CEN23LA136

The student pilot reported that during the preflight inspection of his airplane, he discovered substantial damage to the left wing. A follow-on inspection later the same day revealed additional damage to the left main landing gear tire rim. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and found additional damage to the left aileron and left elevator. Abrasion and asphalt marks on the underside of the wing tip and elevator appeared consistent with both having struck the ground. The inspector examined the ramp and runway for debris but found none. The top skin of the left wing near the tip was buckled upward. No other damage with the airplane was found. The student pilot reported that he had last flown the airplane 17 days prior to his intended flight and that when he checked the tie-down chains two days before his intended flight because of an impending storm, everything with the airplane looked okay. He surmised to the FAA inspector that maybe a fuel truck impacted the parked airplane. The damage observed was consistent with the airplane having been operated; however, based on the available information, the damage could not be conclusively associated with a specific ground operation or flight.