Service difficulty report · Wing Root · Boeing B17G

Difficulty date
April 6, 2023
Submitted
April 6, 2023
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N5017N
Make and model
Boeing B17G
Aircraft serial
4485740
Aircraft time
3,100 hours, 3,100 cycles
Engine
Wright R1820*
Propeller
Hamstd 23E50
Part
Wing Root
Condition
Fractured
Location
Zone 500
Part time
3,100 hours, 3,100 cycles
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
E
Nature of condition
Z
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

DURING GROUND PER-FLIGHT INSPECTION FOUND WING GAP FAIRING SCREWS TO BE TORN OUT. WING GAP FAIRINGS WERE REMOVED AND SUBSEQUENT INSPECTIONS FOUND THE SHEAR WEB ON THE LEFT FORWARD SIDE TO BE SEPARATED AROUND THE WELD AREAS. THE AIRCRAFT WING WAS THEN REMOVED FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FORWARD LEFT LOWER TERMINAL WAS FOUND TO BE BROKEN THOUGH THE FIRST BOLT HOLE. ADDITIONAL INSPECTION WAS ACCOMPLISHED INCLUDING NDT USING EDDY CURRENT AND FLUORESCENT PARTICLE INSPECTION. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WERE NOTED: RIGHT LOWER FORWARD TERMINAL WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED A THE FIRST BOLT HOLE, RIGHT UPPER FORWARD SPAR TUBE FOUND CRACK IN THE FACE OF THE SPAR TUBE END. RE-IDENTIFIED EXISTING CRACK IN THE RIGHT LOWER REAR SPAR TUBE FACE. LEFT WING FORWARD UPPER SPAR TUBE HAS SUBSURFACE DEFECT IN THE INNER FACE ABOVE THE BOLT HOLES (HIGH FREQ EDDY CURRENT). LEFT WING FORWARD LOWER HAS DAMAGE ON THE INNER SURFACE CAUSED BY THE BROKEN TERMINAL MOVEMENT. LEFT WING UPPER AFT SPAR TUBE SHOWS TWO CRACKS IN THE FACE OF THE SPAR TUBE END. LEFT WING LOWER REAR SPAR TUBE SHOWS CRACKS IN THE FACE OF THE SPAR TUBE END. REMOVAL OF THE RIGHT AND LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS. OF THE EIGHT SPAR TUBE ATTACH FITTINGS TWO HAD CORROSION BEYOND SERVICEABLE LIMITS.

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