Van's Aircraft issued Service Bulletin SB-00079 on March 20, 2026. It applies to all RV aircraft, and it recommends that every RV carry an emergency egress hammer.
What the bulletin says about the tool
The bulletin makes one point about choosing the hammer. Egress hammers designed for automobiles may not suit an aircraft, because the spring-loaded plungers made to break automotive glass are not effective on the plexiglass used in aircraft windows and canopies. Van's describes the proper tool as one with a hammer heavy enough to break through plexiglass.
Van's lists such a hammer in its own store.
Where to read it
The bulletin is Van's document and is not reproduced here. Van's asks owners to read all of it. It is on Van's service information page, with its change log: the initial release is dated March 20, 2026.
Sources
- Van's Aircraft, SB-00079, Emergency Egress Hammer. Read October 11, 2026.
- Photo: a Van's RV-6 with slider canopy by Tspooncl65, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.