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Asking for help being more productive than brooding, I'm just going to admit it.
When putting the jury strut attach bracket on the front bracket, I was distracted while tightening the bolt. A few turns too many, and I felt the wood "crunch" underhand.
After pouring cinders of shame on my head, I called the IA over. He said that ordinarily he'd reject the entire spar out of hand, as I broke the grain structure - but that there may be a way to save it. He didn't know; he'd have to research.
Then he told me to disassemble half the wing, slide the front spar out, and put my left front spar in - and continue on the wing. I did so with the help of a few friends, and before we started, I tried to sufficiently impress on my friends that the spars must be completely undamaged. I held one end while we carefully moved the ribs a few inches at a time. When finished, I got down to the other end of the wing, only to see a deep scratch from the wing root to the fifth main rib in, where I must not have flattened the metal from a pulled brad sufficiently. I did not scream. Very carefully, I said to my friend, "Why didn't you tell me it was scratching?" I put my hand on the spar, and noted a few gouges on top, where he'd yanked a rib when it stuck. I did not strangle him.
"Oh, it's just a scratch. Why? Is that a problem?"
I did not kill him. Barely. But I did seriously consider crying, which I hate doing. Then I went home, slept on it, called in the IA, who says he doesn't know if it's salvageable or not, and looked through 43.13 which is bloody useless on acceptable damage for spars. Or I just don't know enough to figure it out.
Aside from suggesting good places to bury a body, what I would very much appreciate right now are any references on how to determine acceptable damage. Because I refuse to give up; she will fly again.
Thank you.
When putting the jury strut attach bracket on the front bracket, I was distracted while tightening the bolt. A few turns too many, and I felt the wood "crunch" underhand.
After pouring cinders of shame on my head, I called the IA over. He said that ordinarily he'd reject the entire spar out of hand, as I broke the grain structure - but that there may be a way to save it. He didn't know; he'd have to research.
Then he told me to disassemble half the wing, slide the front spar out, and put my left front spar in - and continue on the wing. I did so with the help of a few friends, and before we started, I tried to sufficiently impress on my friends that the spars must be completely undamaged. I held one end while we carefully moved the ribs a few inches at a time. When finished, I got down to the other end of the wing, only to see a deep scratch from the wing root to the fifth main rib in, where I must not have flattened the metal from a pulled brad sufficiently. I did not scream. Very carefully, I said to my friend, "Why didn't you tell me it was scratching?" I put my hand on the spar, and noted a few gouges on top, where he'd yanked a rib when it stuck. I did not strangle him.
"Oh, it's just a scratch. Why? Is that a problem?"
I did not kill him. Barely. But I did seriously consider crying, which I hate doing. Then I went home, slept on it, called in the IA, who says he doesn't know if it's salvageable or not, and looked through 43.13 which is bloody useless on acceptable damage for spars. Or I just don't know enough to figure it out.
Aside from suggesting good places to bury a body, what I would very much appreciate right now are any references on how to determine acceptable damage. Because I refuse to give up; she will fly again.
Thank you.
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As a matter of fact he/she should be removed from the gene pool!!!! 
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