Service difficulty report · Bulkhead · Cessna 177RG

Difficulty date
April 1, 2008
Submitted
July 10, 2008
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N7582V
Make and model
Cessna 177RG
Aircraft serial
177RG0873
Part
Bulkhead
Part number
12210628
Condition
Cracked
Location
Fuselage
Part time
2,340 hours
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
V
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 ROUTINE INSP, FOUND PART CRACKED. CHECKED (2) OTHER AC THAT HAPPENED TO BE IN SHOP, FOUND (1) OF THEM TO HAVE A SIMILAR CRACK. THIS SECTION OF BULKHEAD IS ATTACH STRUCTURE FOR LWR ATTACH ANGLE FOR IB FLAP DRIVE BELLCRANK. IT IS CURIOUS THAT THE FACTORY INSTALLED SOME EXTRA REINFORCEMENT STRUCTURE (A BRACKET) IN THIS POSITION IN LT WING. THERE ARE EVEN SOME "PILOT DRILL" (PD) HOLES DRILLED AT FACTORY IN RIB AND HEAVY ATTACH ANGLE ON THE AFFECTED RT SIDE. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT BOTH LT AND RT BELLCRANKS WOULD EXPERIENCE SAME FORE-AFT FORCES BY AIR LOADS ON FLAPS. SO WHY REINFORCE ONLY ONE SIDE? IT IS POSSIBLE THAT FACTORY ASSY LINE NEGLECTED TO INSTALL AN INTENDED SIMILAR REINFORCEMENT ON THE RT SIDE? (K)

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