Wing Spar Corrosion

[gwav8or]

So my '67F is in for it's annual inspection.  I had to use a new maintenance shop this year since my previous mechanic decided to go somewhere else.  Well, I just got the call that no Mooney owner (or any aircraft owner) wants to get.  The mechanic said they found some corrosion on the wing spar at a splice joint.  I'm gonna visit the shop in an hour or so and will get some pictures and some more information.  Mechanic said we need to discuss how the want to repair/correct the corrosion.  This shop isn't an MSC.  I've had them do a few other minor things for me and so far I've liked the shop, their mechanics and the work they've done but this is major, imo.

The airplane hasn't sat outside for the last 30 years, so I'm confused as to how the corrosion even got started.  The plane has lived in Oklahoma for most of it's life.

I'm probably gonna ask the shop to give Maxwell a call.

I'll post more info once I have it from the shop but how should I proceed?  How potentially bad is this? 

[KSMooniac]

It depends on what type, where it is, and how much... please share details and quality pics when you get them.  And yes, definitely consult with Maxwell before choosing a path.  

[Hradec]

The spar splice plate is steel, it is against the aluminum. If the corrosion is in the steel not too big of a deal. Drill rivets, remove steel plate. Clean plate, reinstall. If corrosion is in the aluminum  it's a bit trickier. Get in touch with a mooney structure guy. Call Don maxwell shop. Get pictures.

I just finished a 6 yr project. Left spar cap and aft stub spar replacement. Did it all myself with consultation with the structure guy at maxwell.

[hammdo]

Is it the spar splice plate inside the cabin in front of the rear seat?

Mine was replaced and I have a pic if you want one and I have log entries..

-Don

[hammdo]

This might help:

-Don

[gwav8or]

34 minutes ago, hammdo said:

Is it the spar splice plate inside the cabin in front of the rear seat?

Mine was replaced and I have a pic if you want one and I have log entries..

-Don

Very much appreciated Don, but mine is mid-wing on the left wing.  I saw the pics, doesn't look good to my untrained eye.  The plate is corroded and looks like it may be into the aluminum spar, but they need to remove the plate to know for sure.

The steel plate wasn't corrosion protected from the factory, so there's dissimilar metal to metal contact.

The shop is gonna correspond with Don Maxwell and will send the pics to him and copy me on the correspondence.  I'll post the pics when I get them.

Edited 8 hours ago by gwav8or

[hammdo]

Ugh, such a nice bird. Wonder when this all started. Hopefully it is repairable. Mine has been corrosion sprayed many times. Hope to keep the reaper at bay ;o)

-Don

[gwav8or]

Here are the pics my mechanic sent to me.  Mechanic also sent to Don Maxwell.  Don replied that my shop could buy the parts and replace the spar cap and the splice cap.  Said the cost is about $15k per side.  These pics are from both sides, r & l wing.

Didn't expect this.  I'm not sure what my shop is gonna quote for this but if both have to be repaired and the cost is $15k per side, plus the annual.  That's a huge chunk of money.

I will most likely be putting my Mooney on the market after this debacle is over.  I can handle normal maintenance and have pretty much had an open checkbook for this plane since I bought it but this much money at one annual is just hard to stomach.

[EricJ]

Those first pics are not nice.    :'(

[hammdo]

Not sure if rodent pee did that…

-Don

[gwav8or]

Quote

Not sure if rodent pee did that…
-Don

Didn’t think about that but could be a possibility.

Haven’t seen any nests or any baby rodents running around lol


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Edited 1 hour ago by gwav8or

[takair]

3rd picture down seems to have mouse droppings. What is going on in the picture with bare aluminum?  Is that same area?  Looks like some grind markings on the aluminum. Also, something furry hanging out in the next bay?

you said this is half way out?  Trying to picture where that steel plate resides out there.