User:Bluejay Adametz
Me? I'm Bluejay Adametz, and I've owned the subject Tiger since 1986 (with a little help from a bank). I've also been an A&P mechanic since 1992, which is real handy if you own an airplane. Someday I hope that the money I save by doing my own work will exceed the cost of the schooling, books, and tools.
During the 2002 annual of my 1979 Tiger, we discovered the telltale signs of a fuel leak in the area of the outboard tank rib in the left wing. Examination of the plumbing, bonding and the area around the spar led directly to that dreaded conclusion: my wet wing wasn't wet just on the inside anymore.
At first all the horror stories I heard about persistent leaks, thousands of dollars spent, etc... came to mind. Several people remarked that the leak wasn't really bad enough to worry about. I knew in my heart, however, that it wouldn't get any better, and if something is broke, I want to fix it. Besides just being good practice, it would probably get worse at the most inconvenient time.
I considered several possibilities. While I've been around Grummans for many years, maintaining my own Tiger and various Grummans belonging to friends, I don't consider myself to be an especially gifted mechanic. Then again, I am licensed to do this sort of thing, and the biggest risk would be the cost of my own labor if my repair didn't work out and I ended up sending the job to the experts.
If you're looking for more information or contemplating this repair yourself, the first thing you need is the maintenance manual. Aside from keeping the FAA folks happy, reviewing the relevant parts of the manual will give you a clearer idea of what you're getting into and allow you to proceed with confidence that you're doing it right.
You'll also need a licensed airframe mechanic. No way that I can read [ FAR 43 appendix A subparagraph c] lets me think that this job even might be preventive maintenance. However, being that this is a project that calls for a lot of raw labor, it is a good opportunity for the savvy owner to work with their mechanic and save some real dollars.
I strongly suggest you join the Grumman-Gang mailing list (go to http://grumman.net). Myself, and a number of very knowledgeable and helpful individuals hang out there.
The folks at Fletchair in Houston, TX were also invaluable as a source of parts, materials, and advice. Check them out at http://fletchair.com.
After the Third Day pictures are we seeing a pattern yet?
Yes, still scraping on Day Four!
