Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

[Guest]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

Alternative Method of Compliance.
Here is what he said
The only AMOC granted to date is to Univair stating that installation of
their Part Number UA-A815 and UA-A845 sealed struts in BC12-D/D1 airplanes
provides a equivalent level of safety to be considered as terminating
action for the AD.

Thanks!

Dave

[tawadc95]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

Lfries,
there is an out fit in Sac that does ndt. I don't know all they are approved on but they take care of the ndt's at a friends shop. It is the west states beechcraft repair and warranty station.
Let me know if you are interested in the name and I will ask for you.
Chris

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

We had the visit here in Alliance at 2D1 today from Michael Cooper & Darrin Vaughan from the Acuren Company. www.acuren.com . they bought out
usinspections that I had contacted first up here in NE Ohio for NDT.
They took one look at the situation and are going back to the office to start develop the procedure etc. for a Digital Radiology test that may allow us to look at the strut ends and the attach fitting same as Bill Berle had done on the West Coast. Acuren is all over the country even Alaska doing work on big ships, pipelines, NASA etc. They have Repair stations all over.

Sorry to move so slowly but myself , the factory, other STC holders and other experts along with the the FAA engineer McAnaul are considering many things. Mr. Ingram & I have talked quite a bit too!

I do not know if this is for release but since we are such a small group I hope we can work together. I have been told that the NTSB report on the Wiley accident is forthcoming, Mr. McAnaul is re visiting and considering the Maule test and to maybe extend the time situation if results of pre-liminary testing show a lot of good struts. I will be away tonight & early tomorrow. More then. thanks Forrest
Bill I will comment on your procedure directly to you.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

Regarding the strut fitting inspection, Mark Julicher wrote in this post on the Strut Airworthiness thread:

...an inspection of the fleet may be called for..

Now that would be a sensible action to the Strut Fitting Inspection question. A one-off inspection, with the results reported to the FAA so that they can assess the extent of any fleet-wide problem.

Rob

[barnstmr]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

I should add one more question that I asked Mr. Perez before Mark J. showed up was as follows.

Q: Does it seem likely that there will be an A.D. on the fitting.
A: At this time it is not planned.

Joe went on to discuss how the Wiley airplane was an isolated incident due to several reasons. One was that it had not been well maintained or inspected. Another was that it was operated as a Seaplane. So I was encouraged to note that the FAA at least understands that the type of operation has a significant bearing on this.

Joe also stated that one of the other factors in this particular airplane (Wiley) was that it's specific model is not on the same TC as the other BC models. In fact, the FAA has been unable to track down the TC holder (it is essentially an abandoned TC). I showed Joe a letter from Mrs. Ferris stating that the BF, BC, BL airplanes were identical fuselage. But this is of no value to FAA at this point until they are able to actually see the TC data in order to confirm that it hasn't been revised since the Ferris days. The task of trying to locate this TC data and transfer it from the northeast ACO has fallen on Andrew McAnaul to do. Until this is done, they have no link they can use to issue any AD against the other B series models.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

The Wiley airplane was a mix & match ship as are many others out there in the field. I would like to see the ser# on the fuselage.....
WE did the Digital Radiography today here in Alliance on a BC12D , a clipped wing BC12D , and a F-22 fuselage. The strut inspection was very easy and straightforward with positive results for showing any problems.

The attach fitting is another subject, we had to remove step, landing gear,& struts I truly believe that the good visual inspection method is the best followed by this method if any problems are detected. More soon, I have the images to review and they have to write the procedure for any attempt at the AMOC. The struts are one issue and the attach fitting is another.
We are finding reports of bad struts upon inspection so get ready out there to replace some struts. I will call the FAA & the factory tomorrow.

[btbell]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

Forrest,

Was the digital x-ray done with the struts on or off the airplane?

Brian

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

Digital X-Rasy done with struts on as an experiment. The results show that removal of the struts may be necessary, still evaluating. I do know that the strut attach insepction will need strut removal, am still waiting to post a complete report. My computer at the airport had a hard drive crash, probably results of a electric strike. Lost two days , using the one at home on Wed. afternoon.

[whake]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

I visually inspected the fittings as well as the struts followed by an inspection by the IA that signs off my plane. They look great and would pass any practicle inspection. I ordered new struts from the factory. The cost of the inspection every two years here in Venice FL justifys replacement. I hope that the Taylorcraft factory meets their committments.

[cpirrmann]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

Just FYI, I was able to see my fittings very clearly from inside, under the seat. Visual inspection shows OK.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

I'm back!!!! we saved all the data & programs were able to clone the old drive. teleconference today at 3PM EST with the FAA engineer, we will discuss NTSB findings on the Wiley ship and many other matters . The strut on can be done, the attach fitting can be inspected if it was properly covered to begin with; however many will need fabric removal right in the area of the fitting. Keep the reports coming in of your findings out in the field.

[rcefird]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

Been following all the input on both the struts and the fuselage strut fitting. Any of you guys have a photo of your strut fitting after trimming back the fabric? I would like to see how far this needs to be trimmed back. Also, after trimming, how do you recommend leaving it? Can I just trim back with a straight edge, or do I need to do the pinking? And afterwards can it be left that way for future inspections, or does it need further repair so as not to tear? (Obviously, I haven't done any fabric covering, I have only participated in a couple of fabric covering workshops and just know some of the basics).
Thanks for any photos and/or input.
Randy

[astjp2]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

Soldering iron and burn it back, then it won't tear. Tim

[lfries]

Re: Fuselage strut fitting - FAA Airworthiness Concern Sheet (merged)

Forrest, can you provide a copy of the AMOC that allows struts on or do we each need to get a copy from the FAA.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Strut AD alternate methods of compliance

We are revising both the AD and the Service Bulletin right now...... check for the latest and try to comply. Hopefully the attach fitting inspection will be very straight forward and fairly easy to do. My company next to me Acurion that came here is still working on the situation. Many members have found methods close to them. IF you have suspect struts & attach fittings, ( chance or evidence of corrosion) it may be best to do the strut off inspection and do the attach fitting at the same time.
Hopefully all will be final real soon, we are cutting it short but there was a lot to look at having two problems at once. THEN we need to look at the results of the inspections and perhaps extend the time of inspection. Recall Piper struts went to 5 years THEN we ahd two fatals ( as I recall) ... We are all in the same boat and only have safety in mind. Thanks for all the input, Bill Berle ( Victor Bravo) may recognize his wording in a bit of the inspection for the attach fitting SB, the factory was listening along with the FAA inspector McAnaul. I have formally commented direct to Andy MCanaul and will do so on the FAA docket now. The attempted attached photos show what to look for on the inspection , worst case first... others to follow. Maybe on the Factory site.