Service difficulty report · Sump · Cessna 172M

Difficulty date
October 17, 2025
Submitted
October 18, 2025
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N61789
Make and model
Cessna 172M
Aircraft serial
17264802
Aircraft time
4,400 hours
Engine
Lyc O320E3D
Engine time
4,400 hours
Part
Sump
Part number
S12581
Condition
Broken
Location
Zone 100
Part time
4,400 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

STATIC CONDENSATION BULB P/N S-1258-1 FOUND SEPARATED FROM AN 1/8 PIPE BY PIPE 90 DEGREE FITTING. THESE CONDENSATION BULBS ARE OF VERY CHEAP PLASTIC AND ARE FAMOUS FOR LEAKING RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO OTHER PART OF BETTER QUALITY. I HAVE SEEN THESE PARTS CAUSE THE 91-411 TEST TO FAIL MANY TIMES. AIRCRAFT SPRUCE SELLS THEM AND THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY SEND ANOTHER IF THE NEW PART FAILS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE PROBLEM. LOCAL REPAIR STATION SAID WE NEEDED TWO IN A 182 SO WE ORDERED FOUR-YUP TWO WERE BAD RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX. PLASTIC CRACKS EASILY WITH EVEN MILD TORQUE IN INSERTION IN THE AN FITTING.

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