Service difficulty report · Spar · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
June 24, 2009
Submitted
August 3, 2009
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft time
13,868 hours
Engine
Lyc LTIO540J2BD
Propeller
Hartzl HCE3YR2A
System (JASC)
5711 · Wing Spar
Part
Spar
Condition
Cracked
Location
Wing
Part time
14,402 hours
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
E
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) DURING A 100 HR INSP, (3) CRACKS WERE VISUALLY FOUND IN THE AFT WING SPAR AFT UPPER RADIUS BETWEEN THE LT AND RT IB SEAT TRACKS. ON FURTHER INSP WITH EDDY CURRENT, IT WAS FOUND THAT FWD UPPER RADIUS OF AFT SPAR WAS CRACKED BETWEEN THE LT AND RT IB SEAT TRACKS. TOTAL DAMAGED AREA ON THE FWD AND AFT SIDE OF SPAR IS APPROX 9 INCHES LONG. REPAIR IS BEING DESIGNED BY A DAR AND TO BE COMPLETED.

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