Vector

Rear spar failure

A small number of Vector aircraft have suffered in-flight break-up as a result of failure of the rear spars. Unfortunately, the cause of these incidents remains something of a mystery, since post-accident testing has failed to be able to replicate the problem. All that is known is that two or three Vector ultralights suffered in-flight structural failures, and examination of the wreckage disclosed identical compression fractures of the rear spars in the same spot. One of the aircraft was a factory test plane flown by a factory test pilot.

REMEDY

Before closing its doors, Vector provided a beefed up rear spar for all known aircraft. The solution was simply to replace the original spar with the new one. The new spars were double (i.e., a tube within a tube, from the root to just outboard of the outboard compression strut.

IT IS UNSAFE TO FLY ANY VECTOR WHICH HAS NOT HAD APPROPRIATE MODIFICATION!!!!!

Tail wire failure

A small number of early Vectors suffered in flight severing of tail support wires which were cut by the propellor. The design of the Vector has four tail support wires which extend from the rear wing spar to the leading edge of the V-tail assembly. Normally these wires do not interfere with the propellor. However, in turbulant air, or during taxi over rough ground, the wires can vibrate enough to be cut by the prop tip. This not only severs the wire, but often damages the prop tip.

REMEDY

The factory provided four 1/8" diameter elastic cords to attach to the wing spar, which clipped onto the tail wires, keeping them in tension away from the propellor arc.

IT IS UNSAFE TO FLY ANY VECTOR WHICH HAS NOT HAD APPROPRIATE MODIFICATION!!!!!