PA28 wingwalk repair
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PA28 wingwalk repair
Any owners had the internal supports replaced under a PA28 wing walk recently? I'm interested in costs/hours for the job. Alternatively, if one of the resident engineers could perhaps comment that would also be good. Thanks.
Did my only one about five years ago so my memory's a bit hazy. Seem to remember the replacement skins came without 1/16" pilot holes for the rivets 
so we had to use the old ones as templates (which is never a good thing). There were some other rib flange cracks and minor corrosion to rectify but you may be lucky.
Think it was five or so days of my time plus help for riveting. Wing off/on and rigging requires more assistance.
I'm sure the job could be done quicker by someone with a couple of previous wingwalk repairs to his credit.
so we had to use the old ones as templates (which is never a good thing). There were some other rib flange cracks and minor corrosion to rectify but you may be lucky. Think it was five or so days of my time plus help for riveting. Wing off/on and rigging requires more assistance.
I'm sure the job could be done quicker by someone with a couple of previous wingwalk repairs to his credit.
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I always cringe when I see anyone taking a running jump onto the walkway of any low wing aircraft like the PA28. I had my walkway done several years ago, there is a doubler which is formed with channels running through it to add stiffness, that needs to replaced. In my case the wing was removed but I believe it may possible to gain sufficient access by removing the fuel tank.
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jxk No, it's a definite wing off job unfortunately, care to share the cost with me, parts and labour? (and when it was) PM will be fine if you prefer.
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I'd be interested to know what the symptoms of failure are as I noticed a certain amount of 'tin-canning' on the group PA28 when I flew it recently.
The surface is not distorted in any way, but there is a flexing when you stand on the walkway. My recollection is that it didn't flex as much as this in the past.
The surface is not distorted in any way, but there is a flexing when you stand on the walkway. My recollection is that it didn't flex as much as this in the past.
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The PA28 starboard wing skin has a second, corrugated surface underneath the inboard skin where the walkway is. The corrugated skin is similar to the flap or aileron skins.
The corrugations crack around the end of the 'depressed' area. Pretty much every PA28 will have a crack or two if you look hard enough. The walkway feels soft as the cracks enlarge or even join one corrugation to another.
There is no stuctural issue here - the port wing is just a single skin to start with.
To do the job properly, the wing has to come off and the fuel tank taken out for access. Again, if done properly, all the rivets are solids apart from one which has to be a blind rivet due to a lack of access to the tail of the rivet.
Wing skins are (IIRC) around £600 each. The top and bottom skins are already rivetted together. Labour cost will vary - if you get a quote for the whole job then you're probably looking at £1500-2000 minimum. Remember this includes the wing off and back on. Sometimes wing bolts can be truculent to remove.... Drilling the old skins off is a delicate job - oversize holes in the spar can be classed as a bad thing. Time also has to be taken in drilling holes in the new skins. A new wing rubber gap seal will have to be fitted soon and preferably new wing bolts. You don't need to take the undercarriage leg off. The new skins will have to be painted and the walkway reapplied (non slip paint or stick on job). As others have said, there may be other things to sort out that are only found when the wing and/or skins are removed.
Things to consider are to do both skins even if one appears to be okay - shame to have to replace that skin two years down the line. Also, if you're close to the 7 year spar inspection then consider having that done whilst the tank is out for the wing skin change - you only have to pay for the port tank removal/refit - not two tanks... Do it at Annual time to again reduce things like interior being removed for inspection.
Then when you get the new skins fitted try and wander about the wing as little as possible apart from where the spar is...
The corrugations crack around the end of the 'depressed' area. Pretty much every PA28 will have a crack or two if you look hard enough. The walkway feels soft as the cracks enlarge or even join one corrugation to another.
There is no stuctural issue here - the port wing is just a single skin to start with.
To do the job properly, the wing has to come off and the fuel tank taken out for access. Again, if done properly, all the rivets are solids apart from one which has to be a blind rivet due to a lack of access to the tail of the rivet.
Wing skins are (IIRC) around £600 each. The top and bottom skins are already rivetted together. Labour cost will vary - if you get a quote for the whole job then you're probably looking at £1500-2000 minimum. Remember this includes the wing off and back on. Sometimes wing bolts can be truculent to remove.... Drilling the old skins off is a delicate job - oversize holes in the spar can be classed as a bad thing. Time also has to be taken in drilling holes in the new skins. A new wing rubber gap seal will have to be fitted soon and preferably new wing bolts. You don't need to take the undercarriage leg off. The new skins will have to be painted and the walkway reapplied (non slip paint or stick on job). As others have said, there may be other things to sort out that are only found when the wing and/or skins are removed.
Things to consider are to do both skins even if one appears to be okay - shame to have to replace that skin two years down the line. Also, if you're close to the 7 year spar inspection then consider having that done whilst the tank is out for the wing skin change - you only have to pay for the port tank removal/refit - not two tanks... Do it at Annual time to again reduce things like interior being removed for inspection.
Then when you get the new skins fitted try and wander about the wing as little as possible apart from where the spar is...
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Defintitve answer
The post from Smarthawke Should be seen as the defintive answer to this question, don't trust anyone who tells you they can do this job with the wing still attached.
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Having done a number of these over the years, the latest five months ago, I concur with A and C. Smarthawke has got it about right.
The only issue I would add to the task is, when the old wingskin/reinforce is removed, this will allow the best access for inspection of the rear spar and steel attach plate joint. This is a known area for heavy corrosion (dissimilar metals you know) and will neccesitate a rear spar replacement. Not a difficult job in itself, but accuracy is a minimum requirement when rigging and drilling. Not every engineer / organisation / facility will be approved for this repair (even though it is repair-by-replacement, in EASA-land it is classed as structural).
About 12 years ago, I met an a*se who told me with great pride how he had made money on a wingwalk replacement job...he never pulled the wing, and he used loads of Cherry rivets. As he showed me the fruits of his labours, I noticed how he had tried to disguise all the Cherry heads with car body filler, and he didn't bat an eyelid when I advised him that his 'repair' was illegal, invalidating the C of A and Insurance (no approved repair scheme from the aircraft manufacturer).
As if it wasn't hard enough dealing with all the tripe from EASA.
camlobe
The only issue I would add to the task is, when the old wingskin/reinforce is removed, this will allow the best access for inspection of the rear spar and steel attach plate joint. This is a known area for heavy corrosion (dissimilar metals you know) and will neccesitate a rear spar replacement. Not a difficult job in itself, but accuracy is a minimum requirement when rigging and drilling. Not every engineer / organisation / facility will be approved for this repair (even though it is repair-by-replacement, in EASA-land it is classed as structural).
About 12 years ago, I met an a*se who told me with great pride how he had made money on a wingwalk replacement job...he never pulled the wing, and he used loads of Cherry rivets. As he showed me the fruits of his labours, I noticed how he had tried to disguise all the Cherry heads with car body filler, and he didn't bat an eyelid when I advised him that his 'repair' was illegal, invalidating the C of A and Insurance (no approved repair scheme from the aircraft manufacturer).
As if it wasn't hard enough dealing with all the tripe from EASA.
camlobe
