Service difficulty report · Bulkhead · Cessna 172S

Difficulty date
December 15, 2004
Submitted
February 14, 2005
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N5023J
Make and model
Cessna 172S
Aircraft serial
172S8964
Part
Bulkhead
Part number
05522311
Condition
Cracked
Location
Spinner
Part time
97 hours
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
K

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

DURING A 100 HR INSPECTION THE FORWARD SPINNER BULKHEAD WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED AROUND 4 OF THE 6 BOLT HOLES. THINK THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE TORQUE OF THE PROP WAS RAISED AND THE NEW TORQUE IS NOT ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE BULKHEAD AROUND THE BOLT HOLES TO BE PULLED INTO THE CHAMFERED AREA OF THE PROPELLER BOLT HOLES. THIS STRESSES THE BULKHEAD AND ALLOWS CRACKS TO START. TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM POSSIBLY CONSIDER MAKING THE BULKHEAD OF THICKER MATERIAL OR REDESIGNING THE PART SO THAT WHEN IT IS TORQUED THERE IS STRESS RELIEF AROUND THE BOLT HOLES SO THAT THE BULKHEAD SITS FLAT. (K)

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