Wing Strut attach fitting A-A11 Inspection results

[Joel Severinghaus]

Re: Wing Strut attach fitting A-A11 Inspection results

My mechanic and I just had a series of phone calls back and forth about patching over the hole that must be cut in the fabric around the fitting. Since my ship probably won't be on floats or skis in the future, this is a one-time inspection for me, so I want the fabric patched. (But I can understand why you floatplane guys are making aluminum fittings you can easily remove every 48 months for your required recurrent inspections.)

The Service Bulletin even says you're supposed to patch it:
"Part 1: Inspection...
"9. Repair the area around the fitting with an aircraft fabric patch, using aircraft fabric, coatings, and chemicals approved for the fabric system used in the aircraft. This fabric repair shall not extend over, cover, or restrict future visual access to the fitting. No ends or clippings of the new fabric repair are to be 'tucked' into the fitting or cover up the drain hole."

I confirmed this with a phone call to Andy McAnaul at the FAA in San Antonio. He said yes, the cut-away fabric should be patched per the Service Bulletin, but the concern is that fabric not be wrapped around the bottom of the fitting or cover up the drain hole.

So now we'll all have these @#$% patches on our fuselages as badges of AD compliance.

[DannyDot]

Re: Wing Strut attach fitting A-A11 Inspection results

NC36220 inspected and no corrosion found.

Danny Deger

[Ron Coleman]

Re: Wing Strut attach fitting A-A11 Inspection results

N96995 inspected, no cracks or corrosion found. Struts replaced.
RonC

[perryv1]

Re: Wing Strut attach fitting A-A11 Inspection results

NC44317 Inspected (this is the "Wing Spring " airplane),and found No cracks or Corrosion anywhere,Looks Brand New! This airplane has spent almost all of its life eighter on floats or skis (when we aquired the airplane in 1976 the knobs were still on the tires),the skis stayed on the gear during the summer.
The struts are not part of the strut AD because they are Modified as per STC.However I had them Inspected anyway (Idont want them to fail eighter)
All is OK with them as well
PV

[Harbi]

Re: Wing Strut attach fitting A-A11 Inspection results

The strut fittings are just fine. Nice to have it out of the way!

Wade
N3KL

[N74DV]

Re: Wing Strut attach fitting A-A11 Inspection results

N43122 has officially failed. Had it looked at again yesterday and there is pitting throughout the inside of the fitting.

It had skis on it back in the 50's. Could have accelerated the process. The drain holes were free and clear though.

We will be removing the wings and dragging the plane to our shop for repairs.

right now I hate this plane.

[Guest]

Re: Wing Strut attach fitting A-A11 Inspection results

Sorry DJ,

I was hoping to hear that it looked better at that second inspection. I will be home Saturday and will FAX you the 337. I assume you still want it.

Dave.

[jCandlish]

Re: Wing Strut attach fitting A-A11 Inspection results

Nice and clean, but curiously somehow different from the illustrations in the service bulletin.

Is this SB/AD supposed to indicate something about the wall integrity of the lower longeron tube where the attachment fitting is welded. I imagine the attach fitting brings a substantial piece of rotten longeron with it when it tears off.

I must be missing something?

New struts installed!

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Wing Strut attach fitting A-A11 Inspection results

WE have the one A-A11 fitting here at Barber Aircraft , will come up with drawing.
Sorry to hear about the corrosion being found but that is the purpose of the AD. we have been using a Vscope www.voscope.com ; got it from Matco Tool their phone number at Vscope is 405 665 9000 It is the VTXX-6FL series flexible inspection scope. All shops should have such a tool , it is like having an eye on the end of a 6mm finger. 90 degree mirror too! There is a newer version taht I am acquiring with a viewing screen and it can be transferred to the computer. Useful in many other areas too!

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Wing Strut attach fitting A-A11 Inspection results

right now I hate this plane.

But you WON'T, the first time you are back in the left seat, halfway up to Flagstaff, in search of cooler temperatures, the ship acting like a big motorglider in the ridgelines. (I used to live in Tonopah, Arizona). My favorite place to go was the grass strip in Seligman, is it still grass? Brie

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Wing Strut attach fitting A-A11 Inspection results

There is a newer version that I am acquiring with a viewing screen and it can be transferred to the computer. Useful in many other areas too!

How much is it costing you Forrest? Brie

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Wing Strut attach fitting A-A11 Inspection results

less than $400.00, I used the other one three times last week, yes I found a situation on an attach fitting that needed attention. It is a good inspection tool.

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Wing Strut attach fitting A-A11 Inspection results

less than $400.00, I used the other one three times last week, yes I found a situation on an attach fitting that needed attention. It is a good inspection tool.

I thought it was going to cost an arm and both legs. FIRST I still have to save up the money for the new struts, and now possibly attatch fittings so that I can go somewhere other than up,fly around the strip, and back down.
Brie

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Wing Strut attach fitting A-A11 Inspection results

Use old struts, I have quite a collection building up here in Alliance.... Don't even THINK about replacing an attach fitting, if it is bad so is a lot more of the fuselage.

[VictorBravo]

Re: Wing Strut attach fitting A-A11 Inspection results

FIRST I still have to save up the money for the new struts,

Don't buy new struts unless you know yours are bad, and you cannot find good used ones.

AC 43-13 gives you the ability to have bad struts repaired at probably far less cost than buying new ones in most cases.

FAR 21.303 gives you the ability to have equivalent replacement struts made up on a one-time basis if you have access to an airplane quality welder.

Have you X-rayed your struts and found them bad?