Cessna 172 Annual: Part 2

We take a brief look at the complete annual inspection protocol for a Cessna 172.

Thursday, November 02, 2023 at 06:41 PM ET

Verified

When beginning an annual inspection, the inspector will be on the lookout for cracks, carbon trails, oil leaks, and parts hanging. [Credit: Elijah Lisyany]

Key Takeaways:

Corey performed a comprehensive annual inspection of his 1966 Cessna 172H, systematically examining all major components from flight controls and the powerplant (including compression checks and spark plug inspection) to brakes and tires, diligently looking for cracks, corrosion, and leaks using AC 43.13 as a guide.
The inspection involved detailed preventative maintenance steps, such as de-paneling, oil changes with screen checks, applying corrosion inhibitors (AVBLEND, Corrosion X), and meticulous documentation of all findings and corrective actions on a "squawk sheet."
All identified discrepancies, including an inoperative nav radio and a nose-gear shimmy, were resolved. Corey, now an IA, signed off the aircraft in the logbook and conducted a successful test flight, officially returning the Cessna to service.

See a mistake? Contact us.

When we last left Corey, he had relocated his 1966 Cessna 172H to its new home in a T-hangar at Newnan-Coweta Airport (KCCO) in Georgia and was prepping for his annual inspection. He pulled the pertinent airworthiness directives (ADs), mapped out a plan, and reviewed other technical data like service bulletins (SBs). Now, it’s time to get down to business.

Inspection

Using the AC 43.13 as his guide, Corey began diligently and methodically going over his airplane with a keen inspector’s eye. These first few passes around are critical, as they will start telling the story of the state of your aircraft. It is essential to look for cracks, carbon trails, oil leaks, and parts hanging when they should be fastened.