"someone may be looking for a job"

[mhorowit]

Norm made an interesting point which is currently of great concern to me. Let me give you some background first: We have a camping store in the area called REI; sells first quality stuff at an appropriatly high price; BUT I DON"T NEED A GOLD PLATED CARIBINER, and that's the only type they sell; I could use one of slightly lesser quality without any loss of safety. Now to aircraft repairs:

As you may be aware, I was in need of a fore spar, and someone generously provided one that had been bent and maybe cracked.
I am of the impression it is an acceptable practice to put a doubler (splice?) on the spar and I'm good to go. I don't want to go to the factory because I understand the spar they offer is more massive than the original. Also, the factory price is ~$700.

Now, my A&P is making noises: "This is a very important part and you should get one new". No one can fault the logic, but if applying a patch/doubler/splice is an acceptable practice and it's a common practice, I have to ask myself "Am I missing an impotant safety point, or is there something else happening?"

Am I somehow cutting into his earnings if we patch the strut vice buying new from the factory? - Mike

[NY86]

Mike:

Refer to AC43.13-1b for guidance on repairing Spars (or struts, but that's a different chapter...)

[Howard Wilson]

Mike
Another thing to consider is the time value of money. Your mech. may feel that the time it takes him to do the work may negate a viable difference in the price between a repair and a new one. When was the last time he did a spar splice? What' the status of the strut situation? I've got that one fat one you can have, if it works. When I get into 23858 I'll probably get all new ones. my 1 cent. Howard

[crispy critter]

Spar=strut

I want to nicely correct Mike.He is saying spar but he means sturt(the left front wing strut).The strut that I sold him has a very light kink in the very center(a 1 degree or less)and a slpice would be needed.Any A&P with any welding experiance could straighten and put a splice on it in a couple hours.It is not twisted and I don't think it is cracked but it is lightly kinked(bent).
Mike,when you say spar then that makes everything a whole new ball game.Even though spars can be spliced,it is a completely different part,a completly different method,and a much,much bigger job.

[mhorowit]

Kevin - This was an intentional demonstration of what is know as either a "brain cramp" or a "senior moment". You'll get your turn - Mike

[crispy critter]

Mike,
Here in kentucky we call it a brain fart ......or simply old age .

I'll catch hell for that one

[stormman]

Mike
I buy all my ropes from REI as i hate to climb with clothesline, maybe something to due with safety, not sure
I also bought new one piece spars for my plane . I hear the factory uses spliced spars and i have 100s of dollars of books on wood and feel i could make a correct splice on the old spars as good as anyone due to my God like delineation of myself. BUT i know i will feel better with the one piece spars that i have personally inspected for compression wood , grain straightness , etc.
Howard
The strut splice ? 1 hour if he's real slow. I know a guy that even put an inner tube, metal not rubber, inside of a spliced kinked strut once because he was overly cautious on the repair without even thinking about the extra pound or two of weight' I'll never , i mean he will never do that again because he found out later after talking to factory engineers and a little home testing how strong they really are . The front , not the rear struts
Adversity introduces a man to himself.
"If you wait too long for your ship to come in, your pier may collapse"
what im trying to say is go fly because in dog years were dead

[Howard Wilson]

"adversity introduces a man to himself"
What happens if I don't like the guy I meet?
Norm; Not only 'was' you right, you still are.
Howard

[SkyHigh]

Strutt patch

My strutt has a patch and it looks bad. I don't even like to get into the bird when I have to look it it. I am saving up for a new one.