Wingtip replacement

[arnoha]

sigh...the drama with my plane never ends. This time a renter backed my plane into another, my left wingtip into other rudder. Not a huge deal, chief mechanic got it airworthy again, but the wingtip needs replacement. It's a 2003 172S. Cessna wants $1100 or so for the part, but I notice Knots2U only wants $320: http://www.knots2u.net/abs-plastic-wing-tips-set-of-two-cessna-late-model-20-52-80a/ Anyone have any experience with their products? Even though this is on the renter, I've no interest in soaking them if I don't have a reason to. Annoyed and it shouldn't have happened, but we all make mistakes.

Also, the right wingtip isn't painted right now, as the previous owner had a similar mishap and didn't paint the replacement when he put it on. Figuring now would be a cheap time to get that one painted, too. Gives me an opportunity to change the wingtip color, if I want to. What do you guys think of accent colors on wingtips? Thinking about using the red accent stripe color on the wingtip.

 

[sourdough44]

Knots2U usually has great stuff, should be no worries there. I’d be looking at all options, repair, salvage, or the Knots2U replacement tip.

Stuff happens, had a big bird messing with me yesterday. I was able to avoid a costly strike.

 

[arnoha]

Knots2U usually has great stuff, should be no worries there. I’d be looking at all options, repair, salvage, or the Knots2U replacement tip.

Stuff happens, had a big bird messing with me yesterday. I was able to avoid a costly strike.

Yeah, it's got an airworthy repair right now...and if it were my mistake, I might leave it at that until it came time to sell the plane. But it's not...as it's someone else's mistake, my opportunity to have this resolved is only now. Like I said, I'm not interested in soaking the renter and I'm not angry. Just would like it put back such that the resale value of the aircraft isn't affected. I want to charge them the minimum for getting it back to that. A good salvage piece is also an option I'd forgotten about; thanks for suggesting that.

 

[frfly172]

You could also look at metco tips.

 

[455 Bravo Uniform]

Salvage may be brittle due to age. I think fiberglass is going to be less prone to aging issues than plastics (cracks), and is maybe more easily patched. Not sure if the Knots pieces are fiberglass or not.

 

[arnoha]

You could also look at metro tips.

Link? My google-fu is failing me. Can't seem to come up with anything plane related with that query.

Salvage may be brittle due to age. I think fiberglass is going to be less prone to aging issues than plastics (cracks), and is maybe more easily patched. Not sure if the Knots pieces are fiberglass or not.

Fiberglass does not appear to be an option. The stock ones are plastic, as you can see in the picture. The ones Knots2U sells (not their own, apparently, not sure who makes them) are also plastic. They have fiberglass for earlier models, but not that I can find certified for the 172S. If you have a link, I'll take it.

 

[455 Bravo Uniform]

I missed that it was an’03 S model and didn’t realize they differed in certification.

 

[James331]

Depends on the paint scheme of the rest of the plane.

Might want to kick in a few bucks yourself and get the wingtip lights, knots to you has them, though I would get them without lights, as you can source those cheaper yourself.

http://www.knots2u.net/cessna-wingtips-with-landing-lights-early-model-set-of-two-rd-9000/

 

[arnoha]

Depends on the paint scheme of the rest of the plane.

Might want to kick in a few bucks yourself and get the wingtip lights, knots to you has them, though I would get them without lights, as you can source those cheaper yourself.

http://www.knots2u.net/cessna-wingtips-with-landing-lights-early-model-set-of-two-rd-9000/

Yeah, I saw that. The S and R models already have the landing lights in the wings, so getting the extra one on the other side isn't really worth about 5 AMU.

 

[asicer]

Fiberglass does not appear to be an option. The stock ones are plastic, as you can see in the picture. The ones Knots2U sells (not their own, apparently, not sure who makes them) are also plastic. They have fiberglass for earlier models, but not that I can find certified for the 172S. If you have a link, I'll take it.

Will this not work?
http://www.knots2u.net/fiberglass-wing-tip-cessna-late-model-gf-0723200/

P.S. Looks like that rudder got the worst end of the deal.

 

[James331]

Yeah, I saw that. The S and R models already have the landing lights in the wings, so getting the extra one on the other side isn't really worth about 5 AMU.

Thought it was like 1 to 1.5AMU

 

[GRG55]

Link? My google-fu is failing me. Can't seem to come up with anything plane related with that query...

This is the company he was referring to. But I don't know if they have anything for your late model 'S'.

http://metcoaire.com/products/product_index.shtml

 

[arnoha]

Will this not work?
http://www.knots2u.net/fiberglass-wing-tip-cessna-late-model-gf-0723200/

P.S. Looks like that rudder got the worst end of the deal.

Oh, good catch. Thought I looked at them all, but missed that that one was good for the S. Thank you! I'll look into that...about the same price.

Yeah, I'll leave the rudder conversation to the owner of that aircraft. It's a Skylane. Fortunately, they're both club planes.

Thought it was like 1 to 1.5AMU

For the wingtips. Add lights. Then add labor (quoted at 14 hours). Then add painting, which isn't included in the quoted estimate for labor. 5 AMU is about where it lands. I will be getting about 1 AMU from the renter, though.

This is the company he was referring to. But I don't know if they have anything for your late model 'S'.

http://metcoaire.com/products/product_index.shtml

Thanks. I see no reference to the S, but apparently my ability to find S's on a page is lacking...note above...so I'll trust you.