diff --git a/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArray.T/Factory/Factory.Constructor.Private.cs b/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArray.T/Factory/Factory.Constructor.Private.cs
index 2a49e93..cd27ca4 100644
--- a/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArray.T/Factory/Factory.Constructor.Private.cs
+++ b/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArray.T/Factory/Factory.Constructor.Private.cs
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ private FlatArray(T[] items, int _)
     // the caller MUST ensure the length is GREATER than zero
     //
     [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
-    internal FlatArray(int length, T[] items)
+    private FlatArray(int length, T[] items)
     {
         Debug.Assert(items is not null);
         Debug.Assert(length > 0 && length <= items.Length);
diff --git a/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArray.T/Factory/Factory.CreateOrDefault.Internal.cs b/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArray.T/Factory/Factory.CreateOrDefault.Internal.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0774da2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArray.T/Factory/Factory.CreateOrDefault.Internal.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
+
+namespace System;
+
+partial struct FlatArray<T>
+{
+    // Initializes an instance without creation of a defensive copy
+    // When the input array is empty, the default is returned
+    [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
+    internal static FlatArray<T> InternalCreateOrDefault(T[] items)
+    {
+        Debug.Assert(items is not null);
+
+        if (items.Length == default)
+        {
+            return default;
+        }
+
+        return new(items, default);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArray.csproj b/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArray.csproj
index 4ccdb88..8c9ad15 100644
--- a/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArray.csproj
+++ b/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArray.csproj
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
     <Description>PrimeFuncPack Core.FlatArray is a core library for .NET consisting of immutable FlatArray targeted for use in functional programming.</Description>
     <RootNamespace>System</RootNamespace>
     <AssemblyName>PrimeFuncPack.Core.FlatArray</AssemblyName>
-    <Version>1.6.0-preview.1</Version>
+    <Version>1.6.0-rc.1</Version>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
diff --git a/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArrayExtensions/SplitToFlatArray/SplitToFlatArray.Char.cs b/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArrayExtensions/SplitToFlatArray/SplitToFlatArray.Char.cs
index 84ff0ad..7b23204 100644
--- a/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArrayExtensions/SplitToFlatArray/SplitToFlatArray.Char.cs
+++ b/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArrayExtensions/SplitToFlatArray/SplitToFlatArray.Char.cs
@@ -11,12 +11,8 @@ public static FlatArray<string> SplitToFlatArray(
         }
 
         var array = source.Split(separator, options);
-        if (array.Length is 0)
-        {
-            return default;
-        }
 
-        return new(array.Length, array);
+        return FlatArray<string>.InternalCreateOrDefault(array);
     }
 
     public static FlatArray<string> SplitToFlatArray(
@@ -28,11 +24,7 @@ public static FlatArray<string> SplitToFlatArray(
         }
 
         var array = source.Split(separator, count, options);
-        if (array.Length is 0)
-        {
-            return default;
-        }
 
-        return new(array.Length, array);
+        return FlatArray<string>.InternalCreateOrDefault(array);
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArrayExtensions/SplitToFlatArray/SplitToFlatArray.CharArray.cs b/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArrayExtensions/SplitToFlatArray/SplitToFlatArray.CharArray.cs
index 9cd3a36..2ef488a 100644
--- a/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArrayExtensions/SplitToFlatArray/SplitToFlatArray.CharArray.cs
+++ b/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArrayExtensions/SplitToFlatArray/SplitToFlatArray.CharArray.cs
@@ -11,12 +11,8 @@ public static FlatArray<string> SplitToFlatArray(
         }
 
         var array = source.Split(separators, options);
-        if (array.Length is 0)
-        {
-            return default;
-        }
 
-        return new(array.Length, array);
+        return FlatArray<string>.InternalCreateOrDefault(array);
     }
 
     public static FlatArray<string> SplitToFlatArray(
@@ -28,11 +24,7 @@ public static FlatArray<string> SplitToFlatArray(
         }
 
         var array = source.Split(separators, count, options);
-        if (array.Length is 0)
-        {
-            return default;
-        }
 
-        return new(array.Length, array);
+        return FlatArray<string>.InternalCreateOrDefault(array);
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArrayExtensions/SplitToFlatArray/SplitToFlatArray.String.cs b/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArrayExtensions/SplitToFlatArray/SplitToFlatArray.String.cs
index 8898dac..c75d21e 100644
--- a/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArrayExtensions/SplitToFlatArray/SplitToFlatArray.String.cs
+++ b/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArrayExtensions/SplitToFlatArray/SplitToFlatArray.String.cs
@@ -11,12 +11,8 @@ public static FlatArray<string> SplitToFlatArray(
         }
 
         var array = source.Split(separator, options);
-        if (array.Length is 0)
-        {
-            return default;
-        }
 
-        return new(array.Length, array);
+        return FlatArray<string>.InternalCreateOrDefault(array);
     }
 
     public static FlatArray<string> SplitToFlatArray(
@@ -28,11 +24,7 @@ public static FlatArray<string> SplitToFlatArray(
         }
 
         var array = source.Split(separator, count, options);
-        if (array.Length is 0)
-        {
-            return default;
-        }
 
-        return new(array.Length, array);
+        return FlatArray<string>.InternalCreateOrDefault(array);
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArrayExtensions/SplitToFlatArray/SplitToFlatArray.StringArray.cs b/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArrayExtensions/SplitToFlatArray/SplitToFlatArray.StringArray.cs
index c633ea0..9e92432 100644
--- a/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArrayExtensions/SplitToFlatArray/SplitToFlatArray.StringArray.cs
+++ b/src/flatcollections-array/FlatArray/FlatArrayExtensions/SplitToFlatArray/SplitToFlatArray.StringArray.cs
@@ -11,12 +11,8 @@ public static FlatArray<string> SplitToFlatArray(
         }
 
         var array = source.Split(separators, options);
-        if (array.Length is 0)
-        {
-            return default;
-        }
 
-        return new(array.Length, array);
+        return FlatArray<string>.InternalCreateOrDefault(array);
     }
 
     public static FlatArray<string> SplitToFlatArray(
@@ -28,11 +24,7 @@ public static FlatArray<string> SplitToFlatArray(
         }
 
         var array = source.Split(separators, count, options);
-        if (array.Length is 0)
-        {
-            return default;
-        }
 
-        return new(array.Length, array);
+        return FlatArray<string>.InternalCreateOrDefault(array);
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/flatcollections/FlatCollections/FlatCollections.csproj b/src/flatcollections/FlatCollections/FlatCollections.csproj
index 3b4cb68..235bc8e 100644
--- a/src/flatcollections/FlatCollections/FlatCollections.csproj
+++ b/src/flatcollections/FlatCollections/FlatCollections.csproj
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
     <Description>PrimeFuncPack Core.FlatCollections is a set of immutable Flat collections for .NET designed for developing business applications based on functional programming.</Description>
     <RootNamespace>System</RootNamespace>
     <AssemblyName>PrimeFuncPack.Core.FlatCollections</AssemblyName>
-    <Version>1.6.0-preview.1</Version>
+    <Version>1.6.0-rc.1</Version>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>