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RV-3a first SB-00036 inspection

V

vanscommuter

Member
Good evening, This is my first run at the SB-00036 inspection on my RV-3a, and this is the planes first SB-00036 as well. I am using a Teslong articulated head borescope. My results seem ok to good. But I have what i hope is a scratch not a crack on the right outboard. The left side looks clear no cracks. I am on the fence about the inboard tooling hole access, this access was not that great for me, and maybe resulted in the scratch pictured. I think i would have a much better inspection result if i had just drilled a hole in the lower stabilizer skin as indicated by " redhawk " in the access or inspection thread.
On my first photos i did not see any problems, but i was struggling with the borescope. I tried to pull back and swing the scope end forward to get a bit more distance/perspective, and then i saw the scratch..
I am attaching 3 pics in the order taken.
Does anyone care to comment on scratch or crack? I am leaning toward scratch not crack.
I don't see a way forward to clean this area for further inpection while still using the inboard stabilizer rib as the access. Has anyone figured out how to clean this area? I feel like a radiologist doing a endoscopic surgery or something, except i only have the one camera and no tools on my scope end. Has anyone tried attaching a brush or rag to the end of the scope. The Teslong scope is not very stiff at the extension length i am using at 29" away from the tooling hole.
 

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I don't wanna bet your life on it, but it looks more like a scratch than a crack... why? Coz:
  • scope generally do magnify imperfections
  • cracks usually display some darker black contours
  • there are many cases of say typical HS hinge inspections revealed cracks which when cleaned became scratches (yep, a few went the other way round
Not sure about your case, but some MEK or other solvent impregnated cotton bud attached to a stick, CF rod or wood, might reach the offending area?
 
The scratch does not show up on the rivet. If it were just made by the borescope I think it would show indication on the rivet.

It still looks like a scratch but I don’t believe it just happened. If you can get a scope in there you can get something with a solvent on it to clean the area off. I would try that to assure it is just a scratch.
 
definately look like scratches to me. Borescopes are tough. I did the gear leg crack inspection on my 10 and was sure I had a crack. Took 10 more pics from different angles and it turned out to be a hair stuck in the paint that was perfectly aligned the way you would expect the crack to. A side angle showed it. Your pics show the depth of the little scratches and lack of depth on the long one near the rivet (looks like just into the anodize coat.
 
Thanks for the replies. Rockwood Good point about the scratch? not including the shop head of the rivet. I'm working on getting some type of swab in there. I'm thinking a piece of annealed aluminum tubing with a something soft on the tip and solvent. It would be neet to try and get a balloon in there covered in a soft rag with some alcohol.

Thanks Dan, please is "cf " carbonfiber?

I am going back out for another try at inspection.
 
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My sb00036 inspection revealed several tiny dark lines radiating out from a couple of rivets (smoking rivets) indicating cracks. Your photos indicate you have nothing to worry about. I too would bet money on it.
 
Richard RG said:
My sb00036 inspection revealed several tiny dark lines radiating out from a couple of rivets (smoking rivets) indicating cracks. Your photos indicate you have nothing to worry about. I too would bet money on it.
Click to expand...
Those appear to be scratches not cracks to me.
 
Go on Amazon and look for Foam Cleaning Swabs. They look like giant Q-tips with a foam tip. They come in handy for all types of tasks in the hangar, including wiping the area around the rivet heads. Dab with a little water or alcohol and they'll clean that area up. You may have to tape one onto a rod or a bent piece of stiff wire. The plastic can be heated and bent if needed to reach a spot around a corner.

And I agree that your pics look more like scratches to me.
 
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