Service difficulty report · Flap · Cessna 172S

Difficulty date
February 10, 2006
Submitted
March 21, 2006
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N3533U
Make and model
Cessna 172S
Aircraft serial
172S8890
Engine
Lyc IO360L2A
Propeller
Mcauly 1A170E
Part
Flap
Part number
052390138
Part serial
008433
Condition
Cracked
Location
Wings
Part time
1,200 hours
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
F
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

AIRCRAFT CAME IN FOR AN ANNUAL INSPECTION, DAMAGE TO THE FLAPS WERE FOUND DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION PROCESS. RT FLAP HAD CRACKS RADIATING OUT FROM RIVETS ON LOWER T/E SKIN, PLUS CRACKS RADIATING OUT FROM L/E SKIN, ON BOTTOM OF FLAP, IB OF MOUNTING BRACKET. DAMAGE DESCRIBED WAS ON RT FLAP. LT FLAP HAD SAME DAMAGE, ONLY LESS SEVERE. THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS SUSPECTED TO BE CAUSED FROM LOWERING THE FLAPS AT TOO HIGH AN AIRSPEED. FLIGHT DEPARTMENT CHAIRMAN AGREED TO DISCUSS THIS POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE OTHER FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS, SO THEYY CAN DISCUSS THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR STUDENTS. (K)

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