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Wanted to gather opinions of some loosening leading edge nails in a S1.
With a fiber-optic camera tiny wood chips were found inside the left, upper wing. Through further diagnosis (which I don't know the details on yet), it was suggested they're coming from the leading edge nails that are working loose due to leading edge movement. The nail heads can be seen protruding very slightly under the fabric. The leading edge fabric (along with the rest of the fabric on the wing) appears in excellent condition. The wing structure, the wood and fabric all are reported to be in otherwise excellent condition. The wings were recovered in 1987.
The recommendation was to remove the wing fabric, fix the issue and then recover the wings. Being new to fabric aircraft I assumed this would have to be done. But as I've mentioned this problem to other aerobatic and biplane people, a few have said "just keep flying it" or "that's not a uncommon in a Pitts, keep an eye on it". What are your feelings on this? The aircraft has seen some competition in the past but it's life now consists of very mellow flying.
Thanks.
With a fiber-optic camera tiny wood chips were found inside the left, upper wing. Through further diagnosis (which I don't know the details on yet), it was suggested they're coming from the leading edge nails that are working loose due to leading edge movement. The nail heads can be seen protruding very slightly under the fabric. The leading edge fabric (along with the rest of the fabric on the wing) appears in excellent condition. The wing structure, the wood and fabric all are reported to be in otherwise excellent condition. The wings were recovered in 1987.
The recommendation was to remove the wing fabric, fix the issue and then recover the wings. Being new to fabric aircraft I assumed this would have to be done. But as I've mentioned this problem to other aerobatic and biplane people, a few have said "just keep flying it" or "that's not a uncommon in a Pitts, keep an eye on it". What are your feelings on this? The aircraft has seen some competition in the past but it's life now consists of very mellow flying.
Thanks.
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