Ross wrote:

Doug Vetter wrote:

Well, the 172 went into annual this Monday. Only 35 hours on the
clock this year (criminal, I know). But I rationalized that number by
figuring there wouldn't be any surprises this week. Hehe. Boy was I
wrong.

Yea, I knew going in that we'd have to pull the prop because our hub
got caught by a Hartzell AD. Courtesy of a blue light special from
Hartzell (bless their selfless hearts), the hub was 50% off for a
limited time. Add a reseal + shipping, and we're talking 2.2 AMUs for
that alone.

Aside from a few minor issues we figured the annual inspection +
incidentals would run less than 2 AMUs as it usually does, or a bit
over 4 AMUs.

And then I got the call.

Cracks in the spar of the horizontal stabilizer. Looks like we'll
need to send it out and have a new spar installed, which means a strip
and repaint so it doesn't look like garbage. He also found cracks in
the flap that, while not as critical, are best addressed at the same
time with new skins. Both parts can share the shipping crate and
we'll be mixing paint anyway...

The IA says the spar cracks are a fairly common issue with 172s. I
knew something like this plagued C150s (there was an AD on it), but
regarding the 172 this was news to me. Has anyone with a 172 or 182
been hit by this?
If so, was there any means of compliance OTHER than a new spar?
Where did you have the work done?

What did it cost?

Thanks,

Doug
http://www.dvatp.com/


I have a 172 with a 360 hp lycoming. Where are the cracks and how did he
find them? I have not heard of this.


Let's make that a 180 hp / O-360 Lycoming! With that engine I should
have cracks...

--

Regards, Ross
C-172F 180HP
KSWI