Service difficulty report · Fitting · Piper PA60600

Difficulty date
July 17, 2000
Submitted
August 4, 2000
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA60600
Aircraft time
3,930 hours
Engine
Lyc IO540K1J5
Part
Fitting
Part number
220015001
Condition
Cracked
Location
Fitting
Part time
3,981 hours
Component
Vert Stabilizer · Piper · 220000999
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

(CAN) AN A INSPECTION WAS BEING ACCOMPLISHED ON THE AIRCRAFT. DURING THIS INSPECTION, A CRACK WAS FOUND ON THE AFT VERTICAL STABILIZER ATTACH FITTING. THE CRACK WAS CONFIRMED USING EDDY CURRENT INSPECTION METHOD. AFTER THE FITTING WAS REMOVED FROM THE STABILIZER A FURTHER EDDY CURRENT INSPECTION INDICATED A TOTAL OF 5 DIFFERENT CRACKS IN THE FITTING. T HE CRACKS ALL EXTEND GRAIN-WISE BETWEEN FASTENER HOLES ON BOTH FLANGES OF THE FITTING. THE FITTING WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW FITTING. CONAIR WILL BE CONDUCTING A FLEET CAMPAIGN TO INSPECT THE AFT VERTICAL STABILIZER ATTACH FITTING TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM AND RECTIFY (I.E. REPLACE) DEFECTIVE FITTINGS.