Service difficulty report · Spar · Piper PA39

Difficulty date
February 18, 2000
Submitted
May 15, 2000
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N8898Y
Make and model
Piper PA39
Aircraft serial
3933
System (JASC)
5711 · Wing Spar
Part
Spar
Condition
Cracked
Location
Rt Wing
Part time
3,376 hours
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
E
Precautionary procedure
O

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

PILOT REPORTED VIBRATION FELT IN THE ACFT AND RT WING TIP TANK TRAILING END COULD BE SEEN ''FLUTTERING'' APPROX 1 INCH IN-FLIGHT. INSP FOUND A CRACK EXTENDING THROUGH THE LOWER SPAR CAP AND UP APPROX 1 INCH INTO FACE OF THE AFT WING SPAR AT STA 132. SEVERAL SOLID RIVETS ATTACHING UPPER WING SKIN TO THE AFT SPAR AND SOLID RIVETS ATTACHING THE UPPER WING SKIN TO AFT SPAR AND RIB AROUND STA 132 HAD BEEN REPLACED BY ''CHERRY TYPE'' RIVETS AT ONE TIME INDICATING THERE MAY HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS IN THAT AREA BEFORE. ALSO, RT MAIN GEAR REPLACED AND AFT TAIL BULKHEAD REPAIRED DUE TO A HARD LANDING 10-98. REPAIRS TO DAMAGED WING SPAR WERE MADE USING DER APPROVED DATA.

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