The Arrow’s oil had just been changed for the first time since my ownership. And the landing gear had been cycled a few times to confirm the microswitch that activated the flashing auto-gear-extension disable light had been successfully readjusted. The final tweaking involved a flight test to determine if the engine was indeed not quite producing full takeoff power as per the rpm indication or if the tachometer itself was lying. Simple stuff.
Jumpseat: Damage History
Key Takeaways:
- During routine maintenance, a mechanic discovered a dangerously faulty and improperly documented wing repair from a previous hard landing on the author's Piper Arrow, despite a seemingly thorough pre-buy inspection.
- This critical oversight rendered the aircraft unairworthy due to the risk of landing gear collapse, highlighting the complexities and potential hidden issues when buying planes with damage history.
- Through a collaborative compromise involving the author, broker, seller, and the original inspection shop, a salvage wing was located and installed with shared costs, ultimately resolving the problem and upgrading the aircraft.
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