Piper 235 tail skin

wrote

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.

New thinking at Piper, as reflected in newer manuals, says to replace and
not patch the skins. I would think they have discovered important reasons
to make that change.

The biggest thing that would eat at me, is why the skin cracked, and what is
going on inside there that you can not see without taking the skin off.
Something caused it to crack, and I would not fly comfortable, without
knowing what that was.

If you find peace of mind with patches, more power to you. Keep on keeping
on, then. :-)
--
Jim in NC

RUH ..ROH...

Ross, something is very wrong here...

Here is the entry, sec 4-55 of my (PA28-151) manual...


IN BOLD ITALICS....

WARNING!

The use of patch plates for repairs of all moveable tail surfaces is
prohibited The use if any filler material normally used for the repair
of minor dents and/or materials used for filling the inside of
surfaces is also prohibited on all moveable tail surfaces.

I understand "stop drilling " is also prohibited...

We found cracks (two, 1in long) in our rudder stop drilled when we
purchased.. reskinned.

Small crack in port aileron found when paint removed... reskinned.

FIVE cracks... something is happening INSIDE the stabilator...

Cherokees are tough birds...this should NOT be happening...

I would not fly this aircraft..

Dave



On Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:12:43 -0600, Ross wrote:

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.

On Feb 26, 6:02 pm, Dave wrote:
RUH ..ROH...

Ross, something is very wrong here...

Here is the entry, sec 4-55 of my (PA28-151) manual...

IN BOLD ITALICS....

WARNING!

The use of patch plates for repairs of all moveable tail surfaces is
prohibited The use if any filler material normally used for the repair
of minor dents and/or materials used for filling the inside of
surfaces is also prohibited on all moveable tail surfaces.

I understand "stop drilling " is also prohibited...


That is the same exact thing that's in my service manual, which is
also the Cherokee Warrior PA-28-151 & -161 edition (part # 761 539),
and doesn't seem to cover the -235 models specifically.

I did find these interesting threads over on the piperowners.org
forum, which seems to suggest that the older straight-wing Cherokee
service manual did not have the prohibition against patching control
surfaces.
http://forums.piperowner.org/read/1/...7096#msg-37096

http://forums.piperowner.org/read/1/...4710#msg-84710

wrote:

I did find these interesting threads over on the piperowners.org
forum, which seems to suggest that the older straight-wing Cherokee
service manual did not have the prohibition against patching control
surfaces.

It might be the difference between an old manual and a current one. I have
an ancient copy of the PA28 service manual and it doesn't prohibit control
surface skin repairs. When a crack jumped the stop-drill hole on my rudder,
my IA declined to repair it (had to reskin). We compared service manuals and
my old one didn't have the prohibition, but his current one did. Word on a
Piper forum was that the prohibition was added to the PA28 manuals by Piper
in the 90s (which would explain why my old skin was stop drilled).

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

--
Message posted via http://www.aviationkb.com

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.

No Piper service releases on this problem?
--
Remove numbers for gmail and for God's sake it ain't "gee" either!