Aircraft Structural Repair - Wood Aircraft Structures

[Bill Skinner]

Several months ago I ran across a discussion concerning a wing spar repair. I am now uncertain which website it was located within; Porterfield Club, Facebook, etc. The essence of the question was related to repair of a damaged wooden wing spar and the proper method to splice the spar.

Long story, but my dad was an A.E. with a background in working with wooden aircraft. I knew he was considering at one point the methods to fix a couple of spars from a Porterfield we owned. Additionally, his library contains a significant number of technical reference documents from his career in the aircraft industry.

I found one document that would be a good source of information for someone considering repairs of this type. I wanted to document that 'find' so that anyone considering such repairs would at least have a place to start. Perhaps this is common knowledge; if so, forgive me for being repetitive. The document description follows:

(USAF) T.O. 1-1A-1 / (NAVY) AN 01-1A-1 GENERAL MANUAL FOR STRUCTURAL REPAIR

The copy I have is the Second Edition dated 1 July 1944; and I have a couple of the supplements. ANYONE using this type of information would be prudent to obtain the latest information available from approved sources. (there, you've been warned)....

The section I wish to point out is:

Section XII Repair of Wood Aircraft Structures

....and within that section, the topics covered on pages 35 thru 38 ...

(see attached images)

[Andy Gelston]

I would recommend reading AC 4313-1B, Chapter 1, Section 4, Paragraph 1-40 for spar repairs

https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_43.1...

You can download it from this link.

Your USAF/USN manual is a piece of history, Bill. Please don’t toss it!

[Bill Skinner]

Thanks Andy. Good reference, more complete. I have so many of the old documents.... I would love to scan them all ... beautiful old hand drawn sketches, pictures, and notes.

Andy Gelston said:

I would recommend reading AC 4313-1B, Chapter 1, Section 4, Paragraph 1-40 for spar repairs

https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_43.1...

You can download it from this link.

Your USAF/USN manual is a piece of history, Bill. Please don’t toss it!