SDR 58392816R

Service difficulty report · Rib · Piper PA28R200

Difficulty date
March 19, 2001
Submitted
March 29, 2001
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N2816R
Make and model
Piper PA28R200
Aircraft serial
28R35297
Part
Rib
Condition
Cracked
Location
Lt Wing
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

INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT IN MAINT HANGAR REVEALED TWO INCH CRACK ON LT WING AT APPROX WS 49.25, AROUND SINGLE RIVET, SKIN HAD BULGED AROUND RIVET AND CRACKED FORE AND AFT. INSPECTION IN WHEEL WELL SHOWED THAT RIVETS ATTACHING FLANGE TO FALSE REAR SPAR AND RIB TO FALSE REAR SPAR HAD SHEARED, HEADS GONE, SOME PORTION OF RIVETS LEFT, LEAVING NO STRENGTH BELOW AREA OF SKIN. INSPECTION INSIDE INSPECTION PANEL IMMEDIATELY AFT OF THAT AREA REVEALED CRACKED RIB AT JOIN WITH FALSE REAR SPAR. CLOSE INSPECTION SHOWS EVIDENCE THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE SOME TIME AGO WHICH HAD BEEN WORKING ITSELF DURING FLIGHT OPS (ALUM. DUST AROUND FAILURE AND SEAMS, DIRT AND GREASE AT PLACES WHERE RIVET HEADS WERE GONE).

More about the Piper PA-28R-200