RV-12 Wing Removal Safety

[Pilot-To-Be]

My school got two factory built RV12’s. I only have a few hours in them, but I’m curious how easy/difficult it is to remove the wings. It’s the only thing that is keeping me on edge a little bit about teaching in them and doing maneuvers with them. I haven’t been able to find much data of how refined the system is, but I assume it’s rugged enough that it can’t come loose during flight?

Anyone familiar with it who can shed some light would be appreciated.

Thx!

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

Based on the video, it looks a lot like the attach methods used on lots and lots of sailplanes.

 

[RyanB]

@wanttaja

 

[DaleB]

There's no way in HELL they're coming loose in flight.

Take a look behind the seats. The spars carry all the way through the fuselage; the left wing spar extends to the right side of the fuselage and vice versa. They're held in place by large steel pins (roughly 2" diameter, I believe) on both sides, and there's an indication that will tell you if either one is not locked securely in place. I don't know about the E-LSA with a newer EFIS, but the older one I fly has a big red button that lights up if the spar pins aren't both locked in place, and you can't crank the engine if it's lit.

Even if the pins were not locked in place, they're not going anywhere without some persuasion. Removing wing pins is not a low-effort affair. I had similar reservations about the RV-12, right up until the first time I took a look at the wing attachment and what it takes to get them loose. Now I have pretty much zero worry about them.

 

[idahoflier]

What he said... ----------------------^^^^^^^^

 

[Baillie12]

Technically, they are 1.5" diameter tubular pins. They both have locking pins and either a proximity interlock switch or a pressure switch interlock. Both must be properly engaged before the "Pin Safe " light is off and normal starter operation is allowed. You can override the starter interlock if needed, while in the air.

 

[wanttaja]

I've got 25 RV-12 accidents in a 2010-2023 database, including both EAB and Light Sport examples. Only one of the accidents involved loss of the wings or any other structural failure. Interesting case (ERA18FA064).

Probable Cause: "The pilot's unsafe maneuvering and exceedance of the airplane's operating limitations, which resulted in an in-flight failure of the left wing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's underlying physiologic or psychiatric disease."

Ron Wanttaja

 

[nauga]

I've got 25 RV-12 accidents in a 2010-2023 database, including both EAB and Light Sport examples. Only one of the accidents involved loss of the wings or any other structural failure. Interesting case (ERA18FA064).

That one is pretty well known in the RV community. The pilot made a few posts on POA and lots of other places. Suffice it to say he is pretty easy to read (in a personality sense, not necessarily a legibility sense) and the end result was not much of a surprise to anyone that was aware of him. As you addressed with the probably cause quote, that end result should in no way reflect poorly on the airplane.

Nauga,
who can't avoid the inevitable