Vans Aircraft RV-12 Build, Section 15: Wing Ribs (part 3)

Reference: page 15-03; 4.5 hours

I've been working on fluting and deburring the main wing ribs for the RV-12 airplane. Their not all done, however I wanted to make a post regarding a possible "Builder's Gotcha." As I deburred the ribs I noticed some small cracks in the rib flange. They were easy to fix but if not noticed could and would have caused problems down the road. Please see the pictures below for more details.

Step 1: Flute and straighten all of the W-1210 Main Rib flanges.



Here is the area of the small crack on the flange. Almost all of the left hand main ribs had them. The close up pictures below are a before and after using a round needle file.







It was easy fixing the problem the big thing is seeing it in the first place so it can be corrected. That's it for now back to the ribs!

Van's Aircraft Announces Progress on adding Dynon Sky View to RV-12

Today on Facebook Van's Aircraft announced they are making progress on releasing the Dynon Skyview for the RV-12 LSA kitplane. The idea is for it to be able to be installed in new planes, available as a retrofit for flying planes and can be added for those of us in the middle of building. A couple of interesting thing I came across are, the new avionics package will phase out the Gramin handheld GPS and the transponder. Both of these functions will be integrated into the SkyView. Van's is working on a single and dual screen option. Also at this time Dynon does not offer weather but it is in the works. Here is a link: Van's Aircraft Q&A page

Vans Aircraft RV-12 Build, Section 15: Wing Ribs (part 3)

Reference: page 15-02; 1 hour

Step 9: Select one each of the W-1208-L Nose Ribs and W-1208-R Ribs with the aft and forward trimmed flanges. Dimple the rivet hole locations as shown on page 15-02 Figure 4. Final drill #19 the center nutplate holes as shown. Dimple the install three nutplates on each of these nose ribs.



Builders note: I drilled to #40 & deburred the rivet holes before dimpling them. Also, dimpled the nutplates.









Step 10: Select one of the three untrimmed W-1208-R Nose Ribs and dimple the rivet hole locations for the two forward nutplates as shown in Van's Aircrafts plans on page 15-02. Final-Drill #19 the center nutplate holes. Dimple then install two nutplates on the nose rib.

Builders note: Again I drilled the rivet holes to #40 before dimpling.





This completes page 15-02 of Van's Aircraft RV-12 plans. The nose ribs are now ready to install so the next big job is getting the main ribs ready.

Vans Aircraft RV-12 Build, Section 15: Wing Ribs (part 2)

Reference: page 15-02; 7.5 hours

There's just no way around it, getting ribs ready for the wing assembly just takes time. There was a service bullition from Van's Aircraft in 2010 about cracks in the rib stiffeners, but my ribs where all fine. Just in case you have an older kit here is a link to the bulletin Service Bulletin 10-04-28

Step 2: Select 13 of the 14 W-1208-L Nose Ribs and trim the aft flange.



Step 3: Take five of the 13 W-1208-L Nose Ribs that were just trimmed and trim off the upper and lower forward flanges.



Step 4: Select the one W-1208-L Nose Rib that is untrimmed and trim the forward upper and lower flanges.



Step 5: Take seven of the 14 W-1208-R Nose Ribs and trim the aft flange.



Step 6: Select two of the seven W-1208-R Nose with the aft flange trimmed and trim the forward upper and lower flanges.



Step 7: Select four of the seven W-1208-R Nose Ribs that are untrimmed and trim the forward upper and lower flanges.



Step 8: Cut apart the two W-1216B Hinge Ribs into W-1216B and W-1216B-R Hinge Ribs.



Alodined and zinc chromated the ribs in preparation for the next steps. Just as a side not it took three cans of primer to paint all 28 nose ribs

RV-12 Airplane Build, Section 15: Wing Ribs (part 1)

Reference: page 15-02; 7.5 hours

This weekend's work focused on deburring and fluting the nose ribs for the RV-12 wing kit. The deburring was a lot of work, but the way I figure it is much easier to deburr it now than having a rib crack after the wing is assembled and having to repair or replace a rib on the completed wing.

Durigm this process Ialso inspected the rib beads for cracks per SB 10-4-28. And found no cracks.

Step 1: Flute and straighten all of the W-1208 Nose Rib flanges.






Builders Note: I have found the set of needle file pictured below very helpful in cleaning up the edges. They are from Harbor Freight Tools. The oval file matches the rib scollops very well.

RV-12 Section 14 Rear Spar, Stub Spar, Hinge Brackets (Part 3)

Reference: page 14-03; 4.5 hour

Todays entire will finish up the wing sub-spars on the RV-12 airplane. All that is left is basically some riveting riveting.

Step 1: Cleco of the W-1212 Hinge Assemblies to each of the W-1207B Rear Spar Doubler Plates. Orient them as shown in Van's Aircraft RV-12 plans page 14-03.



Step 2: Rivet only the inboard flange of the W-1212 Hinge Assemblies to each of the W-1207B Rear Spar Doubler Plates using rivets indicated in plans. Identify the hinge assembly and rear spar doubler plate as the Left and Right Doubler Assembly per call outs.



Step 3: Cleco the Left and Right Doubler Assembly to the inboard end of the W-1207A-L & _R Rear Spar Web.



Step 4: Cleco the W-1207C-L & -R Tip Attach Angle to the outboard end of the W1207A-l & -R Rear Spar Web.



Step 5: Rivet the Left and Right Doubler Assemblies to the W-1207A-L & -R Rear Spar Webs using rivets indicated. Leave open the called out holes that will later correspond to the wing ribs.



Step 6: Rivet the W-1207C-L & -R Tip Attach Angle to the W-1207A-L & -R Rear Spar Web using rivets called out.

Hereafter refer to these sub-assembiles as the Left and Right Rear Spar Assembly.



This completes section 14 of the Van's Aircraft RV-12 plans. Next comes the deburring and fluting of the wing ribs. Fun!

RV-12 Section 14 Rear Spar, Stub Spar, Hinge Brackets (Part 2)

Reference: page 14-02; 4.5 hour

Still having fun with the RV-12 wing sub spars. I did run into three possible builder Gotchas in this section and will note them below as they come up during the build.

Step 4: Rivet the Stub Spar Assembly together at the holes called out. When setting the three rivets at the inboard end of each Stub Spar Assembly, the goal is to make both the shop head and the manufactured head as flush as possible (Section 5H.) Leave open the called out holes that will later correspond to the wing ribs.

Set both Stub Spar Assemblies aside until called for in Section 15, Wing Ribs.




Sorry about the blurry picture:(

Step 5: Cleco one of the W-1216-R Flaperon Hinge Brackets to one of the W-1216-L Flaperon Hinge Brackets. Do the same with the remaining three left and right flaperon hinge brackets.



Builder Gotcha number 1: In the picture above the top rivet is the called out 470AD4-4 rivet, however it is too short. So I substituted AN470AD4-5 (the lower rivet.)

Step 6: rivet the W-1216-L & -R Flaperon Hinge Brackets together using the rivets called out. Set the rivets in a random pattern to prevent warping in the final assemblies. Refer to each of these assemblies as the W-1216 Hinge Bracket Assembly. Set all four aside until Section 16, Wing Skeleton.



Step 7: Machine countersink the W-1212B-L & -R Flapreon Hinge Brackets per callouts.



Builders Gotcha number 2: This is from building the RV-10. The hole I am pointing at in the picture below should not be deburred. OK, maybe just the burr on the edge but don't enlarge the hole! Otherwise the bearing that is press in can spin in the bracket which is bad.



Builders note: The W-1212A has a slight curve to it and needs straightening. See below.







Step 8: Press one BEARING COM-3-5 into each of the W-1212A Flaperon Hinge Plates. Use a 7/16 inch, 3/8 inch drive socket to push on the bearing and a 9/16 inch, 3/8 inch drive socket to back up the flaperon hinge plate. Squeeze with a vise or C-clamp.



Step 9: Cleco each of the W-1212A Flaperon Hinge Plates between one each of the W-1212b-L & -R Flaperon Hinges. Press to area around the BEARING COM-3-5 of the assemblies together to insure that the bearing is seated into the recesses in the flaperon hinge bracket sides and not spreading the assemblies apart near the bearing.



Step 10: Rivet the W-1212A Flaperon Hinge Plates and the W-1212B-L &-R Flaperon Hinges together using the rivets called out. Set the rivets in a random pattern to prevent warping in the final assemblies.

Builders Gotcha number 3: This one did get me! When I was riveting them together I over squeezed the double flushed rivets near the bearing trying to get these flush. So I ended up drilling them apart straighting the brackets and re-riveting them together.







Step 11: Mark the W-1207C Tip Attach Angle as a left and right part. Separate the W-1207C-L & -R Tip Attach Angle by removing the joining material.



This completes page 14-02. I hope the Gotchas were helpful. Next time I will finish the spar section of this RV-12 airplane.