Empennage Kit

Horizontal Stabilizer Forward Spar REWORK

 

11/23/03, 8.0 hrs

 

I got my replacement parts from Van's and began re-work of the whole assembly.  Everything was going well today.  All of my previous mistakes were corrected until I went to drill the main rib to the front spar.   I thought that I was being very careful drilling the hole, however, when I was complete, the drill wandered like it did the first time (didn't drill straight).  Don't ask me how I got two separate holes on this flange.  Just me being dumb.  Lesson learned AGAIN the hard way.  This is for the right side main rib.  I continued on to drill the left side and I was happy how that turned out.

AN IDEA FOR THE NEXT TIME I TRY TO DO THIS:

    1. Get the two center holes drilled where the nose rib, front spar, and the main rib join together.  Then remove the skin on that side's skin and drill the remaining two holes with the skins removed.  Drill from the front spar reinforcement through the main rib.  Doing it the other way (aft to forward) has resulted in the drill bit wandering and left me with a poorly drilled hole.  Drill first with a #40 that way if the drill bit wanders, as long as it isn't to bad, it will clean itself up when you final drill to a size #30.  If you can't line up perpendicular to the spar reinforcement, consider use of the long drill bits to get as close to the 90 degree as possible.  My drill chuck would have rubbed on the nose rib (which can be removed if you take the time to remove your skin) with the shorter drill bits.  The right angle drill didn't help here either as the drill head also got in the way of the nose rib.

 

         


Last Updated: February 21, 2004