In the last week I have performed pre-purchase inspections on a couple of aircraft that had really poor riveting, and I thought I should share them with the group here, as I know there are lots of new builders.
The first one was an RV-10 kit that was supposedly pretty complete, including an Eggenfeller engine. Sad to say, the whole aircraft had some of the worst riveting I have ever seen anywhere. I feel bad for the builder, but the buyer certainly dodged a bullet. The aircraft is really more of a restoration project now rather than a kit needing completion. Here's a couple of photos out of the dozens I took. There was every example of a bad rivet I could think of---underdriven, overdriven, misdrilled, crooked, and cracked. With so much help available today between EAA Technical Counselors and the Internet it is intersting to me that someone would just keep pounding away without seeking advice. It's a lot of lost time and lost money. I remember taking the first pieces I riveted to the flight school A&P at which I was flight instructing. He laughed as soon as I walked in the door! I had to drill them all out and he showed me how to properly set them. The rest is history, but the message is we ALL had to learn. Here are some pictures from the RV10:
The second airplane was an RV-7A that has been flying since 2007. It has had multiple inspections by the builder and an A&P. I was again surprised by the extremely poor quality riveting in a very critical area--- the aileron attach bracket. From Van's service letter we know this is an area prone to cracking with even a PROPER riveting job. This particular area is so easy to get right during the build process. It will require precision now to prevent enlargening the holes on the spar. The first photo is of the right wing. The second photo is of the left wing. Note the poor riveting along the lower rear spar on the right wing, and the rivets are reversed on the aileron bracket. That will make doing the SB even harder. The riveting along the lower aft spar is horrible as well.
And take note of the loose jam nut on the elevator. There was a loose one on BOTH the left and right elevator, and it was clear they had never been tightened, as there was paint on the threads below the jaunt. You would think they would be caught on a preflight, let alone the past 7 CI's. What really irritates me is that the SB for the aileron brackets was published 3 months prior to the last Condition Inspection.
I hate to point this out, but paperwork signoffs aren't doing anyone any favors.
The first one was an RV-10 kit that was supposedly pretty complete, including an Eggenfeller engine. Sad to say, the whole aircraft had some of the worst riveting I have ever seen anywhere. I feel bad for the builder, but the buyer certainly dodged a bullet. The aircraft is really more of a restoration project now rather than a kit needing completion. Here's a couple of photos out of the dozens I took. There was every example of a bad rivet I could think of---underdriven, overdriven, misdrilled, crooked, and cracked. With so much help available today between EAA Technical Counselors and the Internet it is intersting to me that someone would just keep pounding away without seeking advice. It's a lot of lost time and lost money. I remember taking the first pieces I riveted to the flight school A&P at which I was flight instructing. He laughed as soon as I walked in the door! I had to drill them all out and he showed me how to properly set them. The rest is history, but the message is we ALL had to learn. Here are some pictures from the RV10:
The second airplane was an RV-7A that has been flying since 2007. It has had multiple inspections by the builder and an A&P. I was again surprised by the extremely poor quality riveting in a very critical area--- the aileron attach bracket. From Van's service letter we know this is an area prone to cracking with even a PROPER riveting job. This particular area is so easy to get right during the build process. It will require precision now to prevent enlargening the holes on the spar. The first photo is of the right wing. The second photo is of the left wing. Note the poor riveting along the lower rear spar on the right wing, and the rivets are reversed on the aileron bracket. That will make doing the SB even harder. The riveting along the lower aft spar is horrible as well.
And take note of the loose jam nut on the elevator. There was a loose one on BOTH the left and right elevator, and it was clear they had never been tightened, as there was paint on the threads below the jaunt. You would think they would be caught on a preflight, let alone the past 7 CI's. What really irritates me is that the SB for the aileron brackets was published 3 months prior to the last Condition Inspection.
I hate to point this out, but paperwork signoffs aren't doing anyone any favors.
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