Service difficulty report · Life Raft · Gulstm GV

Difficulty date
February 23, 2011
Submitted
February 23, 2011
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N527GA
Make and model
Gulstm GV
Aircraft serial
653
System (JASC)
2564 · Life Raft
Part
Life Raft
Part number
1218FAUL3301100
Part serial
12UL00409
Condition
Mismanufactured
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
W
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

AFTER INFLATION DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION OF LIFE RAFT, OBSERVED THE LOWER BOUYANCY TUBE IS CONSIDERABLY SMALLER IN DIAMETER & CIRCUMFERENCE WHEN COMPARED TO UPPER BOUYANCY TUBE. AS A RESULT, THE LOWER TUBE SEAMS (INTERIOR OBSERVATION)ARE BOWED INWARD & FLOOR HAS EXCESSIVE CREASES. EACH OF THE LOWER TUBE CELLS ARE BOWED INWARD FROM STRESS & THE GENERAL CONDITION IS QUESTIONABLE. OUTSIDE CIRCUMFERENCE MEASUREMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS: UPPER TUBE 28' 3", THE LOWER TUBE MEASURES 27'6". UPPER TUBE EXTENDS OUT APPROXIMATELY 2" FURTHER THAN LOWER TUBE ALL THE WAY AROUND. BOUYANCY TUBES ARE SUPPOSSED TO BE IDENTICAL. BOUYANCY TUBES ARE NOT IDENTICAL ON SUBJECT RAFT. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF FSDO-11 AND PHOTOGRAPHS HAVE BEEN EMAILED TO THAT FACILITY.