Date:	10-18-2013
Number of Hours:	0.75
Brief Description:	Trim tab, and "oops"
The pitch trim tab that is part of the left elevator is one of those items that RV builders approach with caution - because the plans hint so, and searches of the internet show that quite a few builders have had problems with it. The typical difficulty is bending the ends of the tab over to close up the aerofoil section. More of that when I get to it, but because it is so common for the bends in the skin to go wrong, Van's Aircraft have the tab skin available in their catalogue as a spare part for $18.00 - which is a good job. "Why's that a good job?" you ask. "You're not ready to bend yet". And you're quite right - I'm not. But whilst moving the elevator skeleton to set the last two rivets, I clumsily managed to brush the spar against the wall-mounted tool rack, knocking off a hand drill which fell onto the trim tab skin. Bah! It's bent a nice dish into it, and whilst I might be able to bend it back I think I'd rather spend the $18.00 (plus shipping, VAT...) so that I get a pristine one hanging out into the eventual 200mph winds rather than wondering why the trim is a bit off. Ah well, I'll order a couple of other minor things at the same time. (PS: I now know that there are at least 2 people looking at this, at least intermittently. Hi, Ian M.)