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When inspecting an older C-150, what are the most important and the most accessible areas to check for corrosion? 1965 model with newly overhauled engine. At this point, I'm more concerned with the airframe than the motor.
Cheers, Elliot

Look in every hole that you can. Remove the cowl and look at the firewall. If your doing a pre buy its not considered bad from to remove the plastic tips on the wings and stabs and shine a bright light into them. Remove ALL the inspection covers and shine a light on as much real estate as you can. Pull up the carpets inside. Remove the back of the baggage compartment cover and get a good look inside the rear fuselage.

Remove the covers along the wingroots and inspect the spar carry through bolts and what you can see of the spar.

What you are looking for is large pitting of the aluminum surface, scale or spalling with flakes of stuff which are discolored, whitish, and show loss of metal. Large areas of this or areas which show deep pitting are bad.

Most of our airplanes being the age that they are have some corrosion to varying degrees. Its ok to have some, but not the kind where you see the stuff I mentioned above. Small dots of white, or a very thin smattering of what looks like frost is ok since its mostly just surface stuff and does not affect the integrity of the aluminum.

It will be very rare to find an airplane without some corrosion so dont rule out an otherwise nice aircraft if it has some minor surface evidence of corrosion.

What in the 1st picture is acceptable. What in the 2nd picture is not.

Well, to inspect for corrosion, you have to know what you are looking at. There are several types of corrosion, most Cessna's have the common types, and can be treated. The more severe types can condemn an airframe, and are hard line deal breakers where you pass on even considering buying it. Every Cessna from the 1980's had filiform corrosion due to the paint Cessna switched to- it is surface corrosion that looks like worms under paint. The more severe corrosion is found in structural areas, such as the wing attach points/ blocks / carry thru spars. Some disassembly may be required to inspect these areas. The clue is finding corrosion in obvious open areas, usually means it could be worse in hidden areas.

That first picture looks much better than most of our birds I'd bet. mine has some very minor surface corrosion in the common places. Its been outside a lot.

The first picture is of my plane, taken in 2007. The 2nd picture is of Jim Hillabrand's old Queenie. I think he has donated it to an A&P school.

For photos of corrosion discovered in 150's and 152's view my message post "Corrosion Prevention" dated 9/23/15.

From my experience, your best friends that help the most when inspecting an air frame are:


1. The inside of a dark hangar, and

2. The contents you'll see in the picture below.


Brian is dead nuts on....you need to know: 1. what you're looking at. 2. what you're looking for and 3. where to look.

Without these 3 parameters in mind, you'll resemble Howdy Doody sitting on a fence post sporting his famous smile......no offense intended.

I played that Howdy Doody roll when I bought Queenie so I know that famous smile of his intimately and scored an A+ playing that roll.

I played that dummy roll like no one before.



Jim

Hey Barney, I looked for the post but couldn't find it....could you point me in the right direction..

Thanks!

It is in the Projects and Restoration section. 9/23/2015. Photos of corrosion that I have encountered/




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