| Submitted By: | meehan@wsu.edu | ||
| Email List: | RV-List,RV6-List | ||
| Name: | Donald Meehan | ||
| Date: | Oct 6 2008 | ||
| Subject: | RV6A step failure - both sides | ||
| Description: | N693KM built from 1993 to '97 and flown June 13, 1997 with two steps has after 1150 hours of service and eleven years had both steps fail. Pilot weighs roughly 200 pounds. Steps have seen normal use. Step failure appears to be heat stress related from the welding in making the step. Cracking is a result of work hardening on the inboard side. Two attached pictures Identify the crack. Worth inspecting for this as a part of your condition inspection process if you have steps. Total failure of any step could lead to hurt pilot and/or passenger and also damage to flap area. I have attempted a repair using TIG welding and an additional 4130 angle support along with relief of the weld stress areas. Hope to report on that to you in the next 11 years. | ||
 |
N693KM-Step-Failure1-sm.jpg | Photo 1 | |
 |
N693KM-Step-Failure2-sm.jpg | Photo 2 | |