TIL a stripped screw on a Cessna 172 cowl hinge can turn into a real headache

Happened yesterday on a preflight check, the Phillips head just spun in place. Ended up drilling it out and replacing the hinge plate after three attempts with an extractor bit. What's your go-to method for dealing with seized fasteners on aluminum panels?

2 comments

2 Comments

blair_green8617d ago

Drilling it out is a last resort for me. I always hit it with a good penetrating oil first, let it soak overnight if possible. A hand impact driver with the right bit can break loose a lot of those seized screws without stripping them further.

perry.avery17d ago

Yeah, that overnight soak is a lifesaver for sure.