Title: Laser Cut Parts Update
Van's finally released the portal for getting laser cut part replacements. I was expecting to order new rear baggage floors and the upper fuse center rib because they were listed in yellow on the previously released list of affected parts and I haven't installed them yet so might as well. The baggage floors have been removed from the yellow list, but the forward fuse center rib (F-1044A) is still on it. I requested a new rib - this will hold up my upper fuse completion a bit, but I already figured that would be the case. There are two other parts on the yellow list, the outboard baggage ribs that support the steps. Van's suggests these are highly loaded from the step, but low cycles. The step is also supported by a steel weldment, and the rivets aren't dimpled. I'm going with Van's determination on this one that replacement is not necessary. There are three other fuselage parts that are on the red list - the F-1048-L&R which is the main tunnel sidewall ribs, and the F-1005A which is the rear spar bulkead. It is the F-1005B plates that really carry most of the load though, and those aren't laser cut - too thick. Both of these parts have notes indicating they're priority may be reduced with further testing, or they recommended to not replace and wait for additional instructions. I'm 95% certain that these particular parts were not laser cut in my kit, but I can't be absolutely certain. Given the difficulty or replacing these parts and the fact that they are relatively easy to inspect, I am not going to do anything regarding replacement. I was thinking that I had no exposure on my wing, but they did include the opportunity to order wing parts and that got me looking. There are some parts that entered the inventory in January through March of '22. I received my wing kit in March so it's possible. Thankfully I do have photos from my wing inventory and there are enough to verify all of the aileron and flap parts are good. So that's it - I'm ordering just one part off the portal and putting the Laser Cut Parts behind me. I feel bad for others that have it so much worse than me. I look at the list of red parts on the empennage and wing kit and my heart breaks for those that have completed those parts. Then again, I might welcome the opportunity to redo some of my early empennage parts. 10/8: I had a big order of other stuff from Van's so just went ahead and ordered that fwd fuse rib and paid for it out of pocket. 1/7/24: F-1048 L & R moved to blue based on further testing. No concern.


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