Flaperon Tube Moved?

[rdockery_3]

My flaperon tube on the left side seems to have moved. I posted both the left side and right side to show the difference. It's possible that is already like this and I didn't notice but I don't think so. I guess it could be a spacer and I just didn't notice that big of a difference before but I thought the spacer SB was only for the 12iS (mine is legacy). Also that corrosion on top of the tube has been there since I bought the plane. Nothing was said about it at my condition inspection. Is that just surface corrosion?

EDIT: I sent the pictures to my A&P and he got back to me this morning. He just had the plane apart doing the condition inspection two months ago and he indicated the flaperon tube hasn't moved and that was a non-issue. I asked him about the rust and he said if it were him he'd just remove the rust and paint it.

 

[docjjrmd]

My flaperon tube on the left side seems to have moved. I posted both the left side and right side to show the difference. It's possible that is already like this and I didn't notice but I don't think so. I guess it could be a spacer and I just didn't notice that big of a difference before but I thought the spacer SB was only for the 12iS (mine is legacy). Also that corrosion on top of the tube has been there since I bought the plane. Nothing was said about it at my condition inspection. Is that just surface corrosion?

It looks to me to likely be original as there is paint on plastic insert on the left as well as a wear line that appears to have some age on it. One opinion for what its worth. If its moved, its because the 2 bolts/welded plate holding the tube to bellcrank assembly are damaged. It deserves a deeper dive and lifting the access plate in the floor of the baggage compartment to look at push rods, bellcrank, and the tube. This is a critical flight control and you want to make sure its ok.

The flaperon tubes clearly are rusting. They are powder coated steel. Though not friendly gymnastics in a completed plane they can be removed and repainted after mitigating the rust if not damaged. Second option is just pull the wings and clean up what's outside the plane. I think I would take a hard look at them for sure, including slipping a borescope in the tube when wings are off to look at the inside of the tube where the damage may be more insidious and worse simply because its out of sight. If the originals can be salvaged much easier as replacements would have to be matched drilled per original KAI's. There are folks here who are flying planes of the same age as yours and may be better placed to discuss. The right looks in worse shape than the left.

 

[rdockery_3]

It looks to me to likely be original as there is paint on plastic insert on the left as well as a wear line that appears to have some age on it. One opinion for what its worth. If its moved, its because the 2 bolts/welded plate holding the tube to bellcrank assembly are damaged. It deserves a deeper dive and lifting the access plate in the floor of the baggage compartment to look at push rods, bellcrank, and the tube. This is a critical flight control and you want to make sure its ok.

The flaperon tubes clearly are rusting. They are powder coated steel. Though not friendly gymnastics in a completed plane they can be removed and repainted after mitigating the rust if not damaged. Second option is just pull the wings and clean up what's outside the plane. I think I would take a hard look at them for sure, including slipping a borescope in the tube when wings are off to look at the inside of the tube where the damage may be more insidious and worse simply because its out of sight. If the originals can be salvaged much easier as replacements would have to be matched drilled per original KAI's. There are folks here who are flying planes of the same age as yours and may be better placed to discuss. The right looks in worse shape than the left.

I sent the pictures to my A&P and he got back to me this morning. He just had the plane apart doing the condition inspection two months ago and he indicated the flaperon tube hasn't moved and that was a non-issue. I asked him about the rust and he said if it were him he'd just remove the rust and paint it.