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Elevator skin dented and torn

huse0054

Well Known Member
Removed the horizontal stabilizer to move to the hangar and wouldn't you know that same day I dropped a drywall paddle mixer from 6 feet. Already have an email into Vans support but looking for other options as to a fix.
 

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Ouch. Ideally it would be a riveted patch per AC 43.13-1B but not sure if there is enough clearance for rivet edge distance due to the rib web.
Maybe the crack can be stop drilled and filled with epoxy and monitored?
 
I’m thinking a patch catching 2 or so of the stiffener rivets and some in the skin.. would love to hear what Vans says..
 
Build another elevator?
Given you have built most of the aircraft you would probably have the elevator done in a day!
 
Yea I’d build another one. As the above guy said you’ll probably have it fixed in parts plus 2 days.
 
From the pictures, the quality of your rivet job looks AWESOME! It would be a shame to put a patch on that nice work.
I wonder what the lead time is these days is for a RV-4 elevator kit??
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone. For those who wanted to know Vans support said to rebuild and sounds like the consensus on here is also to rebuild so that is what I will do. Minor setback all things considered and really the only thing I am dreading is having to roll over the leading edge of the elevator:)
 
I seen your post earlier today and churned my stomach.
"" Yes build another one.""
Small item in the scope of your build.
It will make a great coffee table. Ha ha.
I sheet rocked my hanger and moved my planes way out of the way. Paraniod of what happened to you
My three cents worth Art
 
At least it’s only the elevator and not the horizontal stabiliser!
I couldn’t deal with that and would rebuild it too…..will vans be able to find you the parts quickly?
 
Repair it per AC 43.13 for the experience and move on.

And build a new one later on when the parts arrive.
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone. For those who wanted to know Vans support said to rebuild and sounds like the consensus on here is also to rebuild so that is what I will do. Minor setback all things considered and really the only thing I am dreading is having to roll over the leading edge of the elevator:)

Dan Horton has a great method of using "J" shaped bolts (modified U bolts) and plastic film (makes the piece slide easily on the bench) to make this job easier. I used it and found it to be much better than other methods I had tried previously.

Here's what it looked like on my bench:

IMG_2955.jpg


IMG_2956.jpg


Larger versions here: https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FDWoZoqV...AYSe8WPeN6gG4SBbitsIIACLcB/s1600/IMG_2955.jpg, https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cJ7nrcBK...AFN3VgsnlSHz1UQTUoBAZwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2956.jpg

Dan's method was touched on in this thread but the pics seem to be missing:

https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=70218
 
Last edited:
Dan Horton has a great method of using "J" shaped bolts (modified U bolts) and plastic film (makes the piece slide easily on the bench) to make this job easier. I used it and found it to be much better than other methods I had tried previously.

Here's what it looked like on my bench:

IMG_2955.jpg


IMG_2956.jpg


Larger versions here: https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FDWoZoqV...AYSe8WPeN6gG4SBbitsIIACLcB/s1600/IMG_2955.jpg, https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cJ7nrcBK...AFN3VgsnlSHz1UQTUoBAZwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2956.jpg

Dan's method was touched on in this thread but the pics seem to be missing:

https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=70218


Thanks, I will try that method!
 
Dan Horton has a great method of using "J" shaped bolts (modified U bolts) and plastic film (makes the piece slide easily on the bench) to make this job easier. I used it and found it to be much better than other methods I had tried previously.

Here's what it looked like on my bench:

IMG_2955.jpg


IMG_2956.jpg


Larger versions here: https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FDWoZoqV...AYSe8WPeN6gG4SBbitsIIACLcB/s1600/IMG_2955.jpg, https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cJ7nrcBK...AFN3VgsnlSHz1UQTUoBAZwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2956.jpg

Dan's method was touched on in this thread but the pics seem to be missing:

https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=70218

Pictures saved!….. many thanks for sharing. I’ll be looking at this method. Cheers.
 
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