We walked into the hangar this morning with the intention of doing a 100-hour on the PA-12 on EDO-2000 (has increased GW STC, PA-18 gear STC). It's been performing remarkably well for the two years I have owned it. Walking up, I noticed a wrinkle in the fabric just forward of the lower door. Pushing on the tube forward of the wing strut attach fitting, I discovered that it moved... a lot! Walked to the other side and pushed that tube. Same thing. Razor blade came out and we found two cracks all the way through the tube on the right side, and one on the left. This has been an area that we have looked at during preflight and postflight and it seems that the airplane just "had enough" sitting in the hangar for the week. There is evidence (existing corrosion) that one of the right side cracks has been there a while. There is evidence of corrosion on other tubes, and I expect to find other issues as the fabric comes off.
I suspect that a combination of things are at fault: 22 years since last covering, two-time flight school airplane, at least one wheel ground loop, and XXX landings). Is this a normal area for failure?
Anyone have a fuselage for sale?
Thanks,
Jeremy
I suspect that a combination of things are at fault: 22 years since last covering, two-time flight school airplane, at least one wheel ground loop, and XXX landings). Is this a normal area for failure?
Anyone have a fuselage for sale?
Thanks,
Jeremy