Cessna 172 Maintenance Manual page 103

1. General
A. The elevator assembly consists of a left and right section bolted together near the airplane centerline
by torque tubes. Each section consists of a front and a rear spar, ribs, skins, and a trim tab assembly.
A balance weight is bolted to the outboard tip leading edge.
2. Negligible Damage
A. Any smooth skin dents that are free from cracks, abrasions, and sharp corners, and which are not
stress wrinkles and do not interfere with any internal structure or mechanism, may be considered
as negligible damage. Exception to negligible damage on elevator surfaces is the front spar, cracks
appearing in web of hinge fitting or in tip rib which supports overhanging balance weight. Cracks
in overhanging tip rib, in the area at the front spar intersection with web of the rib, also cannot be
considered negligible.
3. Repairable Damage
A. Skin patches may be used to repair skin damage. These patches are illustrated in Chapter 51, Typical
Skin Repairs, Figure 801. For skin damage which includes corrugations, refer to Chapter 51, Typical
Skin Repairs, Figure 802.
B. Flight control surfaces must be balanced after repair or painting, in accordance with balancing
procedures outlined in Chapter 51, Flight Control Surface Balancing.
4. Replacement Damage
A. Warped and cracked skin, ribs, and hinge brackets are replaceable items. Where damage is
extensive, replacement of the entire assembly is recommended.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY
SINGLE ENGINE
STRUCTURAL REPAIR MANUAL
ELEVATOR
© Cessna Aircraft Company
55-20-00
Page 801
Jun 1/2005