All,

I've got a problem that I don't know how to get to. I have an Alpha40 ARF that has a crack running across the firewall at the location where the "plate" for the nose-wheel screws into the firewall. It hasn't broken completely through yet, but it's definitely weakened. I would reinforce it from the backside, but getting to the back of the firewall on this plane is going to be a problem unless I tear more of it up.

What's the proper thing to do here? Suck it up, remove some sheeting, and reinforce from the backside? Make a new firewall? It'd be simpler to reinforce from the front, but would this cause any other problems, other than aesthetics?

Thanks.