Preflight Pass

Airframe · Lesson 14 of 40

Non-Metallic Structures

Wood, fabric, composite and transparent plastic structures: how each is inspected, what defects to look for, which materials and repairs are acceptable, how composites are stored, how to care for windows, and the safety rules for this work.
14 min read

Last reviewed

Part of A&P Complete

This lesson is in the full course

  • Inspect wood structures for moisture, glue failure, decay and compression failures
  • Identify acceptable wood species, defects and adhesives, and describe common wood repairs
  • Determine fabric covering requirements and judge fabric airworthiness from its breaking strength
  • Describe composite materials, their storage limits, inspection methods and repair choices
  • Apply the handbook's rules for storing, cleaning, repairing and installing acrylic windows