Testing the Hardware After a USM Retrofit

A Cessna 172 takes its first flight after an avionics panel upgrade with used-serviceable material (USM).

Richard Scarbrough

Thursday, April 04, 2024 at 11:32 AM ET

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A Cessna 172 avionics panel upgrade with used-serviceable material (USM). [Credit: Elijah Lisyany]

Key Takeaways:

Corey Sampson undertook a major avionics retrofit for his Cessna 172 using used-serviceable material (USM), sourcing components from another aircraft.
The installation process, largely self-performed by Sampson, emphasized meticulous planning, a clean work environment, and professional support for specialized checks, with the project completing installation and testing within six weeks.
The upgrade involved installing new avionics like Garmin G5 Electronic Flight Instruments, removing obsolete equipment, and undergoing thorough ground and flight testing.
The article highlights the importance of adapting maintenance plans for continued airworthiness with new equipment and clarifies that Garmin service advisories, unlike Airworthiness Directives, are not mandatory.

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It is springtime, and that means a return to the skies.

Recently, we cheered on Stephen Mercer as Gardner Lowe Aviation Services in Peachtree City, Georgia, put the finishing touches on his family’s 1982 Piper PA-32R-301T Saratoga. Now, it is time for the pull-offs from that job to find a new life in Corey Sampson’s Cessna 172. We have been tracking this story from the beginning with Sampson’s decision to incorporate used-serviceable material (USM) in his retrofit.