Service difficulty report · Skin · Piper PA31350

Difficulty date
July 25, 2011
Submitted
September 9, 2011
Operation
Air carrier
Make and model
Piper PA31350
Aircraft time
14,244 hours
Engine
Lyc LTIO540J2BD
Propeller
Hartzl HCE3YR2A
Part
Skin
Part number
447400203
Condition
Buckled
Location
Wing
Part time
14,421 hours
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 INSP, MX FOUND LT & RT WING SKIN BUCKLED BETWEEN ENGINE NACELLE AND FUSELAGE & LIFTED AT ONE POINT AT MAIN SPAR ATTACHMENT (LIFTED & BUCKLED APPROX. .1250" BETWEEN RIVETS). FURTHER INSP FOUND BUCKLING OF THE MAIN WING SPAR WEBS IN THE LT & RT OTBD WHEEL WELL AREAS. (PILOTS HAD REPORTED A FLIGHT EXPERIENCING SEVERE WIND SHEAR A FEW DAYS EARLIER.) DAMAGE SUSPECTED DUE TO OVER-STRESSING OF THE WINGS DUE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE. AWAITING EXAMINATION & EVALUATION BY DAR AS THERE IS LITTLE OR NO SUPPORT FROM MFG ON THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE.

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