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 checks, a mechanic unexpectedly discovered a critical, poorly executed prior repair on the author's Piper Arrow's wing, rendering the aircraft unairworthy despite a thorough pre-purchase inspection that had acknowledged the plane's damage history.
- This dangerous flaw, risking landing gear collapse, led to a projected repair cost of thousands of dollars and grounded the aircraft.
- A collaborative effort involving the broker, seller, and initial inspection shop led to a compromise where a salvage wing was sourced, costs were shared, and the aircraft's damage history on that wing was effectively erased, resulting in a fully restored and safer plane.
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