WIX Archives
Call the FAA's New York Aircraft Certification Office
Posted by bdk on Fri Jan 23, 2004 06:25:57 PM
In reply top Re: Grumman Goose/Brake Down posted by PRMay on Fri Jan 23, 2004 07:27:05 AM
I don't have the answer here for this specific aircraft, but the aircraft may have been built in subassemblies that would make it convenient to drill the airframe apart without damage or undue effort. You would likely still need some kind of jig to align the aircraft for reassembly however.
The erection and maintenance manual or the structural repair manual would be unlikely to note these areas since this would never be done in the field, but it could be relatively simple to reduce the hull into smaller subassemblies.
I think that Corsair fuselages (Bearcats too?) are often broken down at a production break just behind the cockpit for restoration. That requires a bit of drilling but otherwise doesn't really do any damage.
I can see how the field level maintenance and repair manuals would not recommend this kind of activity since in the case of a seaplane it might affect the sealing of the hull. A military repair depot might do this kind of work (splicing airplanes back together), but they would also have an engineering and tooling staff available to support the effort.
Bottom line, I wouldn't expect any maintenance or repair manual to depict or authorize this, but it is often done now for major repairs and restoration.
The certificate is owned by Grumman American Aviation Corporation and the FAA's New York Aircraft Certification Office (Tel: 516/256-7533) oversees this certificate. Maybe Grumman American still supports this aircraft? See if you can get contact info from the FAA office!
If you don't have any luck there, you might want to check with the EAA, or even look in the FAA registry to find other Goose owners. I couldn't find any type clubs on the web, other than maybe the Seaplane Pilots Association.
: "the hull is an integral part of the body. The wing center
: section, permantly bolted to the top of the body, include
: s the engine nacelles and built in fuel tanks."
:
: So I guess the answer is - not usually.
"Helping preserve the history of the Grumman Goose"