Piper 235 tail skin

Jay and other owners of this aircraft. Any documentation on cracks
forming on the horizontal tail surfaces. The -235 I am helping on annual
had three additional cracks in the skin beyound the two that were
repaired by the previous owner. Got some old skin and made conforming
patches.
--

Regards, Ross
C-172F 180HP
KSWI

Jay and other owners of this aircraft. Any documentation on cracks
forming on the horizontal tail surfaces. The -235 I am helping on annual
had three additional cracks in the skin beyound the two that were
repaired by the previous owner. Got some old skin and made conforming
patches.

Never heard of that before...but I'll ask around.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On Feb 26, 11:41*am, Ross wrote:
Jay and other owners of this aircraft. Any documentation on cracks
forming on the horizontal tail surfaces. The -235 I am helping on annual
had three additional cracks in the skin beyound the two that were
repaired by the previous owner. Got some old skin and made conforming
patches.
--

Is this due to some sort of oil canning? If so, is the spar OK?

Cheers

Is this due to some sort of oil canning? If so, is the spar OK?

Right on...

The skin is vibrating...

Better have someone who is sharp, check the engine mounts and prop
balance...
Go for a short flight with a second person to video the horizontal
stab in flight...

denny

Where are the cracks located Ross?

I do not think ANY cracks are permitted on the control surface areas,
depending on the year of manufacture.

I am absolutey positive about this on rhe rudder and ailerons...they
need new skins.

Stabilator? not sure..

You might ask on the Cherokee chat group..someone there WILL know..
ALL known about Cherokees is in that group!

Dave




On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:41:07 -0600, Ross wrote:

Jay and other owners of this aircraft. Any documentation on cracks
forming on the horizontal tail surfaces. The -235 I am helping on annual
had three additional cracks in the skin beyound the two that were
repaired by the previous owner. Got some old skin and made conforming
patches.

Dave wrote:
Where are the cracks located Ross?

I do not think ANY cracks are permitted on the control surface areas,
depending on the year of manufacture.

I am absolutey positive about this on rhe rudder and ailerons...they
need new skins.

Stabilator? not sure..

You might ask on the Cherokee chat group..someone there WILL know..
ALL known about Cherokees is in that group!

Dave




On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:41:07 -0600, Ross wrote:


Jay and other owners of this aircraft. Any documentation on cracks
forming on the horizontal tail surfaces. The -235 I am helping on annual
had three additional cracks in the skin beyound the two that were
repaired by the previous owner. Got some old skin and made conforming
patches.



They are on the horizontal stabilator. All go across the raised portion
that Piper blends into the skin (skin stiffiners ?). The patches were
made out of the same skin material so it would fit nicely. All are on
the starbord (right) side of the aircraft and more inboard. 4 were on
the top. Two previously patched years ago. And a new one on the bottom
(at least it was not stopped drilled like the two on the top not
patched. Engine mounts look to be fine.

--

Regards, Ross
C-172F 180HP
KSWI

Skin crack patches are not permitted on the stabilator or rudder or
vertical stab of any PA28 models. You must re-skin to be legal.
Fortunately PA28 tailfeather skins are readily available from Piper or
authorized parts dealers and are not too awful expensive either. The
labor to drill out all the old rivets and replace is the real PITA
here.

BTW, patches *are* permitted on PA28 flap skins, and believe it or
not, also on aileron skins for older cherokees, but you must rebalance
ailerons if you patch them. The PA28 service manual even has a section
that tells you what thickness aluminum to use for those skin patches.

wrote:
Skin crack patches are not permitted on the stabilator or rudder or
vertical stab of any PA28 models. You must re-skin to be legal.
Fortunately PA28 tailfeather skins are readily available from Piper or
authorized parts dealers and are not too awful expensive either. The
labor to drill out all the old rivets and replace is the real PITA
here.

BTW, patches *are* permitted on PA28 flap skins, and believe it or
not, also on aileron skins for older cherokees, but you must rebalance
ailerons if you patch them. The PA28 service manual even has a section
that tells you what thickness aluminum to use for those skin patches.


As so often said here, pardon me, what is the reference for "not
permitted"? Is is a Piper document or what? I would like to make it
available to the owner.

--

Regards, Ross
C-172F 180HP
KSWI

On Feb 26, 1:51 pm, Ross wrote:

As so often said here, pardon me, what is the reference for "not
permitted"? Is is a Piper document or what? I would like to make it
available to the owner.

I believe this is written in the Piper PA28 Service manual itself. I
have the Essco Aircraft reprints of these manuals at home and can
probably look up the exact section, page and paragraph later this
evening. I distinctly remember reading this info in the manual, as I
was looking to buy a Cherokee that has a skin patch on one of the flap
skins and wanted to be sure it was an approved repair.

wrote:
: Skin crack patches are not permitted on the stabilator or rudder or
: vertical stab of any PA28 models. You must re-skin to be legal.
: Fortunately PA28 tailfeather skins are readily available from Piper or
: authorized parts dealers and are not too awful expensive either. The
: labor to drill out all the old rivets and replace is the real PITA
: here.

: BTW, patches *are* permitted on PA28 flap skins, and believe it or
: not, also on aileron skins for older cherokees, but you must rebalance
: ailerons if you patch them. The PA28 service manual even has a section
: that tells you what thickness aluminum to use for those skin patches.

This is a point of confusion, IMO. As far as I can tell from my PA28 service manual, control
surface repairs are possible, since they have a description of how to do it. That includes how to check
the balance and state that they're often balanced at the forward end of the range to "allow for repairs."
The only "official" information I've heard that says repairs aren't permitted has been 3rd or 4th
generation word of mouth. I've also seen a number of PA28's *with* control surface repairs.

What gives?

-Cory

--

************************************************** ***********************
* Cory Papenfuss, Ph.D., PPSEL-IA *
* Electrical Engineering *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
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