Climbing aboard yesterday when the left step broke off. I got some nasty shin damage but the flap survived.
The airfoil shaped drop down piece broke away from the tube that inserts into the fuselage. It looks like when it was manufactured, they weld a flat plate across the tube then weld the airfoil shaped drop down piece to that flat plate. The flat plate held but the drop down sheared off of the plate. It sort of looks like they ground a little too much of the weld away. This had been cracked a long time as it was rusty along 2/3 of the contact area.
Look yours over for any signs that the weld is failing, i.e. rust stains or visible cracks.
PM for photos.
The airfoil shaped drop down piece broke away from the tube that inserts into the fuselage. It looks like when it was manufactured, they weld a flat plate across the tube then weld the airfoil shaped drop down piece to that flat plate. The flat plate held but the drop down sheared off of the plate. It sort of looks like they ground a little too much of the weld away. This had been cracked a long time as it was rusty along 2/3 of the contact area.
Look yours over for any signs that the weld is failing, i.e. rust stains or visible cracks.
PM for photos.