Strut Testing - where, who and what cost? (merged)

[Skydivematt]

Anyone who has had their struts tested, please tell us who, where, and what was charged for the entire process.

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Strut Testing

When Terrry Bowden and I went to the NDI lab here in San Antonio the Level III technician stated that if struts were brought in to his shop he could do digital x-ray followed by ultrasound of any suspicious places for under $200.

I hope that helps. I will be interested in any other replies to your thread.

[cpirrmann]

Re: Strut Testing

Was that per strut or for the whole set?

[jmvolpp]

Strut testing in Indianapolis

IDM Inc. in Indianapolis can perform the required wing strut inspections as per the recent AD/SB. If you have any questions or want to schedule a time to get this accomplished please contact Tony @ 317-244-0295 x219.

Mike V.

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Strut Testing

Whole set. All four struts can be x-rayed a one shot when they are off the plane.

[robbie]

Re: Strut Testing

Question?
At this time X-ray is not an approved test.
Is that true?

I sure like the price.

[robbie]

Re: Strut testing in Indianapolis

How much are they charging??

[VictorBravo]

Re: Strut Testing

Question?
At this time X-ray is not an approved test.
Is that true?

I sure like the price.

It cannot be guaranteed 100% just yet, but there is an effort being made now to approve X-ray, and I do know that the FAA is open to discussing it. How long it will take... I cannot hazard a guess.

I believe that X-ray will be approved, and in fact I bet $250 on it recently along with four other Taylorcraft owners locally.

I forgot how much time the AD says can elapse between the initial visual inspection and the first Eddy Current test. If you can fly for a while after the visual test and wait it out, then I'd advise doing so. If you have to get the AD inspection soon or don't want to wait then do what you gotta do.

But, for what it is worth, my personal opinion is to not jump out of your seat and order new struts from anyone just yet... unless your struts are known to be corroded or strongly suspect.

The visual inspection should be taken VERY seriously, and right !($#% now, IMHO. Do not minimize the importance of this inspection. If you have a fresh restored airplane and have a set of known clean, recently oiled struts that's one thing. But if you have an average Taylorcraft like most of us, get down there on a creeper or a foam pad, get comfy, and really poke around the struts and the fitting. Poke at it with an ice pick, strip off any flaked or bubbled paint, look to see if there's dirt or mud in the fitting, etc. etc. If there is ANY question in your mind, take the bolt out and swing the struts out of the fitting and look deeper into it. Absent anyone else's better or more educated ideas, I recently posted a MS Word document on one of the threads which contains instructions how to remove the struts safely without removing the wings.

[jmvolpp]

Re: Strut testing in Indianapolis

I hope to have mine tested there next week and will report afterwards.

MV

[Scott Zimmer]

Re: Strut Testing - where, who and what cost? (merged)

We perform the strut inspection for AD 2007-16-14.

usually 2-3 day turn around if you send the set of struts in to us. The cost is $150. If you want to see X-rays of the area add $75.00 (The X-rays are not required).

If you want us to perform the inspection on the plane, you can fly to Creve Coeur (1H0, one hotel zero) near St. Louis and we will inspect them on the the spot. Cost for this is $150 plus $75 trip charge. You pay only 1 trip charge to the airport, so if you have more planes, the trip charge is divided between each plane.

If you want us to come to your airport, it is still $150 per plane. There is still a trip charge but you will need to call to get a quote. Again, the more planes you have the less expensive it will be.

We take Cash, checks and most credit cards.

Call me personally if you like or our General Manager Steve Stutz to setup an inspection time.

Scott Zimmer

Quality Testing Services, Inc.
2305 Millpark Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63043
314-770-0607

[lawheelock]

Re: Strut Testing - where, who and what cost? (merged)

Scott,
Hope you will do the group a big favor and keep a running count on how many pass and how many fail. Also, please post a periodic update on pass/failure ratio. We would like to know if there really is a problem.
Thanks.
Larry

[Scott Zimmer]

Re: Strut Testing - where, who and what cost? (merged)

That's a good idea. I will keep a running count and post the results periodically.

Scott

[Guest]

Re: Strut Testing - where, who and what cost? (merged)

We perform the strut inspection for AD 2007-16-14.

usually 2-3 day turn around if you send the set of struts in to us. The cost is $150. If you want to see X-rays of the area add $75.00 (The X-rays are not required).

If you want us to perform the inspection on the plane, you can fly to Creve Coeur (1H0, one hotel zero) near St. Louis and we will inspect them on the the spot. Cost for this is $150 plus $75 trip charge. You pay only 1 trip charge to the airport, so if you have more planes, the trip charge is divided between each plane.

If you want us to come to your airport, it is still $150 per plane. There is still a trip charge but you will need to call to get a quote. Again, the more planes you have the less expensive it will be.

We take Cash, checks and most credit cards.

Call me personally if you like or our General Manager Steve Stutz to setup an inspection time.

Scott Zimmer

Quality Testing Services, Inc.
2305 Millpark Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63043
314-770-0607

Read the AD (and the service bulletin it refers to), the AD requires that you remove the struts from the plane.

You really don't have a choice about it.

ADs are law not suggestion, opinion or conjecture. You should and must follow it whether you concur or not.

You put your company, yourself and your customers at risk if you do not.

You will have a hard time defending yourself in court or against the FAA if you use you own method of compliance rather than the one called out in the AD.

Perhaps the statement "...perform the inspection on the plane" is merely meant to mean do the testing in the field versus in the lab if so then I am all wet here. However if not then I suggest you give the AD a very close read before you start.

Does one of you guys have an A&P license to do the signoffs?

[Scott Zimmer]

Re: Strut Testing - where, who and what cost? (merged)

Dear Drude,

Thanks. You are correct.

After reviewing the supplemental information in the Service Bulletin, It is stated that the struts must be removed before performing the Eddy Current or Ultrasonic inspections. Not technically necessary to perform the inspections but a requirement none-the-less.

We can set-up to remove the struts at the airport but bringing or shipping the struts to our facility is much simpler.

We are an FAA Approved Repair Station Certification No. QT9R249N

Our technicians performing the inspections are certified to NAS 410 and SNT-TC-1A American Society of Nondestructive Testing.

All of our technicians either have A&P or Limited rating cards provided by the FAA.

Using qualified people to perform this inspection is critical. Please ask the about the credentials prior to having any NDT performed on your aircraft.

Thank you for your comments. I will list a new Post stating my error.

Scott Zimmer
Quality Testing Services, Inc.
314-770-0607

[dmorlo]

AD for Taylorcraft Lift Strut Inspection

All owners of TC A, B, and F series planes must comply with FAA Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-057-AD and TC Service Bulletin No. 2007-001.

Some of you may have already received postcards from integrated Technologies, inc. offering our services for nondestructive testing of the lower 12" of the lift struts and if so, you got a big surprise when you called the 1-800 number. No we are not an escort service! Fortunately pilots have a great sense of humor and managed to contact us anyway. We have since sent out new postcards with the correct number 1-800-361-2237.

The TC service bulletin provides the option of eddy current (ET) or ultrasonics (UT) and in my opinion both methods would provide the information needed to evaluate the condition of the struts.

The ET method will not be as accurate in determining the wall thickness. The instrument would be calibrated on known thickness and you would evaluate responses on the scope in the form of a meter reading value or a sinusoidal wave, depending on the instrument used. The actual wall thickness value will be approximate only. If cracking was the major failure mode of the struts, eddy current would be the method of choice as it will find cracks.

The UT method is quick, repeatable and accurate. The remaining wall thickness of the strut can be determined with the accuracy of 0.001". This method has been used for years to find internal corrosion pitting in steam pipes, boiler tubes, condensate piping, tanks, vessels and many more components. About 48 data points will be taken on each strut and stored in the instrument for printout. The report will have the plane serial number and strut identification. A UT data report will be generated for each strut. I am recommending the UT over the ET as it will provide quick and accurate assessment of the struts. This data will be used a baseline so comparisons can be made during the 2 year re-inspection intervals.

Either method chosen requires 360 degree access around the strut for the lower 12" as the probe has to be in contact with the strut. Coatings do not have to be removed but any surface corrosion would have to be cleaned to sound metal. Both methods can be used on all of the models affected by the AD.

The struts can be shipped to one of our offices or we can do the inspection at your home airport or other convenient location. If we inspect in our shop the cost will be fixed at approximately $500.00 per plane. If we travel to the plane travel cost would apply. If multiple plane owners in one location can have struts ready for inspection the travel cost would be split between them.

If struts are shipped to us we anticipate a maximum turnaround of 3 days.

I understand there is going to be a Rev. B to the TC service bulletin allowing the use of x-ray to evaluate the struts. This is fine if your are looking for general wastage and pitting as this would be a great screening tool. The x-ray technique however, will not provide you with an accurate remaining thickness of your strut(s). A density comparison of a known thickness step wedge film to the dark areas of the strut film would be made using a film densitometer, and you will only get an approximate value. You may also not be able to get 100% coverage of the lower 12" due to geometry.

Our company is capable of providing visual, eddy current, ultrasonic, x-ray, magnetic particle and liquid penetrant inspection methods so we are not bias to any one method. We believe you will get the best inspection using ultrasonics.

I hope this helps you with your decision. Please call me at 1-800-361-2237 or 860-447-2474 to discuss further.

David M. Orlosky,

iTi V.P. of NDT Services