What was found
FOUND THE RUDDER TOP HINGE BOLT SEIZED IN THE HINGE BEARING AND COULD NOT BE FREED. BOTH HINGE ASSEMBLIES (THE RUDDER AND VERTICAL STABILIZER) HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CORROSION WAS SEVERE AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF LUBRICATION.
- Difficulty date
- November 25, 1997
- Submitted
- March 26, 2000
- Operation
- General aviation
- Aircraft
- N272HJ
- Make and model
- Piper PA31310
- Aircraft serial
- 317712055
- System (JASC)
- 5540 · Rudder Structure
- Part
- Hinge
- Part number
- 51108004
- Condition
- Seized
- Location
- Rudder
- Part time
- 3,572 hours
- Stage of operation
- IN
- Nature of condition
- O
- Precautionary procedure
- K
As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.