|
|
|
|
Mikes RV-9A Web Site
|
Date: 11-11-2007
|
Number of Hours: 1.50
|
Manual Reference:
|
Brief Description: Must be Friday the 13th!! It CRACKED!!
|
|
OMG…. Almost done and my tip-up cracked!!
Conditions preceding the event:
Canopy holes were countersunk and drilled out with a 5/32” plexiglass drill bit. Canopy was held in place on each side of the frame with three #6 screws and outside skirts were cleco’d in place. Using a #27 standard drill bit, commenced match drilling from the inside through the tip-up canopy frame/canopy assy into the outside skirts.
All went well exactly as planned.
The event:
After removing the skirt cleco’s and the 3 screws on each side, I reinstalled the skirts with clecos so the last 3 holes on each side could be match drilled. When it was all said and done, I found the forward most hole on the left side had a huge crack in the canopy, coming out of the hole!!!!!!! I nearly had a heart attack on the spot!!!!!!! You know… one of “those” moments when you experience utter denial. NO NO NO… this can’t be happening.!!!!
The Cause:
After performing a through investigation and root cause analysis, it was concluded the builder (me) is a flaming bloody idiot!!
For some reason, the forward most hole had not been drilled out from 1/8” to 5/32” with the plexiglass drill, nor had it been countersunk. Some how, I missed “finishing” that hole. When I match drilled, using the #27 bit, it caused a stress riser in the original 1/8” hole and off went the crack about 15 minutes later!!
The Punishment:
I could have lived with an “accident”, but this was my doing… or should I say “undoing”!! Tonight will be the flogging with a cat-of-nine-tails… followed by a soak in the hot tub to calm down. Holy mackerel…. I’ve read about not drilling plexiglass with standard twist drills… now I stand before my peers to attest, NEVER EVER let a non-plexiglass drill bit remove so much as a sliver of plexiglass!!
How’s that old flying adage go… something to the effect: Building in itself is not inherently dangerous, but it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect.
Now… to start over… I'll sit this canopy over
|
|
Skirt in place ready for match drilling
|
|
|
|
The Damn crack!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2001-2024 Matronics. All Rights Reserved.
|
