SDR 2014FA0000716

Service difficulty report · Skin · Let L23SUPERBLAN

Difficulty date: December 19, 2014
Submitted: December 19, 2014
Operation: General aviation
Aircraft: N258BA
Make and model: Let L23SUPERBLAN
Aircraft serial: 938018
Aircraft time: 1,300 hours, 2,600 cycles
System (JASC): 5330 · Fuselage Main, Plate/Skin
Part: Skin
Condition: Cracked
Location: Fuselage
Part time: 1,300 hours, 2,600 cycles
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

AFTER LANDING, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTION EXTENSION LINKAGES SEEMED LOOSE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED A SKIN CRACK HAD DEVELOPED IN FLOOR AREA NR 3 DIRECTLY BENEATH PIVOT ASSY, PN 8X56 333.1 AND THAT THE PIVOT ASSY COULD BE ROCKED FORE AND AFT WITH LIGHT HAND PRESSURE. CLOSER INVESTIGATION REVEALED 4 SHEARED LATERAL RIVETS THAT ATTACHED PIVOT PN 8X56 333.1 TO FUSELAGE SIDE. LEFT UNNOTICED, THIS COULD LEAD TO INADVERTENT RETRACTION OF MLG UPON LANDING AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL.