Hangar Debrief
An email newsletter for builders, pilots and maintainers of experimental, light-sport and general aviation aircraft.
3 articles tagged Inspection
Upgrade & Maintain
FAA SAIB 2026-10R1: restraint labels, the 3,000-pound rating and the shoulder harness Y-junction
FAA SAIB 2026-10R1 recommends that owners check the label on every seat belt and shoulder harness for TSO-C114 or TSO-C22g, or a rated strength of 3,000 pounds or more, and replace any that falls short or has no readable label. The NTSB has found restraint failures in at least 16 general aviation accidents, many at the stitching of the shoulder harness Y-junction.
26 Oct 2026
Directives & Bulletins
Van's SB-00134: horizontal stabilizer forward attach bolt position on the RV-4, -6, -7 and -8
Van's Aircraft Service Bulletin SB-00134 asks owners of the RV-4, RV-6/6A, RV-7/7A and RV-8/8A to check where the bolts that hold the horizontal stabilizer's forward spar to the fuselage were drilled, within 10 flying hours or 90 days of August 22, 2026, whichever comes first. Some airplanes were built with the holes well away from the plans location. Revision 2.2 is dated September 18, 2026.
26 Oct 2026
Tips & Tools
AC 43.13-1B, paragraphs 5-15 to 5-18: visual inspection with a flashlight, a mirror and a magnifier
The FAA's AC 43.13-1B says about 80 percent of nondestructive inspection is done by eye, and calls the eye, a mirror and a flashlight a critical part of it. To find a surface crack, it says to hold the light at 5 to 45 degrees to the surface, keep the eyes above the reflected beam, confirm with a 10-power magnifier, and record every discrepancy.
26 Oct 2026