Originally Posted by
EXDAC
The fuel tanks have not been removed from my PA-28-180 in at least the last 20 years. Several different inspectors have signed off this aircraft and none has required removal of the tanks. None of the Piper mandatory SB or resulting AD has, to the best of my knowledge, required removal of the fuel tanks. If this was a commnon problem I would have expected a mandatory SB and an AD.
I'd be very concerned in that case, you could be flying on borrowed time. Google Piper SB 1006 and EASA Airworthiness Directive 2005-0032. The hidden spars are supposed to be inspected at seven year intervals. Your maintenance technical records department should be aware of that.