[madjbs]

Having just inspected the rear spar for SB 00036, what are people’s thoughts on these patches. For me it’s hard to tell if they are scratches or dirt or cracks. The plane is a Rv6a 2001 with 800 hours very little aerobatics use. Thank you for your opinions.

 

[Dan 57]

look like dirt to me... I had some looking similar, used a long Q-tip with some isopropanol, and all dubious signs went away

 

[madjbs]

look like dirt to me... I had some looking similar, used a long Q-tip with some isopropanol, and all dubious signs went away

Will give that a try, someone else suggested blowing some compressed air in there too. Thank you for the reply.

 

[bjdecker]

Picture #2 looks like a crack in the primer/paint … is there a corresponding “smiley” or dent in the spar web on the aft side? MEK or Acetone that area and get a better look at the aluminum.

 

[rvbuilder2002]

It would be unusual for a crack to not be associated with one of the rivet locations.
I think it is dirt.

 

[rockyfatcat]

NDT/eddy-current inspection will prove conclusively one way or the other.

 

[Roadjunkie1]

They all look like scratches, IMHO. The only concerning one is the last picture with the mark coming from a rivet. But even that one looks like a scratch.