# SDR B4VR202028027

- Type: Service difficulty report (as reported; unverified)
- Difficulty date: October 15, 2020
- Submitted: October 19, 2020
- Operation: General aviation
- Aircraft: [N28027](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N28027), registered now
- Make and model: Piper PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (OpenAirDocs)
- Aircraft serial: 2881350
- Aircraft time: 223 hours
- Engine: Lyc IO360B4A
- Engine time: 223 hours
- Propeller: Snsnch 76EM8
- System (JASC): [5313 · Fuselage Main, Longeron/Stringer](https://openairdocs.org/jasc/5313)
- Part: Stringer
- Condition: Cracked
- Stage of operation: IN
- How discovered: V
- Nature of condition: O
- Precautionary procedure: K
- FAA source: FAA Service Difficulty Reporting System (https://sdrs.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/sdr/B4VR202028027

## Discrepancy

DURING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, OUR TECHNICIANS NOTICED SMALL CRACKS ON MANY OF THE
AIRCRAFT’S STRINGERS.  THEY APPEAR ON THE STRINGERS WITH DIMPLING ON THEM.  DIMPLING WAS
DONE TO ACCOMMODATE FLUSH RIVETS ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE AIRCRAFT SKIN.  THE CRACKS ARE
BELIEVED TO BE CAUSED AT MANUFACTURING.  PIPER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.  THE CRACKED STRINGERS
WERE FOUND IN ALL AREAS OF THE WINGS (INBOARD AND OUTBOARD) AND IN THE FUSELAGE TAIL
SECTION.  ONLY ISSUES WE HAVE SEEN ARE WITH -3 RIVETS.  IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THERE ARE MORE
CRACKED DIMPLED STRINGERS THROUGHOUT THE FUSELAGE, BUT AT THIS TIME CAE HAS STOPPED WORK
ON THE AFFECTED AIRCRAFT AWAITING RESPONSES FROM PIPER.

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