To aid with the assessment of aging acrobatic aircraft, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) teamed with the National Institute for Aviation Research of Wichita State University to teardown and inspect areas of interest from the T-34A N141SW accident aircraft. Due to the recent history of fatigue cracking and failure, a destructive evaluation of the T-34A would be useful to the FAA to specifically address the T-34A concerns, and in a general sense, to assess the condition of a high-time acrobatic category aircraft. The following four areas of interest from the N141SW accident aircraft were examined for cracks and corrosion: right wing front carry-through lower spar, horizontal and vertical stabilizer attachment points, right wing rear spar lower cap wing station 66, and right wing rear spar lower bathtub fitting. Cracks found on these areas of the accident aircraft were opened, and the crack faces were analyzed to determine failure mode. Surrounding structure was also inspected microscopically for additional defects.
Teardown Evaluation of Areas of Interest from the T-34A N141SW Aircraft Wreckage
2006
64 pages
Report
No indication
English
Aircraft accident investigation, analysis of wreckage
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