Aileron/Wing Skin Question

Any DA40 related topics

Moderators: Rick, Lance Murray

User avatar
lgrennlee
2 Diamonds Member
2 Diamonds Member
Posts: 25
Joined: Tue Dec 15, 2020 2:53 am
First Name: Logan
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N248DS
Airports: KOWD
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Aileron/Wing Skin Question

Post by lgrennlee »

Hello! I recently acquired a 2012 DA40. It only has about 300 hours of flight time. I was wondering if anyone has seen anything like the image attached?

Essentially the area of the trailing edge of the upper wing skin has deformed slightly and is contacting the leading top edge of the aileron. At the point where they are touching, it is rubbing slightly and leaving a few marks. When looking at the underside of the wing, it is pretty clear why, there is no structure below in the pocket, and the skin itself is relatively thin.

It has been very cold the last few weeks and I'm wondering if this is temperature related. I didn't notice it when I took delivery of the plane.

I'm tempted to just put a little teflon tape on the aileron leading edge to keep the contact down.

Image

Thanks,
Logan
User avatar
smoss
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 742
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2010 12:18 am
First Name: Steve
Aircraft Type: DA40
Airports: KVGT
Has thanked: 57 times
Been thanked: 134 times

Re: Aileron/Wing Skin Question

Post by smoss »

My 2007 touches in exactly the same spot, exactly as you describe, although the gap is not quite as noticeable on the remainder of the wing as on yours. It has been like that forever, and the rub marks have not gotten any more noticeable. I just make sure to keep the area clean and waxed.
Steve
DA40 XL
User avatar
lgrennlee
2 Diamonds Member
2 Diamonds Member
Posts: 25
Joined: Tue Dec 15, 2020 2:53 am
First Name: Logan
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N248DS
Airports: KOWD
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: Aileron/Wing Skin Question

Post by lgrennlee »

Thanks Steve, to Diamond's credit, the left wing is exactly the same!
User avatar
Karl
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 317
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:58 am
First Name: Karl
Aircraft Type: DA40
Airports:
Has thanked: 68 times
Been thanked: 102 times

Re: Aileron/Wing Skin Question

Post by Karl »

I wonder if this is only Canadian built aircraft.

We have 12 DA 40 and have never seen this issue. We are based in Malaysia so the aircraft are subjected to quite high heat but never cold temperatures apart from those related to altitude.
User avatar
Steve
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 1953
Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2010 1:23 am
First Name: Steve
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N432SC
Airports: 1T7
Has thanked: 81 times
Been thanked: 493 times

Re: Aileron/Wing Skin Question

Post by Steve »

Karl wrote: Tue Feb 02, 2021 7:45 am I wonder if this is only Canadian built aircraft.
Same here. Mine was built in Austria, and that area of the wing is straight as an arrow, with uniform clearance across the aileron. Mine lives in TX, so also more moderate temperatures. I would ask Diamond Tech Support...
User avatar
Colin
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 2006
Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2010 8:37 pm
First Name: Colin
Aircraft Type: DA42
Aircraft Registration: N972RD
Airports: KFHR
Has thanked: 319 times
Been thanked: 527 times

Re: Aileron/Wing Skin Question

Post by Colin »

I would be extremely leery of sticking anything into the gap of a primary control surface. The very first Cirrus crash was their first test pilot and the gap between the wing and aileron was too tight and the controls jammed. He was too low for the chute.

So I would have it looked at and, personally, I probably wouldn't fly it until someone said it was normal.
Colin Summers, PP Multi-Engine IFR, ~3,000hrs
colin@mightycheese.com * send email rather than PM
http://www.flyingsummers.com
N972RD DA42 G1000 2.0 s/n 42.AC100 (sold!)
N971RD DA40 G1000 s/n 40.508 (traded)
User avatar
lgrennlee
2 Diamonds Member
2 Diamonds Member
Posts: 25
Joined: Tue Dec 15, 2020 2:53 am
First Name: Logan
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N248DS
Airports: KOWD
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: Aileron/Wing Skin Question

Post by lgrennlee »

Colin,

Thanks for the suggestion. I just contacted Diamond support, they said this isn't something that they have heard of - their engineers are going to have a look. I'll stay on the ground for now!

Thanks,
Logan
User avatar
pietromarx
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 433
Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2016 2:52 am
First Name: Peter
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: NZZZ
Airports: KWHP
Has thanked: 29 times
Been thanked: 156 times

Re: Aileron/Wing Skin Question

Post by pietromarx »

I have a 2012 and it is very similar on both wings as your picture with minor deformation of the thin part of the wing. It is clearly the trailing edge of the wing (not the aileron). The plane lives in SoCal, so not much chance of the freezing, though there is heat.

3 examples in one day a pattern suggests.

I will be interested in hearing what Diamond says.
User avatar
Rich
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 4592
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 12:40 pm
First Name: Rich
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N40XE
Airports: S39 Prineville OR
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 1180 times

Re: Aileron/Wing Skin Question

Post by Rich »

My Canadian-built '02 also has those dips but they are not severe enough to drag on the ailerons.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
User avatar
smoss
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 742
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2010 12:18 am
First Name: Steve
Aircraft Type: DA40
Airports: KVGT
Has thanked: 57 times
Been thanked: 134 times

Re: Aileron/Wing Skin Question

Post by smoss »

pic:
IMG_1710.JPG
Steve
DA40 XL
Post Reply