On old aircraft it's inevitable that cracking will set in. Taming vibration and following the guidance in FAA AC 43.13-1B and the MX manual is a good plan
Cowlings absorb a lot of vibes and it takes a close inspection to determine whether cracking is isolated to the paint's surface or runs skin deep. Regardless, don't let it progress to the extent it has on this weathered Piper
During routine inspections, good technicians dig deep into the airframe looking for structural cracks. And if you’re doing even a causal preflight walkaround it’s not uncommon to find cracks around cowlings, windows and fairings. None of them should be ignored. Surface cracking doesn’t usually mean a cowling or control surface will come apart, but it’s […]
To continue reading this article or issue you must be a paid subscriber. Sign in
