SECTION 09: Elevator

Before you start:

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CN-00168 Empennage KAI Update: Section 9 is now at Rev 1 (8/18/2026). Download the current Section 9 from Van's before starting — Rev 1 changes the elevator counterweight bolts and how they are secured (see Page 09-21 below). Do not build 09-21 from a Rev 0 printout.
STOP — E-15008-001 mis-punched holes: The elevator counterbalance skin strip (E-15008-001) in early kits (first 20) has an incorrectly punched outboard row of holes with insufficient edge distance (1/8" instead of required 1/4"). STOP before Step 09-20. Van's is shipping corrected replacements at no cost. Workaround: Complete both elevators fully, skipping only pages 09-20 and 09-21.

Build both elevators simultaneously: The KAI shows only the left elevator, but the two sides are symmetrical up to page 09-13. Van's note on 09-02 puts the divergence at the elevator horn, which is attached on 09-14 — not at the skins or bellcranks. Through 09-13 every part is common to both sides and you can batch the steps either way. From 09-14 on the parts are handed: WD-15001-001 horn (left) vs WD-15001-002 (right), E-15502-001 vs -002, E-15503-001 vs -002. The master parts list on 09-02 carries separate -L and -R quantity columns — use it to pick the right part.
Reference AC 43.13 Section 7 for crows foot calculations and torque values.

R0 - Initial release to builders
R1 - See Elevator Counterweight Notice - Elevator counterweights, E-15010-001 updated from Rev 0 to Rev 1. Elevator counterweight bolts changed from AN3-17A to AN3H-12A (shorter, drilled head) on 09-02 and 09-21, and Step 2 on 09-21 replaced "torque and mark with Torque Seal" with "safety wire each bolt together", to be done after painting and balancing. Safety Wire added to the tools list on 09-04 and Torque Seal removed. Note only pages 09-01/02/03/04/21/23 restamped to R1 — the rest of the document still reads Rev 0.

Setting rod end bearing deck heights: The dimension is to the center of a small circle, and parallax alone costs more than the 1/32" the spec allows. Use a jig: scrap with a hole drilled the correct distance from a flat edge, so an AN3 bolt passes through into the rod end; adjust until the bolt sits parallel to the spar web. A printed version is published: RV-15 rod end jig (untested by its author). Source

Install bellcrank stops (Page 09-22) BEFORE installing the bellcranks — slightly easier access.

Recommendation: Tape over rows NOT to be riveted with red electrical tape before starting — easy to rivet the wrong row by mistake.

Inboard elevator rivets (AN470AD3-3 near rib): use thin-nose / no-hole yoke. May need longer piston. Add washers to set short rivets if needed.
- Angle no-hole yoke and squeezer slightly; ensure rivet head is fully pressed down before engaging full squeeze.
- Hand Squeezer might provide additional control.
- For an example of setting the last inboard rivets (thin-nose/no-hole yoke, longer piston, washers to set the short button-heads, and "feathering the piston" on the final rivet), see this post.

Early kits had E15008-001 improperly punched, and were replaced by E15008-001 Rev 1.

Galvanic isolation: Place electrical tape (or other material) between the lead counterweight and aluminum structure before installation.
R1 changed the counterweights and bolts and how they are secured. Rev 0 called for AN3-17A bolts, torqued and witness-marked with a stripe of Torque Seal. Rev 1 calls for AN3H-12A — 5/16" shorter (grip 1-7/16" to 1-1/8"), and with a drilled head — and replaces the torque-seal mark with safety wire, the two bolts wired together. Rev 1 also adds: safety wire only after painting and balancing are complete.
- The counterweight itself also changed. The elevator counterweight E-15010-001 has gone from a Rev 0 to a Rev 1 part, and the two parts are not the same shape or weight. Discussion, with R0 vs R1 photos.
- No safety-wire procedure exists in the manual. Section 5 has no safety-wire section (5.20 covers nut and bolt torques only) and 09-04 adds no reference. Use standard practice: wire the two bolts so that each wire pulls its bolt in the tightening direction. Example Video.