A PIPER PA18 WAS ALLEGED BY THE LCL FSDO TO HAVE OPERATED WITH AN INCORRECT LNDG GEAR REPAIR.

Date: 2002-08 · Aircraft: PA-18/19 Super Cub · Phase: ground

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|other-alleged-incorrect-repair

Synopsis

A PIPER PA18 WAS ALLEGED BY THE LCL FSDO TO HAVE OPERATED WITH AN INCORRECT LNDG GEAR REPAIR.

Narrative

THE OWNER/OPERATOR OF THE AIR TAXI BROUGHT ME A GEAR LEG WITH A CRACK IN THE LOWER AREA TO BE REPAIRED. I REPAIRED THE GEAR LEG AND DID A 337 FORM WHICH THE OWNER SUBMITTED TO THE FSDO. NEXT DAY; THE FSDO MAINT SUPVR CALLED AND SAID HE HAD PROBS WITH THE REPAIR. THE FSDO INSPECTOR SAYS THE MANUFACTURER OF THE GEAR LEG HAS SPECS FOR REPAIRS THAT WERE NOT FOLLOWED. I SUBMIT THAT THE GEAR LEG WAS NOT MADE BY THE COMPANY THAT THE FSDO SAYS AND; THEREFORE; DOES NOT NEED TO FOLLOW THAT COMPANY'S REPAIR PROCS. I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER OF EVERY PART THAT COMES IN THE DOOR; ESPECIALLY AIRFRAME PARTS WITH NO PART NUMBERS; IE; TAIL FEATHERS; GEAR LEGS; EXHAUST MANIFOLDS; AND FUEL TANKS. I USE THE ADVISORY CIRCULAR 43.13-1B AS MY REF PLUS 30 YRS OF EXPERIENCE ON PARTS OF UNKNOWN MANUFACTURE BUT WITH OBVIOUS REPAIR NEEDS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE REPAIR THE FSDO SUPVR DEMANDED WAS FOR A LNDG GEAR COMPONENT THAT HAD A PERMANENT PARTS TAG AFFIXED TO THE PART. THE RPTR SAID AFTER IDENTING THE PART WITH A NUMBER THEN THE MANUFACTURER'S REPAIR PROCS CAN BE FOLLOWED BUT THIS PART HAD NO NUMBER AND THE ADVISORY CIRCULAR 43.13-1B WAS USED AS THE REF FOR THE REPAIR. THE RPTR STATED THE FSDO SUPVR WAS ALLEGED TO BE PAYING BACK THE ACFT OWNER FOR PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FSDO SVC.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.