Condiional inspections on composite aircraft

[Sonex655]

I'm considering buying a 1988 Silhouette and am wondering how difficult
it is to find an AP mechanic willing to do a conditional inspection on
a composite aircraft. From the pictures I noticed a crack about 2
inches long right at the leading edge of the wing root fairing on the
fuselage. Other than that the rest of the glass looks perfect. I'm
wondering if the plane could ever be made airwothy again.
Best Regards
Kevin T

[RobertR237]

>
>I'm considering buying a 1988 Silhouette and am wondering how difficult
>it is to find an AP mechanic willing to do a conditional inspection on
>a composite aircraft. From the pictures I noticed a crack about 2
>inches long right at the leading edge of the wing root fairing on the
>fuselage. Other than that the rest of the glass looks perfect. I'm
>wondering if the plane could ever be made airwothy again.
>Best Regards
>Kevin T
>

If the crack is in the root fairing there is probably nothing to worry about.
The fairing is usually nothing more than that and has no structural purpose.


Bob Reed
www.kisbuild.r-a-reed-assoc.com (KIS Builders Site)
KIS Cruiser in progress...Slow but steady progress....

"Ladies and Gentlemen, take my advice,
pull down your pants and Slide on the Ice!"
(M.A.S.H. Sidney Freedman)

[Dude]

"Sonex655" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> I'm considering buying a 1988 Silhouette and am wondering how difficult
> it is to find an AP mechanic willing to do a conditional inspection on
> a composite aircraft. From the pictures I noticed a crack about 2
> inches long right at the leading edge of the wing root fairing on the
> fuselage. Other than that the rest of the glass looks perfect. I'm
> wondering if the plane could ever be made airwothy again.
> Best Regards
> Kevin T


A crack or a crack?

Seriously, you need a composite guy for that, not a regular AP. You can
call around the AP shops, paint shops, and EAA groups to find the right guy.
It may be nothing, but if its something it could be expensive.

[Sonex655]

Thanks for the responses. I'm not an aircraft designer but from the
drawings I've seen of how the plane is constructed the root fairing is
just a regular peice of carved foam put in to smooth airflow. I'll
forward the picture to the composite instructor I had at a Sportair
workshop and get his thoughts.

Thanks again
Kevin T

[Dude]

"Sonex655" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Thanks for the responses. I'm not an aircraft designer but from the
> drawings I've seen of how the plane is constructed the root fairing is
> just a regular peice of carved foam put in to smooth airflow. I'll
> forward the picture to the composite instructor I had at a Sportair
> workshop and get his thoughts.
>
> Thanks again
> Kevin T

I should have pointed out that I am not familiar with that particular model.
If the root is non structural, then the crack itself is no big thing so long
as it isn't going to fly off.

OTOH, you might want to make sure it was not caused by something that WOULD
be a problem. Likely not, but...