Service difficulty report · Structure · Piper PA24250

Difficulty date
November 9, 2009
Submitted
December 1, 2009
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA24250
Aircraft time
4,423 hours
Engine
Lyc O540A1D5
Propeller
Mcauly B3D32C417
Part
Structure
Condition
Cracked
Location
Stabilator
Part time
4,470 hours
Component
Stabilator
Component part number
2039700
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
9
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 INSP WAS CARRIED OUT ON THE STABILATOR HORN DUE TO REPORTS OF CRACKING ON OTHER ACFT. NO CRACKS WERE VISIBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE, AND IT WAS NECESSARY TO REMOVE STABILATOR TORQUE TUBE PN20203-02 FROM HORN IN ORDER TO CHECK FOR CRACKS INSIDE HORN. THIS REQUIRES REMOVAL OF 2 STABILATOR HALVES, AND REMOVAL OF TORQUE TUBE AND HORN ASSY FROM ACFT. CRACKS WERE NOT EASILY VISIBLE, BUT UPON CLOSE EXAMINATION WITH MAGNIFYING GLASS, AND LATER, WITH DYE PENETRANT, A CRACK WAS FOUND RUNNING FROM EACH ATTACH THRU BOLT HOLE TO THE BALANCE TUBE HOLE ON THE FWD SIDE OF THE HORN. IT IS A CAST ALUMINUM PART. OTHER SIMILAR CRACKS HAVE BEEN FOUND ON OTHER ACFT AND HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO STRESS CORROSION CRACKING.

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