NDI - Wing Spar Plate

[Tim Glubaskas]

We will use this thread for the wing spar plate and NDI Inspection/Results

Link to Eddy Inspection information follows:

Spar Plate Eddy

The Aircraft inspected had their wings supported to relieve some of the load on the splice plate.
Four bolts were then removed (2 in and 2 out) at a time to perform the bolthole inspection.
Once the inspection on these holes was complete, new bolts were inserted and the remaining bolts were taken out, inspected, and new bolts inserted.

Important to note that the outboard most holes had to be inspected from above as access below is difficult.

Results of these inspections follow - we will post more results and comments as we continue on with the fleet

[jmmiller]

NDI Eddy Current Inspection of the Wing Spar Splice Holes has been completed on 5 of our 13 Chieftains with TTAF's ranging from 11,198.9 to 35,327.7 hours time in service.

The 11,198.9 hour aircraft had corrosion in one of the bolt holes that required special attention from Piper Engineering. Since this corrosion was inside the Spar Stack, it has been conjectured that perhaps it was a congenital defect from time of manufacture. This aircraft had spent some time in a coastal environment and that may or may not have been a factor in the creation of the corrosion. Nevertheless, the hole had to be drilled out off center and oversize. This was accomplished in a very effective manner using Piper Engineering's drawings. A drilling jig was fabricated and the hole drilled out without having to go to the maximum size allowed by Piper. Eddy Current re-inspection confirmed all of the corrosion had been removed. Hats off to the guys who performed this repair. A job well done.

The most interesting observation so far is that we also have inspected our highest time aircraft and found an "indication" but after further investigation, there was no conclusive evidence of corrosion or cracking. The Spar Splice Plate was replaced and the aircraft put back into service.

So far so good.

We'll keep you all advised of the results from the remainder of our aircraft.

Joe M Miller
Warbelow's Air Ventures, Inc
Fairbanks, Alaska

[Tim Glubaskas]

Attached is a proposed SAIB for this area - comments due back by November 15th

DRAFT CE-13-xx SAIB PA-31 wing main lower s....pdf (744.46 KB)

Any thoughts out there?


------------------------

The official SAIB is now published - please look here for details:

New Wing Spar SAIB



We will publish results of this inspection in the Wing Section of this board as we accomplish them