Mechanic Discovers Damage During Maintenance Preparation (N999HD)

Discovery

A mechanic noticed that an airplane had been substantially damaged while preparing it for maintenance. The extent of the damage was such that it required attention before any maintenance work could proceed.

Operator's Assessment

The operator of the airplane stated that the damage pattern was consistent with a hard landing. No further details about the landing were provided.

Pilot Accounts

Two pilots who had most recently rented the airplane were questioned by the operator. One pilot attributed the damage to the previous pilot's poor preflight inspection, implying that the damage might have been present before their flight. The other pilot, who had flown the airplane after his preflight inspection, claimed that the damage was not there when he conducted his preflight inspection. He subsequently flew the airplane without noting any issues.