Greetings All,
I just completed my annual condition inspection of N224XS
I discover that the aluminum plate strapped atop the muffler was cracked
bilaterally just inside its retaining straps starting forward and
extending
backward. I stop drilled them.
Last year it was the muffler that cracked in several places in or near the
down-
pipe sockets. No problems there this year.
Has anyone else seen this? Since there are no apparent structural
pressures
on this piece of aluminum, the cracks maybe related to thermal stress,
i.e.,
different coefficient of expansion of plate vs muffler to which it is
bound.
I just hate cracks in aircraft!
Any thoughts?
Ira N224XS
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