spar AD

C

citabrian

New member
The right front spar of my 7eca has a scarf joint approximately 2 feet inboard from the strut attachment fitting. There are two spaced apart, parallel longitudinal scratches/indentations about 1 inch long each running perpendicularly across the joint on the front face of the spar.

Am I going to be grounded? They really do look like shallow scratches. I don't think they are 1/16 inch deep, as mentioned in the AD. They almost look like scratches that may have inadvertantly occurred during a repair by the previous owner.

I was wondering if there is anything in the AD or elsewhere that would lead to an "automatically" rejection when there are suspect imperfections near a scarf joint in a spar?

Also, if my spar is going to get rejected, is there a repair I can make without having to completely tear the wing apart? I look forward to hearing your feedback.

Best regards to all.
 
I have just replaced both spars on my 8KCAB after finding something like that on the rear spar - halfway out to the strut attachment. First thought was to repair it but the more we looked the longer the defect got. The ink test and feeler gauges are useful.
Front spar was also replaced after we determined that the airplane had a wingtip strike many years ago with obvious impact damage to rear spar at the root.
Citabrian - I suggest that you get some-one knowledgeable to take a close look at it.
 
I discovered that the cost of new spars was very minor additional to the cost of disasembly and recover.

With the goal of closing the wings for 20 years, I replaced the spars.

Of course I am not shy about acro, and it hand something heavy dropped on the wing by a bad FBO...so Went all the way with it.
 
How long has this forum been alive? I have a spar inspection question: We have tried fiber optics to augment the "bendalite and mirror" technique. It shows promise, but we were using a sigmoidoscope, which was not designed for spars.

Wag aero has two fiber optic devices in the latest catalog - is anyone familiar with these things? Any other suggestions?
 
I have access to a borescope if anybody is interested in trying it out for spar inspections. It should work quite nice. I am in Oceanside, CA.

Carl.
 
Dear Bob:

>>How long has this forum been alive?
We created these Forums a couple of years ago - it's been mentioned in B-C Contact!

>>We have tried fiber optics to augment the "bendalite and mirror" technique. It shows promise..
We have tested the PV-300 and arranged a special deal through the Club; look in your member kit.

Regards,
 
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