Service difficulty report · Heat Exchanger · Cessna 172N

Difficulty date
November 10, 2010
Submitted
March 15, 2011
Operation
Air carrier
Make and model
Cessna 172N
Aircraft time
2,006 hours
Engine
Lyc O360A4A
Part
Heat Exchanger
Part number
PFS13204713
Condition
Cracked
Location
Exhaust Muffler
Component
Exhaust Muffler · Cessna
Component part number
PFS13204
Stage of operation
IN
How discovered
9
Nature of condition
B
Precautionary procedure
K

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

What was found

(CAN) LEAK DETECTED. UPON COMPLETION OF AD 90-03 R2 LEAK IDENTIFIED IN CABIN HEAT EXCHANGER. UNIT IS A FAA-STC AFTERMARKET EXHAUST INSTALLED PER STC SA01801AT. SIMILAR INSTALLATIONS CONTAINING THE SAME DESIGN ARE INSTALLED IN MANY OTHER MODEL AIRCRAFT. IT CONTAINS A UNCONVENTIONAL DESIGN NOT IDENTIFIED IN FAA AC 91-59A (INSPECTION AND CARE OF GENERAL AVIATION EXHAUST SYSTEMS). LEAK OCCURRED IN AREA DIFFICULT TO VISUALLY INSPECT AND REPAIR. ICAW FOR THE EXHAUST INDICATES A 100 HOUR REPETITIVE INSPECTION INCLUDING SUBMERGE PRESSURE TEST. HOWEVER THIS INSPECTION IS NOT REGARDED AS MANDATORY BY TYPICAL USERS. THIS IS THE 5TH TIME A CRACK HAD APPEARED IN THE EXACT SAME AREA. UNIT REPAIRED PER AC43.13 AND RETURNED TO SERVICE.

More about the Cessna 172N