Service difficulty report · Spar · Piper PA44180

Difficulty date
November 10, 2009
Submitted
February 16, 2010
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N7702B
Make and model
Piper PA44180
Aircraft serial
4496090
Aircraft time
2,512 hours
Engine
Lyc O360*
Engine time
2,784 hours
Propeller
Hartzl HCC2YR2
System (JASC)
5711 · Wing Spar
Part
Spar
Part number
86152001
Condition
Corroded
Location
Zone 600
Part time
2,512 hours
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
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

CORROSION, VISUALLY APPEARED TO BE INTERGRANULAR TURNING TO EXFOLIATION, FOUND EXPLODING OUT OF THE LOWER PORTION OF THE VERTICAL SURFACE OF THE RT WING SPAR WEB, PN 86152-001, AT APPROX WING STA 56.0. THE AREA IS JUST OTBD OF THE LANDING GEAR TRUSS BRACKET, PN 95643-009. THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL REMOVED, TO ASSURE COMPLETE CORROSION REMOVAL, REQUIRED THE SERVICES OF A DESIGNATED ENGINEERING REPRESENTATIVE (DER) TO PROVIDE SUBSTANTIATION FOR THE REPAIR, AND THE SUBMITTAL OF AN FAA FORM 337. THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF THIS CORROSION INSINUATES THAT IT STARTED WITHIN THE METAL AND NOT THROUGH EXTERNAL INFLUENCE.

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