[Wing] Inspections - Was Cherry Rivets

[Robert & Della Kennett]

Gunter:

When I first started my project almost five years ago, there was a very
accomodating inspector in our area who would keep an unofficial record of
inspections.  He would let you take the smaller parts(ie. control surfaces,
vertical and horizontal stabilizer) to his house and he would have a look at
them and let you know if it was okay to close them.  He would then sign them
off officially and send in the paper work when he came to do the wing
inspection.  This procedure had worked out well for previous builders in the
area and definitely helps to reduce costs if you like to finish items off
completely in the jigs before proceeding to the next task.  Unfortuneately,
by the time I was ready for my wing inspection, this particular inspector
was no longer doing them....

As it turned out the new inspector was willing to accept my word along with
some entries/photographs I had made in my builder's log.  It also didn't
hurt that he knew the previous inspector.  It all turned out okay in the
end, but I was sweating for a few weeks wondering if I was going to need to
open up everything in order to get it signed off.

As far as how far to take construction, both inspectors were happy with
being able to see inside a corner of the almost completed structure.  You
are probably okay provided you don't close the pieces up completely like I
did.  I found that both inspectors were very reasonable people that wanted
to work with the builders rather than find an excuse not to allow them to
fly.

Another thing to watch for is that the paper work actually gets sent in.
When I was getting the wing inspection, the inspector indicated that he
would like to see inside the fuselage before I completely closed up the area
under the seats (some inspectors don't need to see the fuselage at all as
they will sign it off during the final inspection).  When I requested the
fuselage inspection, the MD-RA did not have any record of the wing
inspection having been completed.  Fortuneately, I had proof that it had
been done and the paper work was eventually located.

Rob Kennett
Westbank, B.C.
RV-6A (almost finished - just the wiring, propeller, fiberglass work, paint,
and miscellaneous other small tasks to go...,  first flight in spring/summer
2002 ??? )

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gunter Malich" <gmalich at telus.net>
To: <wing at vansairforce.org>
Sent: November 17, 2001 10:59 AM
Subject: [Wing] Inspections - Was Cherry Rivets


> Given the the inspector's need to view all internal structure, I also been
> wondering how far to go in rivetting the tail and wings.  It would seem to
> be a bit of a judgement call for the inspector -- if one side of every
> wing/tail panel is left completely open, it's easier for the inspector to
> view, but the downside is he's got less final-rivetted structure to
assess.
> The more the panels are complete, the harder it is to view.
>
> Tedd's comment about "working it out with the inspector" sounds
reasonable.
> The risk, I guess, is that the inspector you make arrangements with at
> empennage build time may not be the one who you see during your
> empennage/wing internal inspection.  For people like me (read S-L-O-W
> builder!) a lot of time may elapse between HS and wing completion.
>
> I'm wondering what the experiences have been for others on the list.  It's
a
> whole lot more convenient to do as much rivetting as possible while parts
> are still in the jig, but I'd hate to go overboard on closing the
structure
> and have to undo rivetting work.
>
> Any insight from the listers who have been there?
>
> Gunter Malich
> Delta, BC
> (Smacking those RV8 tail rivets)
>
>
> > You are correct.  However, in this case the inspector told me it was
okay
> to
> > close most of the rudder, just leaving the corners loose so that he can
> peer
> > inside.  Unfortunately, I left enough room to look but not enough to
buck.
> >
> > By the way, I would not count on being able to do this.  This is
something
> I
> > worked out with my inspector, but it might not be acceptable to all
> > inspectors.
> >
> > Tedd
> >
>
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