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Old 28th July 2000 | 16:16
  #7 (permalink)  
CaptainAirProx
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Unhappy

I never like spinning C152's anyway. Far better to spin an aircraft with a proper harness and a parachute.

The flying club I work for has recently had two Cessna 152's with cracked tail fin strengthners. I am not sure what their correct name is but if you look at the root of the tail fin at about mid chord, there is an L shaped piece of metal bolted on both sides to add to the strength of the fin to fuselage join. On both 152's these had cracks in them. We think the damage is caused by perhaps over spinning the aircraft, or illegal attempted aero's, but most likely recoveries from spins into a spiral dive with full rudder still applied. This causing a large side force on the fin above Va etc.

So don't just check the stops!!!

P.S Don't just assume that all C152's spin the same! I recently found that our C152 Taildragger spins rather well!!!
With nearly full fuel, two blokes, an exuberent entry and a full develop spin can take a good few turns to recover. Started at 6000' recovered at 2000'. It behaved more like a Bulldog. Where was my parachute?