Service difficulty report · Bracket · Gulstm G1159B

Difficulty date
May 29, 2001
Submitted
June 26, 2001
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N344AA
Make and model
Gulstm G1159B
Aircraft serial
123
Part
Bracket
Condition
Fractured
Location
Rudder
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

DURING A ROUTINE SCHEDULED INSPECTION, A MECHANIC NOTED THE RUDDER GUST LOCK HOOK SUPPORTING STRUCTURE WAS FRACTURED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND THREE PIECES THAT MAKE UP THE 1159C20509 ASSEMBLY (2 EA 115920509-13 ANGLES AND 1 EA 1159C20509-35 ANGLE) WERE FRACTURED. SINCE THE GUST LOCK WAS STILL FUNCTIONAL THE OPERATOR WASN'T AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE IT CANT BE DETERMINED WHEN OR HOW THE DEFECT OCCURRED. MOST LIKELY THE RUDDER GUST LOCK WAS OVERSTRESSED AT SOME POINT EITHER BY USE USING HYDRAULIC SYSTEM POWER OR SOME LARGE, EXTERNAL FORCE. (WIND). NEW PARTS WERE PROCURED AND INSTALLED AND THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO SERVICE.