Thought composite patch repairs were just a quick fix until I saw one hold for 15 years

Back in '08, we did a bonded composite patch on a small crack in a Cessna 172's wing spar at our shop in Tulsa. I figured it was a band-aid that would need a real metal repair in a few years. The owner just brought it in for its annual, and that patch is still solid with no signs of stress or delamination. The inspection data from the last decade and a half proved me wrong. Has anyone else had a repair method they doubted that just kept working?

3 comments

3 Comments

jade_grant951mo ago

But is that really safe for a plane wing, or just lucky?

dylanwilliams1mo ago

Wait, @jade_grant95, that's a real photo?

robin8368d agoMost Upvoted

My buddy saw that happen once, total fluke.