Service difficulty report · Tube · Piper PA28R201

Difficulty date
December 1, 2009
Submitted
January 8, 2010
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N5325U
Make and model
Piper PA28R201
Aircraft serial
2844044
Part
Tube
Part number
63547000
Condition
Cracked
Location
Rudder Horn
Part time
4,742 hours
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

INNER PORTION OF RUDDER HORN TUBE (PN 63547-000) CRACKED AT WELD ASSY (PN 63546-000) ON UNDERSIDE OF WELD BEAD. AREA IN QUESTION EXHIBITED SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE WELD PENETRATION ALONG WITH PROJECTING GLOBULES. PROBABLE CAUSE OF CRACK OCCURRED DUE TO WEAKENING OF METAL FROM IMPROPER WELDING TECHNIQUES. TO PREVENT REOCCURRENCE, THE MFG SHOULD RE-EXAMINE THE HEAT RANGE REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO GAIN PROPER DEPTH OF WELD PENETRATION REQUIRED TO INSURE FISSION OF BASE METAL AND FILLER ROD.

More about the Piper PA-28R-201