Service difficulty report · Spar · Piper PA31

Difficulty date
May 16, 2013
Submitted
September 14, 2015
Operation
General aviation
Make and model
Piper PA31
Aircraft time
16,171 hours
Engine
Lyc TIO540A2B
System (JASC)
5711 · Wing Spar
Part
Spar
Part number
4042000
Condition
Cracked
Location
Wing
Part time
16,177 hours
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) SEVERAL SMALL CRACKS (<1/2") AND ONE LARGE (1.5" APPROX) CRACK FOUND IN MAIN SPAR WEB. CRACKS ORIGINATE FROM RIVETS IN SPAR WEB AND SOME EXTEND TO BEHIND LOWER SPAR CAP. TWO BOLTS IN SPAR WEB JOINT FOUND SHEARED. AIRCRAFT REMOVED FROM SERVICE. OTHER AIRCRAFT IN FLEET OF THIS TYPE INSPECTED, NO CRACK FOUND, BUT ONE AIRCRAFT HAD TWO WEB JOIN BOLTS BROKEN. ADDITIONAL 1000 HOUR INSPECTION ITEM ADDED TO MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FOR DETAILED INSPECTION OF AREA.

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