This video was taken today during preflight revealing serious wing structure failure on a 1977 piper arrow in south florida. Figure 621 when a spar is damaged, the method of repair must conform to the manufacturers instructions and recommendations. Ntsb finds wing crack in piper pa28r201 in same location. In durability tests, pentagon spots cracks in f35c wing. The crack was located forward of the main spar at the wing root and was oriented chordwise parallel to the fuselage.
Pdf the f35 joint strike fighter jsf is unique in aviation history as three different design variants, each with unique design. Its got a few more wing spars than a typical aircraft, but that makes sense, considering the huge bending loads that a fighters wing will encounter. Piper aircraft has issued service bulletin 45 requiring inspection of the main wing spar on piper arrow models to test for unseen cracks in the spar. This time, we have a 55 baron in the shop for repair per beech kit 584008. An earlier service letter, sel5706, was issued in june 2019 covering the same group of 210. A crack in the wing rib assembly as described, if not repaired, could compromise. Wing spar ad 20002502 national aeronca association. New f35 problem with wing spar cracks of main structural. There is no paint chipping on the left wing, but the left spar is obviously much newer. The remaining six wings containing cracks up to 4 inches long. Pentagon testers have discovered cracks in a main structural element of the f35cs wing government and prime contractor engineering teams are formulating a solution, and retrofits are planned on existing aircraft. The bulletin mandates eddy current inspection of the spar by personnel with nas 410 level ii or level iii. Testers have found cracks in a main structural element of the wing of the lockheed martin f35c lightning ii joint strike fighter, a spokesman for the pentagons f35 joint program office jpo confirmed on november.
Stems from a fatigue crack found in the lower main wing spar cap on a piper model pa28r201. We conclude by summarizing fci analysis data for the stovl wing. Download the service letter to read the full instructions. An investigation revealed that repeated highload operating conditions accelerated the fatigue crack growth in the lower main wing spar cap.
Ad 950403 does not apply to this aircraft by serial number. Currently, the air force has 35 u2s in their active inventory with an average. If cracks are found, the spar must be replaced prior to further flight. You can see the line where the stresses have been placed going from the spar forward. The f35c variant is distinguished by its larger wings and more robust landing gear, designed for catapult launches and arrestments aboard. On nine other similar pa28r201 aircraft, no cracks were located. Metallurgical examination showed significant fatigue cracks affecting the airplanes left wing, including one crack on the left wing front spar lower cap that had extended from an area of corrosion damage and had begun to progress fairly rapidly. Proposed ad could affect almost 20,000 piper aircraft. Crack discovered on f35c test plane wing spar defense news. Cut through the little bridges in the spar slots and ca glue the spars into the wing.
What i find most surprising is that there arent any wing ribs. Inspectors found the small crack in one of the wing spars of the f35c carrier plane in late october, according to the joint program office. The crack they located on this pa28r201 measured 0. The faa last month proposed an ad for multiple piper. Pentagon testers have discovered cracks in a main structural element of the wing on the cmodel of the lockheed martin f35 lightning ii, a spokesman for the pentagons f35 joint program office jpo confirmed on. In november 2014 iai inaugurated its wing production line for the f35 at its lahav division.
Synopses of air force aging aircraft structural histories. Recommended method to repair either a solid or laminated rectangle spar. Inspectors have found a small crack in one of the wing spars of an f35c carrier variant test aircraft, according to the joint program office. Wing spar cracks found on usn f35 variant marina malenic, washington, dc ihs janes defense weekly 15nov15 key points. Pdf fatigue crack initiation analysis and test for f35 design. Older compression cracks travel down the spar side face and may be found to turn toward a strut attach bolt hole. Inspect the wing spar splice on strutbraced airplanes for cracks and corrosion. The mcdonnell douglas f15 was the winner of an air force competition for a new air.
During a late october inspection of the f35c durability testing ground article, a crack was found in one of its wing spars. Piper arrow wing attachment point problem discovered in. This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive ad, applicable to all boeing model b17e, f, and g airplanes, that requires inspections to detect cracking and corrosion of the wing spar chords, bolts and bolt holes of the spar chords, and wing. In all instances the cracks were discovered and the proper repair was done. During an inspection of the wing carrythrough spar structure in accordance with airworthiness directive ad 950403, a crack was found. Fokker technologies, a business of gkn aerospace, awarded a contract to asco industries for the supply of flaperon spars for the lockheed martin f35 lightning ii program. I had my regular cherokee 6 grounded after a crack like this appeared due to a corroded wing spar. According to the report, the second planes wings were removed, and an inspection of its left wing spar, a metal structure that bears the load of the wing, revealed a crack. I am going to do a little research tonight but if anyones seen.
Inspectors found a small crack in one of the wing spars of an f35c carrier variant test plane. Center your servos and put the servo horns on, rectangular to the servo orientation. More wing cracking occurred in the 1972 test than in the 1962 test, and. Glue use cyanoacrylate ca glue both wing halves together. Pentagon testers have discovered cracks in a main structural element of the wing on the cmodel of the lockheed martin f35 lightning ii, a spokesman for the pentagons f35 joint program office jpo confirmed on november. Once cracks are identified, they are classified for repair or reinspection.
Results of the inspection should be reported to textron aviation through the carrythru spar inspection report form. Structural prognostics and health management sphm for the f35. The at11 was the first to show the problems because of the high takeoff and landing cycles typical of bombardier training. Second plane at erau shown to have crack in its wing. Watch this video to learn more about piper wing spars. Wing cracks were reported more than seven years ago, starting in late 2011, when a qantas a380, grounded after an engine explosion, was found to have wing cracks. Repair of wood aircraft components aircraft systems. The wing spar has a manufacturing splice at the strut attach point on strutbraced airplanes. A longitudinal crack in a solid spar may be repaired. The use of a scarf joint to repair a spar or any other component of an aircraft. Regulatory brief raytheon beech carrythrough spar cracks the issue. Longitudinal cracks have been reported in all areas of both front and rear spars, including through the wing root. This action would make this onetime inspection repetitive.
Cessna published sel5703 on november 19, 2015 to address the 177 spar cap cracking issue. Pentagon testers for the f35c reported a crack on the wing spar of a test aircraft, prompting contractor engineers to formulate a solution. Piper issues service bulletin on arrow main wing spar. Asco industries awarded contract to manufacture the flaperon spar for the f35 lightning ii asco industries november 16, 2017. Ad 900814 on barons and travel air aircraft, as well as ad 950403 on the bonanza and debonair, discusses inspecting for cracks on the main wing spar carrythrough frame. Home air crack discovered on f35c test jet wing spar. Potential wing cracks reported in airbus a380 superjumbo jets. Wing spar inspection, 7, 8, and 11 series version 1. F35b flight test aircraft completed 10 days of testing aboard. Regulatory brief raytheon beech carrythrough spar cracks. Air platforms wing spar cracks found on usn f35 variant marina malenic, washington, dc ihs janes defence weekly 15 november 2015 an f35c conducts its first arrested landing aboard the aircraft carrier uss nimitz cvn 68 in 2014. Figure 68 check the ribs on either side of the strut attach points for cracks where the cap strips pass over and under the spars, and for missing or loose ribto spar attach nails. The accident airplane had been flown 7,488 hours since new. Piper responds to proposed ad on multiple models aero.
Doing walk around today and noticed a 1 inch crack in the top wing skin parallel to a line of flush rivets about 14 inch from the rivets since i cant ask my ame because its saturday whats the repair procedure for something like this. Wing spar repairs wood wing spars are fabricated in various designs using solid wood, plywood, or a combination of the two. It, then, came as no surprise that cessna would publish a bulletin relating to wing spar cracks found in the cardinals very similar to those found on the 210. The safety board said that had the airplane not experienced the catastrophic failure of the right. New f35 problem with wing spar cracks of main structural element. The spar is the main structural element in the wing and carries flight loads and the weight of. Crack discovered on f35c test jet wing spar uk defence journal. According to the logs it has been there for 15 years and hasnt changed. Every other line of rivets on the left wing also shows these stress lines. I did a set of l4 wings years ago but memory is foggy. All spars, those in the wing s and empennage, should be inspected on the face and top surface for compression cracks.
Inspection must be completed within the next 100 hours time in service upon. Several layers of 2024t3 doublers were riveted together in this area to support the high loads. The wing spar issue started back during wwii when cracks started showing up in the at11 bombardier trainer aircraft. Washington inspectors found a small crack in the one of the wing spars of an f35c carrier variant test plane, according to the joint.
He said his assignment has been delayed several times because of what he said was the wing spar crack problem. Pentagon testers have discovered cracks in a main structural element of the wing on the cmodel of the lockheed martin f35 lightning ii during a late october inspection of the f35c durability testing ground article, a crack was found in one of its wing spars. Following the separation, the operator then inspected a second pa28181 with 7,878 hours and found upper wing skin cracks that the maintenance department had stopdrilled. Doublers extend the minimum distance beyond the crack.
According to faa officials, they received a report of a fatigue crack found in the lower main wing spar cap on a piper pa28r201. That units long history includes work on israels indigenous lavi fighter, which was scrapped in the late 1980s under pressure from the us government. The f35 joint strike fighter jsf is unique in aviation history as three different design variants, each with unique. On june 2, 2004, raytheon aircraft corporation rac released revisions to mandatory service bulletins 532360 and 532269, which may lead to changes in airworthiness directives ads 900814 and 950403. F35 lightning ii during a late october inspection of the f35c durability testing ground article, a crack was found in one of its wing spars. In the process, on the left wing they have found one line of rivets forward of the wing spar has several small cracks. Compression cracks have been found emanating from the upper and lower surfaces of the front and rear wing spars at both ends of the reinforcement plate for the lift strut attachment. Washington inspectors found a small crack in one of the wing spars of an f35c carrier variant test plane, according to the joint program office.
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