Unairworthy

Multiple drilled holes on an RV-6 elevator spar.

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On a recently inspected RV-6 there were multiple holes drilled into the forward elevator spars near each rod end bearing. The rod end bearings are used as the attach points for connecting the elevators to the horizontal stabilizer. Not only were there two extra sets of holes surrounding each of the rod ends, each jam nut was very loose, including one that took a full turn to tighten. This is a very high stress area prone to cracking, and Van’s Aircraft has even issued a service bulletin pertaining to this area.

—Vic Syracuse

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Vic Syracuse
Vic is a fixed-wing and helicopter commercial pilot, CFII with ASMEL/ASES ratings, an A&P/IA, DAR, and EAA technical advisor and flight counselor. Passionately involved in aviation for over 40 years, he has built 11 aircraft and logged over 10,000 hours in 72 different kinds of aircraft. Vic volunteers as a Young Eagle pilot, has his own sport aviation business called Base Leg Aviation, and has written two books on aircraft prebuy and condition inspections.

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