News
Cessna launches single-engine safety initiative
May 23, 2012, Wichita, Kan. - Cessna Aircraft Company is building on a
proactive safety initiative started in 2011 designed to educate single
engine owner/operators on new inspection procedures.
May 23, 2012 By Carey Fredericks
The latest effort is aimed at 100 series single-engine piston aircraft
owners around the world, and informs them about new supplemental
aircraft inspection procedures that will be added to 100 series Cessna
service manuals.
The supplemental inspections cover Cessna single-engine piston aircraft produced between 1946 and 1986.
"We've set up 40-hour training classes in Wichita for mechanics to be
trained on the non-destructive inspection techniques, such as ultrasound
and eddy current. These techniques will then be used to inspect
high-time Cessna single engine airplanes. The intent is to not only
teach them what they are looking for, but also how to identify issues
that can occur more frequently with older, high-time airframes," said
Tom Ronnau, Cessna's manager of Technical Service Propeller Products.
"Owners are encouraged to make contact with their local Cessna service
affiliate in order to schedule time to complete these mandatory
inspections. The key with these inspections is to identify any serious
corrosion or fatigue damage present, and if there is, get the airplane
out of service and repaired."
The criteria for initial visual inspections will vary by model and
aircraft age or hours of operation and will focus primarily on signs of
corrosion or structural fatigue damage. Cessna authorized service
providers will have special training and access to specific equipment
for the inspections and for repairs, if required.
"Corrosion and fatigue are inevitable on any make and model of airframe
with a high amount of hours. However, with early detection and proper
maintenance, severity and effects can be minimized," said Beth Gamble,
Cessna's principal airframe structure engineer. "The 100-series
inspection requirements are very simple, and begin with a visual
inspection that can be done quickly by a trained inspector during an
annual inspection."
The inspection procedures are available at no cost on the customer access portion of the Customer Service page of Cessna.com.
An interactive presentation is available on the customer access portion
of the Customer Service page of Cessna.com and a short video explaining
the inspection process is on Cessna's YouTube channel at youtube.com/CessnaAircraftCo.
