When duplicating a damaged aircraft part, what aspects must be matched?

When duplicating a damaged aircraft part, it is essential to match strength, material, and dimensions to ensure the new part functions identically to the original.

Matching the dimensions ensures that the part fits perfectly in the aircraft assembly, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity and safety of the structure. However, just having the correct size is not enough; the strength of the material must also be equivalent to withstand the same loads and stresses as the original part. Finally, the material must match the original to ensure compatibility with its mechanical properties, behavior under stress, and resistance to environmental factors.

These factors are critical in aerospace applications, where safety and performance are paramount. Simply matching one aspect, such as only the dimensions or material, would not provide a comprehensive solution, as it could lead to failures in structural performance under operational loads. Weight and appearance are less critical than these fundamental properties as they do not directly affect the structural integrity of the aircraft component.