What was found
HANDLE CRACKED AND SNAPPED OFF RENDERING THE FLAPS UNUSABLE. THIS OCCURRED AFTER 13 YEARS OF REGULAR USAGE. THE CAUSE WAS PROBABLY RELATED TO DESIGNS OF THE HANDLE WHICH LACKED SUFFICIENT REINFORCEMENT AT THE FULCRUM OF THE HANDLE WHICH MADE THE HANDLE VULNERABLE TO THE STRESS OF REGULAR USE. THE AIRPLANE HAS BEEN IN REGULAR USE SINCE IT WAS BUILT IN 2003 WITHOUT ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT. ADDITIONALLY, BUT UNRELATED, THE ORIGINAL PAINT SYSTEM APPLIED TO THE PLANE BY THE MFG WAS DEFECTIVE FROM ITS INCEPTION. THE MFG REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE DEFECTIVE PAINT NECESSITATED RECOVERING AND PAINTING OF THE ACFT IN 2013.