2011 RV-12 nose fork collapse

[TomVal]

Originally Posted by Slane

Does anyone know the weight of the replacement nose wheel fork?

Shane,

Here is the information:

http://vansaircraft.com/pdf/Notifica...2016-09-21.pdf

Regards,

[Slane]

Originally Posted by TomVal

Shane,

Here is the information:

http://vansaircraft.com/pdf/Notifica...2016-09-21.pdf

Regards,

Perfect! Thanks.

[todehnal]

Well, after reading all of the post regarding nose wheel fork issues, I decided to order the updated fork, even though after 250 hours, mine still looks good. I have an early build, (120119) but I like to keep up with the changes that make sense. Just received the new style fork. Man, that is one UGLY looking assembly. I'm now arguing with myself about installing it. It's really ugly, and I don't think paint is going to help.......Tom

[SgtZim]

I'm very curious how you don't get a prop strike when the nose gear collapses? Was it a partial or gradual bending?

[Raymo]

Originally Posted by SgtZim

I'm very curious how you don't get a prop strike when the nose gear collapses? Was it a partial or gradual bending?

Only the fork "collapsed." The gear leg remained intact but threads were damaged.

[gossend]

Can i upgrade the fork and simply reinstall my current nose wheel pant?
OK I hear it's ugly. So what? Cant I just cover it with the wheel pant?
Is this really a big deal?
I dont get it.

[John-G]

Originally Posted by gossend

Can i upgrade the fork and simply reinstall my current nose wheel pant?
OK I hear it's ugly. So what? Cant I just cover it with the wheel pant?
Is this really a big deal?
I dont get it.

Dick,

I asked the Mother ship about replacing the old style nose fork with the new improved version. My take away is that older wheel pant kits used on the original fork can be installed on the new fork ... HOWEVER, the mounting is different so it will leave you with unused holes that will need to be plugged likely requiring a repaint.

I was asking because I have the RV-12 wheel pant kit, but it is not installed yet ... so I called to find out should I install the pants now on the old fork and replace the nose fork at a later time could I reuse the wheel pants? After hearing that I could reuse the wheel pants but it would need the old mounting holes plugged or patched, (likely requiring repainting) it prompted me to order the new fork now and install it when installing the wheel pants.

Just received the new nose fork ... it is much beefier than the old fork. Van's did not skimp on the metal ... it is made WAY stronger than the old fork.

Also, because the wheel pant mounting is different on the new style fork, it requires some different mounting hardware and brackets which Van's has ... so be sure to ask for that if you are using an older wheel pant parts kit on the new fork.

Happy flying,

[Captain Avgas]

Originally Posted by Keldog

The entry for this annual inspection as well as almost all of the previous simply have a standard blurb indicating that all relative SB's have been complied with. Only once in the logs do I see a specific SB# called out. Is this standard? Or is it even practical to individually list all of the relative SB#'s?

Of course it is practical to individually list all of the relative SBs in the aircraft logbooks. A "standard blurb" indicating that all relative SBs have been complied with, without referring to any relevant SBs, is absolutely meaningless. How does anybody examining the airframe logbook determine if any particular AD or SB has actually been dealt with. I would guess this may be illegal. At best it is incompetent. In this particular case the nose wheel may have been inspected in accordance with the SB at the last annual...but it may not have. How can you know in this instance.

[Piper J3]

Anyone have a picture of the new fork?

[DHeal]

See Van's updated drawings at:

http://www.vansaircraft.com/pdf/revi...2/RV-12_35.pdf

http://www.vansaircraft.com/pdf/revi.../RV-12_36A.pdf