Hello all,
This is my first post here, although I have been lurking for some time. I have been a pilot for many years but I am a complete "NOOB" when it comes to home building. Nonetheless, I am embarking on an RV-10 build, the first step of which I am sure you all know is the vertical stabilizer.
Looking around the web, I have seen a few folks who have modified their vertical stabilizer to include one or more wiring conduits by drilling one or more 3/4? holes into the web of the VS-1006 top rib and adding a doubler in order to facilitate the penetration of the wiring conduit(s).
I like the idea of having the flexibility for wiring extra lights, cameras, antennae or whatever in the future, and especially like the flexibility that homebuilding affords us to make such modifications as desired.
That all being said, and given my total lack of experience with such matters, I have not been able to find any engineering references regarding the implications of a modification such as this. For example, how is the appropriate size and thickness of the doubler determined, what are the risks or implications of going too small/big or too thick/thin? Are there implications (other than aesthetics) of placing the doubler either on top or on the bottom side of the rib? How many rivets should be used to attach the doubler? How is this determined?
I?ve consulted AC 43.13, as well as FAA-H-8003-31A but didn?t find any specific reference that was relevant, although admittedly given my lack of experience I might not recognize it even if it is there. The closest I could find was toward the end of chapter 4 in the latter book starting on page 4-105 ?Rib and Web Repair?, where it talks about patches being the same gauge as the original material or one gauge higher, two rows of rivets properly spaced, etc.. However, this is talking about repairs to damaged ribs as opposed to intentional modifications with doublers.
Perhaps I?ve watched too many episodes of ?Air Disasters? on TV, but before making a seemingly significant modification like this, I would like to make sure that I have fully done my due diligence and fully understand all of the implications, have convinced myself that I will be doing it ?properly? and with proper references noted in the builder?s log etc.. I guess given my lack of experience I'm not comfortable jumping into it merely based on reading a few internet posts, any more that I would start sawing holes through load-bearing walls of my house without understanding the implications and/or consulting with a professional.
I know the obvious answer is "if you're not comfortable and don't know what you're doing, don't do it and just stick to the plans". I get that, but in addition to making decisions regarding this one specific potential modification, part of my larger goal here is also to educate myself. I feel like if I am going to be a successful homebuilder, I should know how to research such items, what data to consider in order to make informed decisions and choices, etc.
Thanks in advance for any wisdom and/or opinions anyone cares to offer.
-Mike
This is my first post here, although I have been lurking for some time. I have been a pilot for many years but I am a complete "NOOB" when it comes to home building. Nonetheless, I am embarking on an RV-10 build, the first step of which I am sure you all know is the vertical stabilizer.
Looking around the web, I have seen a few folks who have modified their vertical stabilizer to include one or more wiring conduits by drilling one or more 3/4? holes into the web of the VS-1006 top rib and adding a doubler in order to facilitate the penetration of the wiring conduit(s).
I like the idea of having the flexibility for wiring extra lights, cameras, antennae or whatever in the future, and especially like the flexibility that homebuilding affords us to make such modifications as desired.
That all being said, and given my total lack of experience with such matters, I have not been able to find any engineering references regarding the implications of a modification such as this. For example, how is the appropriate size and thickness of the doubler determined, what are the risks or implications of going too small/big or too thick/thin? Are there implications (other than aesthetics) of placing the doubler either on top or on the bottom side of the rib? How many rivets should be used to attach the doubler? How is this determined?
I?ve consulted AC 43.13, as well as FAA-H-8003-31A but didn?t find any specific reference that was relevant, although admittedly given my lack of experience I might not recognize it even if it is there. The closest I could find was toward the end of chapter 4 in the latter book starting on page 4-105 ?Rib and Web Repair?, where it talks about patches being the same gauge as the original material or one gauge higher, two rows of rivets properly spaced, etc.. However, this is talking about repairs to damaged ribs as opposed to intentional modifications with doublers.
Perhaps I?ve watched too many episodes of ?Air Disasters? on TV, but before making a seemingly significant modification like this, I would like to make sure that I have fully done my due diligence and fully understand all of the implications, have convinced myself that I will be doing it ?properly? and with proper references noted in the builder?s log etc.. I guess given my lack of experience I'm not comfortable jumping into it merely based on reading a few internet posts, any more that I would start sawing holes through load-bearing walls of my house without understanding the implications and/or consulting with a professional.
I know the obvious answer is "if you're not comfortable and don't know what you're doing, don't do it and just stick to the plans". I get that, but in addition to making decisions regarding this one specific potential modification, part of my larger goal here is also to educate myself. I feel like if I am going to be a successful homebuilder, I should know how to research such items, what data to consider in order to make informed decisions and choices, etc.
Thanks in advance for any wisdom and/or opinions anyone cares to offer.
-Mike