Service difficulty report · Bulkhead · Cessna 172S

Difficulty date
June 9, 2008
Submitted
July 16, 2008
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N537SP
Make and model
Cessna 172S
Aircraft serial
172S8393
Engine
Lyc IO360A1A
Part
Bulkhead
Condition
Cracked
Location
Prop Spinner
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 A 100 HR INSPECTION, PROPELLER SPINNER FWD BULKHEAD WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED FROM A PROP BOLT HOLE OUT TOWARD THE OUTER EDGE OF THE BULKHEAD, APPROX 1.5 INCH LONG. THE PROP BOLTS AND THE BULKHEAD WERE REMOVED FRO THE AIRCRAFT. CLOSER INSPECTION SHOWED THE CRACK ORIGINATED FROM THE OUTER APEX OF THE WASHER MARK, NOT THE BOLT HOLE ITSELF. ALSO, ALL BOLT HOLES WERE FOUND TO BE CRACKED IN THE SAME LOCATION (OUTER APEX OF WASHER IMPRESSION), RANGING FROM .2500 TO 1.0 IN LENGTH. THE MM HAS A NOTE THAT SAYS, "THE MOUNTING BOLT HOLES IN THE FORWARD BULKHEAD MAY BE UNDERSIZED DUE TO THE ORIGINAL TORQUING OF THE MOUNTING BOLTS". IT IS PLAIN TO SEE THIS CRUSHES THE ALUMINUM, CASUING STRESS CONCENTRATIONS AROUND THE WASHERS. IT WILL NOT BE A GOOD THING IF THE SPINNER DEPARTS THE AIRCRAFT. INCLUDED ARE MM EXCERPTS, AND A PHOTOCOPY OF THE CRACKS. (K)

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