Van's Service Letters - Alternate Engineering Solutions for Certain Laser Cut Parts

[greghughespdx]

This evening, Van's published four service letters for the RV-10 and RV-14/14A, for wing and fuselage kits/aircraft that are assembled with certain laser-cut parts. The engineering solutions described in the service letters provide alternatives to parts replacement, or in some cases provide easier-to-install parts, for use in specific situations. Please refer to the service letters for scope and applicability. These service letters specify intervals for inspection and operation prior to installation of the alternate engineering solutions.

Parts for these engineering solutions are scheduled to be available and to begin shipping in late June.

Note that through the engineering assessment and design process that resulted in the above service letters, several parts were also reclassified as "Acceptable for Use." Please refer to the latest version of the laser cut parts list (VAD-10041 R8) for details.

All of these documents are accessible from the laser cut parts reference library on the Van's website.

The Van's engineering team is currently completing their assessment of the RV-8 fuselage kit and will determine through that process what (if any) parts, hardware, or other changes may be needed for kits that include laser-cut components in the gear towers. We anticipate releasing that information in late June.

 

[gotyoke]

Thanks Greg and Van's team! There's a couple part on my fuse kit I was expecting to have to remediate, but now it looks like they are "acceptable for use". Nice!

The wings, though....ughh. Flap hinge bracket replacement requires removing the three inboard wing ribs, and praying you don't elongate the rear spar holes when you remove them.

 

[Tdeman]

Thanks Greg and Van's team! There's a couple part on my fuse kit I was expecting to have to remediate, but now it looks like they are "acceptable for use". Nice!

The wings, though....ughh. Flap hinge bracket replacement requires removing the three inboard wing ribs, and praying you don't elongate the rear spar holes when you remove them.

Ideally this helps minimize the praying required!

 

[ryane67]

Will it be a couple of days before the service letter kits are available in the web store? I checked today and no search results..

 

[greghughespdx]

Will it be a couple of days before the service letter kits are available in the web store? I checked today and no search results..

Yes, they will become available later in June. That was mentioned in the video update - but I should have included that in the original post here, as well.

 

[Desert Rat]

If you have to pull the wings off at 1,000 hours, I predict that in about 10 years there will be a whole bunch of 800 hour TT RV14's for sale

 

[cooprv10]

Has anyone heard if the optional cherrymax rivets are included in the kits in the event of elongated holes?

 

[cooprv10]

Also, SL-00100 calls for CR3214-5-2 rivets if needed in lieu of AN426AD4-5, however neither Van's or Aircraft Spruce recognize that part number. I'm guessing the plans are in error as the replacement for the adjacent part with the same 426 rivet calls for CR3213-4-2. Just trying to get my Aircraft Spruce order together so I'm not delayed more than necessary.

 

[Tdeman]

Also, SL-00100 calls for CR3214-5-2 rivets if needed in lieu of AN426AD4-5, however neither Van's or Aircraft Spruce recognize that part number. I'm guessing the plans are in error as the replacement for the adjacent part with the same 426 rivet calls for CR3213-4-2. Just trying to get my Aircraft Spruce order together so I'm not delayed more than necessary.

I don’t think that’s an error. The rivet called out in the SL is for an upsized hole (#20). Upsizing ensures the required clean fit for the cherry rivet. The CR3214 is similar to an NAS1097, smaller head for the shank size. This allows the replacement cherry to fit flush(er) in the existing dimples.
I’d wait to order rivets until I heard what was included in the kits!

 

[cooprv10]

I don’t think that’s an error. The rivet called out in the SL is for an upsized hole (#20). Upsizing ensures the required clean fit for the cherry rivet. The CR3214 is similar to an NAS1097, smaller head for the shank size. This allows the replacement cherry to fit flush(er) in the existing dimples.
I’d wait to order rivets until I heard what was included in the kits!

Thanks, that makes sense. It's just odd that neither Van's or Aircraft Spruce show such a rivet for sale although I finally did find them at SkyGeek.

 

[Lucmac]

The kit was suggested to be available by the end of June but it still doesn't show up in the store. Anyone started to take their fuselage apart where instructed in anticipation of getting the kit to beef up the rear spar related parts? That's a LOT of pull rivets if your side panels and baggage floors are installed and a lot of rivets in really tight to get to areas so curious how many hours it took you.

 

[Lucmac]

Yes, they will become available later in June. That was mentioned in the video update - but I should have included that in the original post here, as well.

Greg, as of this morning the store still doesn't recognize SL-00100. Is this kit being produced and going to be available before the end of July?

 

[cooprv10]

Greg, as of this morning the store still doesn't recognize SL-00100. Is this kit being produced and going to be available before the end of July?

SL-00092 is also still not showing.

 

[Lucmac]

SL-00092 is also still not showing.

The lesson hasn’t been learned to make your dates or be proactive in timely communication when you can’t make a date and give a revised date.

 

[ryane67]

Any news on when the kits for these will be available in the store?

 

[Lucmac]

Any news on when the kits for these will be available in the store?

lol, tag, your turn to call them and ask what’s going on. Haha