders the product in a
serviceable condition for safe operation. (19) "
The RSA5 has a specific "parts list" number that is on the dataplate, this parts list number refers to a specific list of parts that are installed inside the device. There is an "issue number" at the last end of the parts list number that is a "-XX" that defines the latest revision of that parts list. The current revision is "-13" of the parts list and was effective sometime in 1986, and that last revision was the one that put flourosilicone components in place of rubber components. If your RSA5 has the -13 at the end of the parts list number, you have the flourosilicone.
Are they typically marked with an overhaul date (like inspection dates for scuba tanks, for example)? Is there some way to tell when it was done, short of a log book entry?
Dave