Vertical Stabilizer

RV-12 Project Log

10-20-2012 4-hours; Started to clear out the garage for the first phase of the aircraft build. Organized shelves on west wall of garage. Moved dresser, bed and steamer next to shelf.

10-21-2012 4-hours: Organized stuff I’m getting rid of- motorcycle parts; old electronics; exercise equipment; need to find a new home for the slot machine. Cleared out dresser drawers and organized selves near heater and water tank. Took apart current workbenches. Loaded Salvation Army give away items in the wife's car.

11-10-12 8-hours: Bought all material for two EAA1000 benches. Sawed all wood. Home Depot helped a cut the table tops. Completed assembly of one bench.

11-11-12 3.5 hours: Second bench completed.

11-26-12 – 06:03 mailed purchase order for tail section. More accurately called the empennage. It includes the vertical stablizer, rudder, anti-servo trim tab, horizontal stabilator and the aft fuselage. First check written!

12-06-12     Tail section delivered to the house

12-15-12 2:00 hours: Inventory of hardware

12-17-12 1.50 hours: Inventory of hardware. The inventory is complete and the only thing missing was a washer. Van's provided the additional washer in about 3-days! 

01-04-13    3.00 hours: AEX rivet wedges and then work on rudder hinge assemblies. The rivet wedges are to help rivet in tight places without damaging or marring the surrounding area. Below are pictures of the rudder hinge assemblies VS-1210 and VS1211A/B.

01-05-13    1.00 hours [4 hr cumm]: Sanding and prep of the rudder hinge assemblies

01-06-13      3.00 hours [7 hrs cumm]: primed and riveted rudder hinge assemblies. Began work on vertical stabilizer upper and lower spar assemblies- separation and sanding/smoothing.

01-11-13      2:00 hours [9 hrs cumm]: Continued work on vertical stabilizer spar and VS upper and lower spar caps.

01/12-2013    1:00 hour [10 hrs cumm]– Countersinking for vertical spar AN465AD3-4 flush head rivets six places. Also countersunk 9 holes in rudder front spar assembly.

While countersinking one of the holes I managed to elongate a hole. 3/32” hole, lower left.

Corrective action:

Reference page 06-04 RV-12, Revision 1, dated 1/26/09

Step 2: Machine countersink the six #40 holes in the web of the VS-1203 rear spar flush for 3/32 rivet.

Non-conformance:

Elongated lower left hole. Hole measured 0.125 x 0.093. Drilled #30 0.125, next rivet size hole for AN426AD4-4 rivet.

1-19-2013            2:00 hours [12 hrs cumm] – Primed and prepped VS1202, 1205, 1206, 1207 and 1208

1-20-2013 7:00 [19 hrs cumm] Completed vertical skeleton assembly. Also dimpled and installed 18 locknut assemblies on vertical skin 1201 and skin cap assembly. Clicoed main skin to vertical skeketon assembly. Seems to me that I’ve got to final drill skin and smooth all edges before attached skin to skeleton

1/21/13 1:00 Cumm 20 hours – Match drilled or final drilled the vertical skin.

1/23/13 1:00 Cumm 21 hours – Completed the match drill and removed vertical skin and begin deburr.

1/26/13 2:00 Comm 23 hours – two steps forward, one step back. Used Acetone to remove primer from mating surfaces and areas that will be visible. Reapplied. I've really had trouble with the primer application. [I think I've identified the errors of my way. Poor surface prep and thickness of application.]

1/27/13 4:00 Cumm 27 hours – riveted vertical stablizer skin to skeleton. Attached upper hinge