By nature of the design, Light Sport Aircraft have proven more susceptible to landing gear prangs than heavier airframes and the Van's RV12 ELSA is no different. That's why Van's Aircraft has developed SB00040—a field modification for earlier RV12 kits that stiffens up the landing gear beam and associated bulkhead structure (the RV12 iS airframe already has the beefedup landing gear beam).

In this exclusive EAA166 build series, chapter members Rick Montero and Larry Anglisano take a close look at the mod and offer tips on how to make it go more smoothly.