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Why does nobody talk about the 'duct tape on a flap track' write-up from that old Cessna manual...
I thought it was a total joke until we found the actual 1978 service bulletin for a temporary sealant procedure... has anyone actually had to use that one?
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schmidt.grant8d ago
That 1978 bulletin was for the 100 series flap gap seals. It wasn't duct tape, it was a specific fabric tape with a polysulfide coating. We had a guy at our field who flew his 172 with that exact fix for over a year while waiting for the proper parts. It held just fine. Those old manuals had some surprisingly practical field repairs.
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seth_green858d ago
Honestly, @schmidt.grant is totally right about it being a specific tape. It wasn't just any duct tape. I've seen that exact field fix hold up too, but you gotta follow the bulletin to the letter. The key is the polysulfide sealant over the fabric tape, otherwise it'll just peel off in the airflow. It's a legit temp fix when parts are impossible to find. Just make sure your IA signs off on it and you check it every flight.
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