A tiny stripped screw on a Cessna 172 in Denver taught me a big lesson

I was doing an annual inspection and a Phillips head on an inspection plate just spun. I had to drill it out, which added two hours to the job. What's your go-to method for dealing with stuck fasteners without making a mess?

2 comments

2 Comments

karen36816d ago

Ugh, stripped screws are the worst. Before I drill, I always try hitting it with some heat from a small torch, not directly on the screw but around the plate. That breaks the corrosion bond. Then I use an impact driver with the right bit and a solid whack from a hammer. It shocks it loose most of the time. If that fails, I'll carefully cut a slot with a dremel for a flathead screwdriver. Drilling is my absolute last resort.

jackson.wesley16d ago

My old boss taught me that trick with the torch, @karen368, and it's saved me so many times.