Rebel - Elevator - "Service Bulletin"
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:13 am
I did this same repair on one of my elevators about two years ago and not
sure if I shared it with everyone or not...as I thought it was "spectator"
damage from flyins. I also now know that this happened to Angus McKenzie's
Rebel as well.
I have now found the same thing on Howard's, while doing his annual and have
repaired same today. For those that haven't closed up their elevators yet
(this is Rebel specific..does not apply to Elite or SR) I would suggest
doing reinforcements now... rather than later.
What happens is that you will first see the skin crack around the 3/16"
rivet that's holding the elevator skin's corner to the outboard spar "cap"
area. Investigating further, by removing the balancer tip, you will find
that the tab on the end rib (also held by a 3/16 rivet to the end cap area)
will be cracked or at least rotating freely around that single rivet. This
rib being held by the single rivet, and thanks to the loads transfered from
the balancer tip, allows the rib to move up and down...flexing the skin and
cracking same...as well as the rib tab (right off in my case).
If you are building new, and/or not closed yet, what I would highly suggest
is to take a piece of angle (.025 or .032) and using a couple of RV1410
rivets mount it to the inner side of the elevators end rib with the other
flange against the spar tube. Then put a single 3/16 -RV1613 rivet through
the angle and into the spar tube. This will put an end to the ribs ability
to rotate around that single rivet. In conjunction with that, I would also
do the same as I have done during repair and add a gusset of .020 or .025
material under the top and bottom skin in each outer corner to give it a bit
more strength. I have made the gusset to pick up three of the 1/8 rivets in
each direction away from the outboard corner at the spar tube.
For repairing in service elevators I have found that cutting off about 3" of
a spare rib, placing it inside the original and riveting with about 5 or 6
rivets seems to work okay. Then the gussets as described above, top and
bottom of the skin.
If anyone wants pictures to clarify what the $#%@ I'm talking about...just
ask!
So what the service bulletin would say would be...... "before further flight
and every 50 hours thereafter.....inspect elevator skins for cracks or
buckling radiating from the outboard spar tube corner. If cracks or buckling
is found then the tip is to be removed and the elevator is to be repaired
per the above directions prior to further flight" or something like that.
Cheers,
Wayne
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sure if I shared it with everyone or not...as I thought it was "spectator"
damage from flyins. I also now know that this happened to Angus McKenzie's
Rebel as well.
I have now found the same thing on Howard's, while doing his annual and have
repaired same today. For those that haven't closed up their elevators yet
(this is Rebel specific..does not apply to Elite or SR) I would suggest
doing reinforcements now... rather than later.
What happens is that you will first see the skin crack around the 3/16"
rivet that's holding the elevator skin's corner to the outboard spar "cap"
area. Investigating further, by removing the balancer tip, you will find
that the tab on the end rib (also held by a 3/16 rivet to the end cap area)
will be cracked or at least rotating freely around that single rivet. This
rib being held by the single rivet, and thanks to the loads transfered from
the balancer tip, allows the rib to move up and down...flexing the skin and
cracking same...as well as the rib tab (right off in my case).
If you are building new, and/or not closed yet, what I would highly suggest
is to take a piece of angle (.025 or .032) and using a couple of RV1410
rivets mount it to the inner side of the elevators end rib with the other
flange against the spar tube. Then put a single 3/16 -RV1613 rivet through
the angle and into the spar tube. This will put an end to the ribs ability
to rotate around that single rivet. In conjunction with that, I would also
do the same as I have done during repair and add a gusset of .020 or .025
material under the top and bottom skin in each outer corner to give it a bit
more strength. I have made the gusset to pick up three of the 1/8 rivets in
each direction away from the outboard corner at the spar tube.
For repairing in service elevators I have found that cutting off about 3" of
a spare rib, placing it inside the original and riveting with about 5 or 6
rivets seems to work okay. Then the gussets as described above, top and
bottom of the skin.
If anyone wants pictures to clarify what the $#%@ I'm talking about...just
ask!
So what the service bulletin would say would be...... "before further flight
and every 50 hours thereafter.....inspect elevator skins for cracks or
buckling radiating from the outboard spar tube corner. If cracks or buckling
is found then the tip is to be removed and the elevator is to be repaired
per the above directions prior to further flight" or something like that.
Cheers,
Wayne
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Archives public username "rebel" password "builder"
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