# SDR FQAR20200514002

- Type: Service difficulty report (as reported; unverified)
- Difficulty date: May 14, 2020
- Submitted: May 14, 2020
- Operation: General aviation
- Aircraft: [N317PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N317PA), registered now
- Make and model: Piper PA-44-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Aircraft serial: 4496133
- Aircraft time: 9,921 hours
- System (JASC): [5312 · Fuselage Main, Bulkhead](https://openairdocs.org/jasc/5312)
- Part: Bulkhead
- Part number: 86462002
- Condition: Cracked
- Location: Fuselage
- Part time: 2,150 hours
- Stage of operation: IN
- How discovered: V
- Nature of condition: O
- Precautionary procedure: K
- FAA source: FAA Service Difficulty Reporting System (https://sdrs.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/sdr/FQAR20200514002

## Discrepancy

DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION THE 247 BULKHEAD WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED. THIS BULKHEAD IS THE ATTACHMENT POINT FOR THE FOREWARD END OF THE VERTICAL FIN, THIS PART WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW BULKHEAD 2150 HRS AGO, THIS STATION OPERATES A FLEET OF 16 PA-44-180S, ALL OF THE SAME SERIAL NUMBER RANGE, PURCHASED NEW FOR FLIGHT TRAINING, AND ALL OF THOSE WERE FOUND TO HAVE CRACKS IN THE SAME BULKHEAD DURING THE 2015-2016 TIME FRAME AT AN AVERAGE OF 7-9000 HRS. THE CRACKS OCCURE ON THE FWD SIDE DOUBLER UPPER RIVET ROW OUTBOARD RIVET. THE BULKHEAD EXHIBTS POOR WORKMANSHIP WITH THE -5 RIVETS BEING OVER DRIVEN WITH SIGNS OF RIVETS CREATING DIVITS IN THE DOUBLER, WHICH IS WHERE THE CRACKS ORIGINATE FROM. THE ORIGINAL BULKHEAD SHOWED THE SAME QUALITY OF WORK.

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