Types of corrosion normally found on aircraft include:
Any metal aircraft is a candidate for corrosion, but thousands of single-engine Cessna’s built from 1977 through 1982 seem to be particularly susceptible to the worm-like filiform corrosion that starts under the paint. According to Aviation Consumer magazine, Cessna’s problems started when the company switched to the then-new polyurethane paints for aircraft built in its Pawnee, Kansas, assembly plant. Although the paint was considered superior to old-fashioned enamels and lacquers, Cessna apparently did not follow the paint manufacturer’s recommendations for more extensive preparation of the aluminum surface. A special program to help owners with repainting (called SP79-3S) was set up by Cessna but not widely publicized.
As the general aviation fleet ages, corrosion is becoming an increasingly common problem. Since moisture is a culprit for most common types of corrosion, aircraft based in coastal areas are often in particular danger. Many potential aircraft buyers will shy away from a bird that has spent much time in Florida, along the Gulf Coast or in Pacific Coast areas of the west. Said one aircraft appraiser, “there’s just too much chance that such airplanes are rust buckets.”
Recently repainted aircraft offered for sale from such areas are regarded with particular suspicion by knowledgeable buyers because the paint could be covering up serious corrosion.
Hangaring, frequent washing, and regular treatment with rust inhibitors, such as ACF-50 (Aircraft Corrosion Formula 50), can help dramatically in slowing the deterioration of aircraft from corrosion.
A very thorough visual inspection will reveal most corrosion, and Advisory Circular 43-4A describes corrosion inspections and control for aircraft in great detail. Look for grayish-white powder on aluminum and reddish deposits on ferrous metals. Bumps or blisters in paint signify corrosion occurring under the surface, especially the filiform type common on aluminum that has been poorly prepared for painting. Filiform corrosion looks a little like cottage cheese under the paint.
Pay close attention to the trailing edges of control surfaces where the skins come together. Also, the inside of wheel wells on retractable models is a prime location for corrosion, not surprising considering its exposure to acids, salts, gravel, and other corrosion-producing substances. Use of a magnifying glass may reveal beginnings of corrosion not visible to the naked eye.
Checking for damage inside the aircraft is more difficult but necessary. Remove all inspection plates, and spend some time with a mechanic’s mirror (a mirror mounted on a stick) and a good strong flashlight. You’re looking for gray or whitish deposits on aluminum and the trademark rust on steel.
Areas of airplanes often damaged by corrosion include the propeller, cylinder fins, areas around fuel tanks or bladders, piano-type control hinges, and the battery box. Propeller corrosion occurs in two basic areas: on the surface of the blade, which is constantly abraded and exposed to the elements, and the hub of constant-speed propellers.
Corrosion is Mother Nature’s way to bringing your airplane back to its natural state, and there’s no reversing Mother Nature. Preventing corrosion is much easier than treating it, and one of the best ways is to base the airplane in a dry part of the country, as the Air Force does when it mothballs aircraft in the Arizona desert near Tucson. Other steps include protecting the aircraft in a hangar, washing it often to remove pollutants and dirt, and treating it with ACF-50 or other corrosion inhibitors. If you don’t have a hangar, make use of cabin covers, and ensure that all windows seal tightly to prevent moisture from attacking the fuselage from the inside out.
Removing corrosion is the only sure fix once it’s found. Light surface corrosion can be removed with abrasion (the specifics of which depend on the metallurgy of the corroded part), then application of a corrosion inhibitor, such as zinc-chromate primer, another primer, and then paint. Be careful when removing the corrosion with common steel brushes or stainless brushes that have been used on steel or rust; they will work steel into the aluminum, where it will ruin the paint job. If corrosion is severe enough to have removed a significant amount of metal, replacement of the part is usually the only solution. One corrosion inhibitor commonly used is ACF-50, manufactured by Lear Chemical Research Corporation in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It is a thin film compound formulated to penetrate corrosion deposits to the base of the corrosion cell, where it emulsifies and encapsulates the electrolyte, lifting it away from the metal surface. It penetrates seams, lap joints, cracks, and rivet heads and is normally applied at annual inspection time. Another product, called Boeshield T-9, is made of 13 solvents and oils, along with a wax that remains as a barrier film after the other components have evaporated. It is manufactured by PMS Products, Inc., in Holland, Michigan, and has an initially thin viscosity that is intended to allow it reach into assembled components, dissolve minor corrosion, displace moisture, and leave a coating. Both products come in cans and are sprayed under pressure.