ATTENTION All Murphy Elite Operators: Cracks Found In Horizo

[John & Lee]

Service Difficulty Report:

Date: 21 August 2010
Model: Murphy Elite
Serial #: 549
Built: 2004
TTSN: 273 Hours
Damage History: None, all time on wheels (tail dragger) except last 33 hours
on Murphy 1800 amphibs (installed end of June 2010).

Preliminary Findings:

Cracks were found during pre-flight (21 Aug 2010) beside both the left and
right outboard elevator hinges. Some appear to be hairline fractures in the
rear spar extending from the outboard hinge bolt holes to the outboard edge
of the horizontal stabilizer rear spar. The hairlines were difficult to
detect without a magnifying glass. I routinely applied spray lubrication
to the hinges, and this (plus dirt accumulation) covered over some, but not
all of the cracks. After removing some lubricant from the area, I
took photographs and have posted them at
http://www.dcsol.com/murphy-rebel/ under
Files>Elite>301 E-Horizontal Stab.

Murphy Aircraft Mfg Ltd Technical Support and Patterson Aero Sales were
advised on 21 August and photographs were sent to them (awaiting action by
Murphy Mfg Ltd.). I tried to list findings at Transport Canada's Service
Difficulty Reports Web Site but was unsuccessful.

Has anyone else found something similar? I am in the process of hiring an
AME to work with me to conduct some disassembly and further inspection work
this coming week. I will provide further inspection findings when I am
able.

Take Care

John Garstang
Ladysmith, BC




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