Socata TB9 Tampico Loose Rivets In Vertical Stabilizer During the preflight inspection for a local training flight, blind rivets located halfway up the vertical stabilizer were found to be making aluminum oxide trails (smoking) on both sides of the vertical fin. This condition is indicative of a potentially loose rivet or cracked inner rib. Manufacturers service bulletin 10-083 requires this type of blind rivet at this location. The submitter suspects other aircraft may have the same issue. Part Total Time: Unknown Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Failed Starter Driver Gear 288
Working Rivets
During the preflight inspection for a local training flight, blind rivets located halfway up the vertical stabilizer were found to be making aluminum oxide trails (smoking) on both sides of the vertical fin.
Key Takeaways:
- Multiple aircraft models reported structural integrity issues, including loose vertical stabilizer rivets, cracked fuselage stiffeners and keels, and cracked turbocharger clamps.
- Critical component failures affected engine and cabin systems, such as a disintegrated starter driver gear on a Piper Navajo and a charred cabin heater fuel pump on a Beech Baron, the latter being a recurring fleet problem.
- Wear in flight control systems was also identified, with a frayed ruddervator control cable found on a Beech Bonanza.
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