Service difficulty report · Spar · Piper PA44180

Difficulty date
December 5, 2011
Submitted
June 11, 2014
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N7701A
Make and model
Piper PA44180
Aircraft serial
4496089
Aircraft time
3,480 hours
Engine
Lyc O360E1A6D
Engine time
3,879 hours
System (JASC)
5711 · Wing Spar
Part
Spar
Part number
96152000
Condition
Corroded
Location
Lt Wing
Part time
3,480 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

LT WING STA 56.0, UPPER OTBD QUADRANT OF AN ELECTRICAL WIRE PASSING THROUGH HOLE IN THE WING SPAR WEB WAS FOUND CORRODED. PASS THROUGH HOLE, WHICH IS IN THE LANDING GEAR WHEEL WELL AREA, HAD A CATEPILLAR GROMMET INSTALLED TO PREVENT THE WIRES FROM CHAFING. THE GROMMET WAS REMOVED TO FACILITATE CORROSION DETECTION. AFTER REMOVING THE CORROSION, THE SERVICES OF A DESIGNATED ENGINEERING REP WAS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A REPAIR PROCEDURE IN ORDER TO RETURN THE ACFT TO SERVICE. THE CORROSION STARTED AT THE EDGE OF THE HOLE AND PROGRESSED INSIDE THE METAL.

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