Leading edge skin

[n1410d]

Almost a year ago a tornado hit KGPM and ripped the doors off my hangar. The doors hit the right side of my cowling and then landed on the leading edge of the left wing. The damage to both the cowl and the leading edge between the wing root and the strut is extensive. I’m looking for both a source for leading edges (if they exist ) and helpful hints from anyone who has replaced a leading edge or re skinned a wing. Any tricks or gotchas that anyone has experienced would be greatly appreciated.

Patrick Mahaffey
C-170A N1410D

[GAHorn]

Hi, Patrick! Long time... no see!

I suggest you contact Del Lehmann in Mena for advice on this. Did any of the “D-ribs” get damaged?

(Pics would be helpful for us as well as for Del to give advice.)

[n1410d]

Yes it has been a long time. I just got doors back on my hangar (almost a year later) and I didn’t want to start working until I had a secure hangar again. It’s been a frustrating year, but time to get back to work. I have just now started getting the wing ready to remove from the airplane. It appears some of the nose ribs may have been dinged. I posted a few photos of the leading edge as well as the cowling.

Patrick

[c170b53]

Maybe its time for a Horton stall kit? Hard to tell from the pics but I would consider cutting a hole (rectangle) , tapping out the damage, have an inside doubler on the hole and covering the hole with the Horton. Just an idea and would take some work to do but possibly easier than a leading edge replacement.

[GAHorn]

Patrick, it’s difficult to determine from the pic, but one of the things to consider when wing damage occurs is the aft spar, spar attach and carry-thrus.
The stress that wing damage places on the rear spar/attach can be insidious, and that area is less robust than the front spar/attach. Since you’re removing the wing, you might want to pay special attention to that area.
Also, that spar cap on the front spar forward of the fuel tank is a place corrosion loves to hide out, and removing that leading edge completely will expose the area for inspection. Just hopin’ to help...