RV7 wing attachment question

[TerryJ]

A close relative is building an RV7 and is ready to attach the wings for the
first time. The alignment of the holes in the center spar section front and
back is off enough that a hardware store bolt will not pass through both
sides. I estimate the alignment is off by 1/32 to 3/64 inch perhaps more on
the port side. I am not an aeronautical engineer nor have I built a plane
but to me this is excessive and would tend to stress the close tolerance
bolts and spars as the bolts are forcibly driven in.

He says his 'mentor', who has built two planes, says all is OK (though the
'mentor' has not personally inspected the plane).
Am I being paranoid? My concern is for his life....

--
Kind regards,
Terry

[Matt Whiting]

TerryJ wrote:
> A close relative is building an RV7 and is ready to attach the wings for
> the first time. The alignment of the holes in the center spar section
> front and back is off enough that a hardware store bolt will not pass
> through both sides. I estimate the alignment is off by 1/32 to 3/64 inch
> perhaps more on the port side. I am not an aeronautical engineer nor
> have I built a plane but to me this is excessive and would tend to
> stress the close tolerance bolts and spars as the bolts are forcibly
> driven in.
>
> He says his 'mentor', who has built two planes, says all is OK (though
> the 'mentor' has not personally inspected the plane).
> Am I being paranoid? My concern is for his life....
>

The only place to get a definitive answer is Vans Aircraft.

Matt

[Jim Logajan]

Matt Whiting > wrote:
> The only place to get a definitive answer is Vans Aircraft.

The distant second best place is to ask on http://www.vansairforce.net/

[Gig 601XL Builder]

Jim Logajan wrote:
> Matt Whiting > wrote:
>> The only place to get a definitive answer is Vans Aircraft.
>
> The distant second best place is to ask on
> http://www.vansairforce.net/

Followed closely in thrid by the RV list at Matronics.com

[[email protected]]

yeah, you're too paranoid, those spar plates move around quite a bit.
might need the rivet gun to help drive them in.

Also, mic the hardware bolts. I ended up with a batch that where over
sized which is uncommon for cheap china bolts.

rv7a 320 hrs.
hr-2 20 hrs.

[TerryJ]

Van's response....
"Terry, This is not uncommon and will not be a structural problem. To help
ease installation,
install a hardware store bolt from the front and one from the back
side...these bolts need not
go thru all the way. Having the spar in between will pull the structure
into alignment and allow
adjacent bolts to be installed fully without as much stress.

When installing the close tolerance bolts, the same method can be used. In
addition, the
bolts can be left in the freezer or on dry ice and lubricant applied.

Our proto shop has used bottle jacks to 'spread' the fuselage at times to
install A-model gear
weldments etc. There is more flex in the fuselage than you'd expect.

van's
"
> wrote in message
...
> yeah, you're too paranoid, those spar plates move around quite a bit.
> might need the rivet gun to help drive them in.
>
> Also, mic the hardware bolts. I ended up with a batch that where over
> sized which is uncommon for cheap china bolts.
>
> rv7a 320 hrs.
> hr-2 20 hrs.
>