I dove head first into the experimental world a few years ago, and have been almost full time building and repairing them in that time. I have am a Manufacturing Engineer by trade with a lot of experience in machining.
Having now finished my own RV9A, and been helping other RV owners with their airplanes in the last 2 years I am amazed at what I am seeing and rather ashamed of what I am seeing.
For example.
The list goes on. Of course we are fixing these issues, but for the owners they all thought they owned a safe airplane. I am sure others have more stories.
How do we help fix this? I really think RV's could have a safety record as good or better than certified, if these type issues along with pilot training was improved.
Having now finished my own RV9A, and been helping other RV owners with their airplanes in the last 2 years I am amazed at what I am seeing and rather ashamed of what I am seeing.
For example.
- Speaker wire for the mag wiring.
- Missing Landing Gear Mount bolts on both sides
- No control stops on any axis (unless you call the panel a stop)
- Excessive 90 deg fittings on fuel lines, sometimes 2 components mounted on different surfaces connected via rigid 90's.
- "Lower spark plugs stripped out, unable to perform compression test." Followed by A&P signing airplane off as airworthy.
- AP servo's that can overcenter and lock up controls.
- Lack of large washers on rod ends.
The list goes on. Of course we are fixing these issues, but for the owners they all thought they owned a safe airplane. I am sure others have more stories.
How do we help fix this? I really think RV's could have a safety record as good or better than certified, if these type issues along with pilot training was improved.