Leak in the windshield

Nikhiln25

Nikhiln25

Pre-takeoff checklist
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nikhiln25
Flew through what I thought was going to be light precip but turned out to be heavier than that. No safety of flight issues but noticed water bubbling up the windshield( hopefully clear in the pic)

Has anyone else experienced similar? Is this a fixable issue or the answer is don’t fly in the rain?
 

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The seal is bad. You MAY be able to remove the cover strips and add some sealant, but it may not be sufficient.
 
Nikhiln25 said:
Cessna 182R 1981. No indication in the log books so I’m guessing original
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Is this the 1st time you've seen water at that location?
Are you positive the water pictured is from the windshield?
Perhaps pull some of the door post trim and see if there are any water traces leading to that point. It just seems like a unique place to get interior water leakage from the windshield in flight.
Is the lower exterior windshield retainer strip riveted on or its attached with screws?
 
Bell206 said:
Is this the 1st time you've seen water at that location?
Are you positive the water pictured is from the windshield?
Perhaps pull some of the door post trim and see if there are any water traces leading to that point. It just seems like a unique place to get interior water leakage from the windshield in flight.
Is the lower exterior windshield retainer strip riveted on or its attached with screws?
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Yes first time. I’ve never really flown in rain before until yesterday

That’s a good point it could be from the door trims. Everything is dried up now.

I have avoided any and all water exposure for my plane for this reason (not wanting to find surprises)
 
I doubt that it is the original windscreen after all these years?
My plane had the windscreen replaced and it leaks in heavy rain although not in that location as yours.
My solution has been not to fly in heavy rain.
You could seal your windshield from the outside.
Like said above, what do the rivets look like along the bottom of your windshield?
 
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Try RTV bead around windshield. Probably rip. Old school was 3M window sealant came in pliable strips. You pushed it in between windshield and trim.

Replace or reset windshield with new felt bedding.
 
Cessna windshields are installed using a self-stick felt tape folded over all the edges. No sticky sealants, no gluing the windshield in. There's a reason for that: the forward fuselage flexes around that big windshield, and any adhesive means transferring loads to the acrylic, and it will crack. That flex is quite noticeable when starting the engine, as it catches and accelerates from starting RPM to idle. You'll hear the windshield squeaking in some airplanes. We encountered a 172 where the windshield would actually knock during start; whoever replaced it did not trim it enough where it comes close to the wing leading edges, and as the fuselage flexed it slammed the windshield into the LE.

The felt tape chafes in the frame and retainers, and looseness results. That lets water get past the felt.
 
Nikhiln25 said:
I have avoided any and all water exposure for my plane for this reason (not wanting to find surprises)
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You can always use a hose and nozzle on the ground to check for/chase water leaks as well.
 
My 172 windscreen was sealed with this stuff. 3M strip calk. You have to remove some trim to get it in. If you remove any fairings you will find this stuff under them at least on my plane.
You would be better to use black external calk now that the windshield is installed.IMG_0006.jpeg
 
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