MTD-07-2026 Issue 3 - Vans Horizontal Stabiliser Forward Attach Bolt Position

MTD-07-2026 Issue 3 &

Van’s SB-00134 Revision 2.2

LAA has now issued MTD-07-2026 Issue 3 to reflect and approve the requirements contained within the revised service bulletin in their entirety, and to include a revised table in Appendix A which, used in conjunction with Van’s narrative and flowchart, helps clarify the requirements, as well as providing a means of recording the results.

Please note, whilst compliance with Issue 1 of the MTD meant that compliance with Issue 2 was automatically achieved, the same is not true of Issue 3, since it introduces three extra requirements not present in the previous issues. These are:

• a requirement to contact Vans and the LAA if any of the four bolts concerned are anything but AN3 size

• a requirement to measure the extent of the relief notch in the HS-714 component to ensure that it is not too long

• a requirement to check that the relief notch in HS-714 does not contain any stress raisers.

This means that it is mandatory to check your aircraft against Issue 3 of the MTD, even if it has already been shown compliant with issues 1 or 2.

Next Steps

 1.    Have the aircraft inspected in accordance with MTD-07-2026 Issue 3 and SB-00134 Revision 2.2. If you have already made measurements following previous issues of the MTD, you should be able to copy them across to the table in Appendix A on the MTD at Issue 3.

2.    Hopefully, your aircraft will be found to be free from cracks and compliant with the requirements of the MTD at Issue 3, either as currently configured or by following any corrective actions specified in the MTD under the supervision of your Inspector.

3.    A suitable logbook entry, signed by your Inspector, will then enable the aircraft to be returned to flight.  The logbook entry must describe the completion of the procedures required by the MTD at Issue 3, and where applicable, the results of any special inspections carried out, and amendments to the aircraft maintenance programme.

4.    If, in order to comply with MTD-07-2026 at Issue 3, you need to instigate repetitive inspections or fit washer plates, please provide LAA Engineering with copies of:

• The signed logbook entry, including a description of carrying out the checks IAW the MTD Issue 3 and the results of any special inspections carried out as described in the MTD-07-2026 and the associated SB-00134 Revision 2.2.

• The completed Appendix A checklist from MTD-07-2026 Issue 3; and

• Where applicable, the revised maintenance schedule. 

5.    If, on the other hand, your Inspector determines that the aircraft does not comply with the requirements of MTD-07-2026 Issue 3, please contact us so that we can work with you and Van's Aircraft to identify a suitable solution. Please include a copy of the completed Appendix A checklist and, if not already provided, photographs of the relevant areas. In this case, the aircraft must not be flown until a solution is identified, approved by LAA HQ and implemented under your Inspector’s guidance.

We are hopeful that, following the process outlined above and compliance with the new requirements contained within MTD-07-2026 Issue 3, your aircraft can either remain in service uninterrupted or otherwise, be promptly returned to flight.

Please refer to the LAA MTD-07-2026 Issue 3, together with Van’s SB-00134 Revision 2.2, for full inspection guidance, identification requirements and compliance actions below: