Missing wing attach bolts.

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prestwich
Class D
Posts: 317
Joined: Fri May 20, 2005 8:36 am
Location: Santa Barbara

Missing wing attach bolts.

Post by prestwich »

Really? Nobody around here would forget those, would they? This kind of thing could give homebuilding a bad name.

http://www.vansaircraft.com/pdf/sb12-08-14.pdf

"Inspections on several RVs (7,8,9) in the field have revealed that these bolts were never installed during wing installation."

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BSwayze
Class C
Posts: 581
Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:15 am
Location: Portland, Oregon
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Post by BSwayze »

Actually, this scared me a bit because I can see how I could have easily overlooked it. Perhaps just because of the way I do things. I have a bag in my cabinet with all the wing attach bolts, waiting for the day when I install my wings for the last time. This bag came in the kit from Vans. When this SB came out, I went out and did some checking. These AN4-13A bolts were NOT in that bag! My hunch is, that's why so many builders are forgetting to study the plans and put them in. I can see how easy it would be to grab the bag, install the close-tolerance bolts, and when the bag is empty you think you're done. In other words, Vans strange packaging methods may have something to do with the need for this SB!

I'm not blaming Vans. One should always study the plans and take responsibility for every detail. I'm just saying, it scared me to think how easily it could have happened to me.

I have these AN4-13A bolts alright, they were mixed in with other hardware in the kit. When I did inventory, I tucked them in a little drawer in my hardware cabinet with all the other bolts and stuff. But now I pulled them out and I put the bolts in the wing bolt bag with the others, and also tucked a printed copy of the SB in the bag, as a reminder when I install the wings for the last time.
Bruce Swayze
Portland, Oregon
http://www.BrucesRV7A.com
RV-7A Working on Firewall Forward

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