Incident Summary
The pilot-in-command (PIC) reported that while flying at 4,000 feet mean sea level over Lake Pontchartrain, the flight crew heard a bang. Believing they had struck a bird, they continued and landed uneventfully at New Orleans.
Damage Details
A post-flight examination of the left wing revealed that the fuel vent was blocked with duct tape. The wet wing fuel tank had collapsed, and the fuel tank stringers and wing ribs sustained structural damage.
Pilot and Mechanic Statements
The PIC stated that the fuel tanks had been repaired and pressure tested prior to the flight. After the pressure test, the mechanic who performed the repair removed the tape from the right wing's fuel vent. However, both the mechanic and the flight crew failed to notice the duct tape still covering the left wing's fuel vent. The flight crew noted that no streamers or markers were present to indicate that the fuel tank vent was covered with duct tape.