Van’s Aircraft recently updated its customers regarding reports of cracked parts found in some of the company’s kits.
Van’s published a notice about the problem and followed with a live update last week at EAA AirVenture, reported KITPLANES.
Van’s Updates List of RV Parts Reportedly Forming Cracks
The company says the defects in certain rivet holes appear to have resulted from the laser-cutting process.
Key Takeaways:
- Van's Aircraft is addressing reports of cracked parts in some kits, caused by a temporary shift (February 2022 - June) to laser-cutting rivet holes instead of the traditional press-punch method to boost production.
- The laser-cutting process overheated the metal, leading to cracks after holes were dimpled; Van's has discontinued laser-cut parts, reverted to press-punching, and asked builders to halt construction with affected components during a 45-60 day testing period.
- Ultimately, some laser-cut parts will be deemed acceptable for low-stress applications, while critical parts will require replacement, with Van's establishing a process to provide these to customers.
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