I thought this a worthwhile suggestion. So today I took the plane up to get all the standing water off the wings. I figured I could pop one off the wingtip I expect to be getting redone next month. It turns out these things are very hard. I figured they would pop open and reveal primer or glass underneat, with or without water trapped in there. No go. I didn't succeed in breaking any open. I'll see what we find when sandpaper gets taken to it next month.Tommy wrote:Did you or anyone experiencing the same problem actually break open a blister and observe water or just an empty dry shell?Lance Murray wrote:yes, the blisters diminished and hardened after the plane dried out and some time passed.
MY DA40 has the pox
Moderators: Rick, Lance Murray
- Rich
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Re: MY DA40 has the pox
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
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Re: MY DA40 has the pox
Rich, in my opinion I would consider your findings troublesome. I hope it isn't the resin itself that is lifting.
Let us know what your findings are.
Let us know what your findings are.
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Re: MY DA40 has the pox
Soooo. Got the wingtip reworked. The "bubbles' are actually in the primer. The wingtip had to be sanded down to the carbon fiber. There's no composite delamination or resin deterioration. But the shop says it's definitely a problem with surface prep or the initial primer mixing or application. Perhaps not allowing the initial primer coat enough time to cure before applying the next layer of primer or paint.
There aren't any actual voids in those little "bubbles". They are something forming of the primer itself. Why it took all these years to materialize is a mystery.
The conclusion of the shop is that it is not critical to get this problem rectified and it's strictly a cosmetic defect. But I may take it to London one of these days so the factory can see it first hand (since they maintain they never heard of such a thing).
There aren't any actual voids in those little "bubbles". They are something forming of the primer itself. Why it took all these years to materialize is a mystery.
The conclusion of the shop is that it is not critical to get this problem rectified and it's strictly a cosmetic defect. But I may take it to London one of these days so the factory can see it first hand (since they maintain they never heard of such a thing).
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
- Tim H
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Re: MY DA40 has the pox
Rich - glad to hear it's strictly cosmetic and nothing more serious. It will be interesting to hear what the factory says.
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Re: MY DA40 has the pox
The last post in this thread is almost 6 years old, but I felt the need to reopen it...
Actually, I finished my Annual Inspection today, and after I put the airplane back together, I always give it a thorough wax job. This year was no different, but I noticed some pinpoint paint defects on the control surfaces and wingtips. Nothing on the fuselage or wing skins. See the photo below: Not sure what to make of them. They aren't really noticeable unless you get very close. In the photo, you can see them best adjacent to the reflection of the fluorescent light. Overall, the paint on my 18 year old airframe actually looks pretty good, as it has always been hangared. Anyway, just wondering if anyone else had seen anything like this, but since my airplane is one of the oldest DA-40s flying, and I just noticed it this year...
Steve
Actually, I finished my Annual Inspection today, and after I put the airplane back together, I always give it a thorough wax job. This year was no different, but I noticed some pinpoint paint defects on the control surfaces and wingtips. Nothing on the fuselage or wing skins. See the photo below: Not sure what to make of them. They aren't really noticeable unless you get very close. In the photo, you can see them best adjacent to the reflection of the fluorescent light. Overall, the paint on my 18 year old airframe actually looks pretty good, as it has always been hangared. Anyway, just wondering if anyone else had seen anything like this, but since my airplane is one of the oldest DA-40s flying, and I just noticed it this year...
Steve
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Re: MY DA40 has the pox
It seems you suffer from the same issue as everyone else in this serial number range.
- astaib
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Re: MY DA40 has the pox
I will check mine tomorrow.
Serial number 40.026
Serial number 40.026
Arnaud
DA40 Star 180 / 40.026 / 2001
Wingtip, landing and taxing LED (Whelen)
Skitube
GNS430 NON-WAAS
Steam gauges
Non certified ADS-b
DA40 Star 180 / 40.026 / 2001
Wingtip, landing and taxing LED (Whelen)
Skitube
GNS430 NON-WAAS
Steam gauges
Non certified ADS-b
- Steve
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Re: MY DA40 has the pox
Probably, but the 'lesions' that Rich described are different than what mine has, and mine are just on the 'small' parts (flaps, ailerons, wingtips). Nothing visible on the rest of the airplane (at least, yet).Lance Murray wrote: ↑Sat Mar 02, 2019 7:37 pm It seems you suffer from the same issue as everyone else in this serial number range.
Steve
- Rich
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Re: MY DA40 has the pox
These kind of look the same as mine. Little tiny bumps randomly protruding from the surface. Sort of hemispherical with a horizontal diameter of .5-ish mm and vertical protrusion maybe half that. Now they are on all upward-facing surfaces on the plane, to varying degrees of bumps-per-sq. meter.Steve wrote: ↑Sat Mar 02, 2019 8:21 pmProbably, but the 'lesions' that Rich described are different than what mine has...Lance Murray wrote: ↑Sat Mar 02, 2019 7:37 pm It seems you suffer from the same issue as everyone else in this serial number range.
But they all seem to be the same size. I've recently acquired a better set of calipers and will try to get better measurements as soon as I can clear the glacier from in front of my hangar
Last edited by Rich on Sat Mar 02, 2019 8:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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
- Steve
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Re: MY DA40 has the pox
I'll try to get some accurate measurements next time I am out at the hangar. No snow here, but weather has been lousy. Good month to have done my Annual - I didn't miss many good flying days...