Service difficulty report · Hinge · Cessna 172

Difficulty date
July 23, 2011
Submitted
August 7, 2011
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N6340E
Make and model
Cessna 172
Aircraft serial
46440
Aircraft time
3,700 hours, 3,000 cycles
Part
Hinge
Condition
Broken
Location
Pax Door
Stage of operation
CL
How discovered
V
Nature of condition
D
Precautionary procedure
A

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

What was found

UPPER DOOR HINGE ON THE LT DOOR BROKE IN FLIGHT CAUSING THE DOOR TO PULL AWAY FROM THE PLANE. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO HOLD THE DOOR AND FLY THE PLANE AND LAND AT A NEARBY AIRPORT. THE HINGE BROKE THROUGH THE RIVET HOLES ON THE PART OF THE HINGE THAT ATTACHES TO THE FUSELAGE. NOTICED THIS PROBLEN ON A SLIGHTLY NEWER PLANE 2 WEEKS LATER WHERE THE HINGE WAS CRACKED.

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