Incident
During a practice landing conducted as part of a night instructional flight, the aircraft experienced a hard landing. After the landing, the flight instructor inspected the aircraft and noted the presence of wrinkles on the upper surfaces of the wings. The instructor determined that this damage was cosmetic in nature and did not require immediate action.
Inspection
Approximately ten months after the incident, an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) performed a routine inspection of the aircraft. During this inspection, the previously undocumented damage was identified.
Repair Assessment
Two separate repair stations were consulted to evaluate the condition of the wings. Both entities concluded that the wings would need to be either replaced entirely or undergo extensive structural repairs to ensure airworthiness. This assessment contrasted sharply with the initial determination made by the flight instructor.
Subsequent Operations
Following the initial incident flight, the aircraft continued to be operated. Records indicate that the aircraft completed at least twenty flights after the hard landing prior to the FAA inspection that uncovered the damage.