Service difficulty report · Door · Piper PA42

Difficulty date
July 2, 2003
Submitted
July 14, 2003
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA42
Aircraft time
11,723 hours
Engine
Pwa PT6A41
System (JASC)
5200 · Doors
Part
Door
Condition
Buckled
Location
Wing Locker
Part time
12,400 hours
Stage of operation
DE
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
D
Precautionary procedure
O

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

(CAN) ON DESCENT AT 8500 FT, LT WING LOCKER DOOR BUCKLED UP IN MIDDLE APPROX 4-5 INCHES, THEN CAME LOOSE FROM DOOR PIN AND POPPED OPEN & STARTED FLAPPING. AIRCRAFT SPEED WAS REDUCED TO 140 KTS & AIRCRAFT LANDING WAS UNEVENTFUL. DETERMINED THAT WING LOCKER WAS PRESSURIZING IN FLT & WAS INCREASED ON THE DESCENT BY SPEED. IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE WERE SOME HOLES IN THE FORWARD END OF LOCKER & SEALEANT ON THE LOCKER SKIN SEAMES HAD DETERIORATED AND FALLEN OUT ALLOWING HIGH PRESSURE AIR FROM THE FLAP WELL TO ENTER THE LOCKER AREA. HOLES WERE PLUGGED & SEAMS RESEALED AND THE LOCKER WAS PRESSURE CHECKED FOR LEAKAGE AND FOUND SERVICEABLE.

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