Cherokee 180 wings corrosion?

Larrys180

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Larrys180
I’m new so go easy on me… 1964 Piper Cherokee 180 rivets are popping out on bottom of wings. 2-3 on both wings mid section front to back and side to side. Mechanics suggesting a DNT test to check metal thickness. I’m located in central Nebraska. Any suggestions where to have this done would be greatly appreciated.
 
Suggest move to Maintenance section.

DNT ? = NDT ?

I think opening panels & pulling tips and tanks should provide access sufficiently.
 
I’ll ask them again but they didn’t think that would work. I talked to another mechanic and they immediately said the ribs are getting thin and won’t hold the rivets. Any idea on cost to rebuild wings and where to have them done? Thanks
 
Airframe Components is excellent at wing rebuilds.

Check out their website and contact them.

I‘m under the impression that no one has actually seen the interior

of the wing. Others will chime in but doing any Non Destructive Testing

of 2 entire wings will be $$$ and likely hard to find someone to do it.

Mind boggling to me that 2 Techs would want to go that route before a

thorough visual inspection that most A & P’s can do.

With concerns about the skin and ribs about all that’s left is the Spars.

If damage is as bad as they say it’s also likely the Spars were affected also.


Piper AD 2020 04 05 and Piper Service Bulletin 1006 deal with wing

corrosion.It is mandatory that the former being complied with recenty.

The website vids describe the concerns.
 
Airframe Components is excellent at wing rebuilds.

Check out their website and contact them.

I‘m under the impression that no one has actually seen the interior

of the wing. Others will chime in but doing any Non Destructive Testing

of 2 entire wings will be $$$ and likely hard to find someone to do it.

Mind boggling to me that 2 Techs would want to go that route before a

thorough visual inspection that most A & P’s can do.

With concerns about the skin and ribs about all that’s left is the Spars.

If damage is as bad as they say it’s also likely the Spars were affected also.


Piper AD 2020 04 05 and Piper Service Bulletin 1006 deal with wing

corrosion.It is mandatory that the former being complied with recenty.

The website vids describe the concerns.
Yeah, if that was my plane, I'd want my own eyes to look in that wing.
 
I’ll ask them again but they didn’t think that would work. I talked to another mechanic and they immediately said the ribs are getting thin and won’t hold the rivets. Any idea on cost to rebuild wings and where to have them done? Thanks
I suggest these mechanics are either scared to tell you the full truth or don't want any more work. They should be telling you where you can take it for the extra testing.
 
FWIW: if corrosion was behind the "rivets are popping out on bottom of wings" and "the ribs are getting thin and won’t hold the rivets," I highly doubt you'd need NDT to confirm. A simple push on the rivet or on a steel probe to the skin would answer this question. Perhaps a few pictures of these "popping" rivets? Whether actual mechanics were consulted and to what level remains to be seen.
 
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Corrosion can affect a large area from environment or a small area from “ critters”.

IMHO Spending a lot of time and $$$ on NDT that will not provide a complete picture

is a waste. Have a competent Tech proceed as Bell stated and then determine

the scope of the repair needed. NDT will not fix anything.
 
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