Service difficulty report · Rib · Piper PA44180

Difficulty date
April 15, 2010
Submitted
April 23, 2010
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N573ER
Make and model
Piper PA44180
Aircraft serial
4496149
Engine
Lyc O360*
Part
Rib
Part number
38210001
Condition
Cracked
Location
Wing
Part time
6,185 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

(BF8R) (W/O NR: 01000553) THE DISCREPANCY WAS FOUND DURING (1) OF OUR PROGRESSIVE INSPECTIONS. IN THE LT AND RT WING GEAR WELL AREA, THE WING RIB BEHIND EACH MAIN GEAR STRUT AT THE OPEN ACCESS HOLE IN THE RIB THERE ARE 4 CRACKS PROPAGATING FROM THE HOLE OUTWARD IN VARYING LENGTHS UP 1.25 INCHES. NO APPARENT DAMAGE WAS FOUND ON THE ACFT TO SUGGEST ANY KIND OF OVERSTRESS OF THE WINGS OR AIRFRAME. THIS ACFT IS USED FOR FLIGHT TRAINING AND DOES SEE MORE THAN NORMAL TAKEOFFS/LANDINGS, SUSPECT CRACKS POSSIBLY CAUSED BY MULTIPLE HARD LANDINGS OVER THE YEARS. SUGGEST MFG MIGHT LOOK INTO SOME KIND OF STRENGTHENING PLATE FOR THE RIB IF THIS IS HAPPENING WITH OTHER ACFT.

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