Sweeps Squawks
What’s going on with the AOPA Sweeps 182?
As most aircraft owners know, when an aircraft comes out of maintenance or undergoes a big upgrade, it’s common for little issues to crop up, and the AOPA Sweepstakes aircraft was no different. In addition, as far we know, it’s been quite some time since the 182 made such a long journey, and often, long flights like these can also bring issues to the forefront. On top of that, our sweepstakes aircraft was a desert native, and sometimes in dryer climates, old rubber, seals, and other soft materials can go bad from simply sitting and drying out; we already told you about the alternator belt (“We Made It,” October 2024 AOPA Pilot).
You probably can see where this is going; after the more than 3,000-mile round-trip journey, N4000D was in need of some TLC.
The list of squawks is as follows:
- Crankshaft oil seal: We noticed a small amount of oil on the cowl and the propeller throughout the trip and it was determined the crankshaft oil seal had gone bad and needed replacing.
- Rigging/control wheel: Everyone who has flown N4000D has noticed that it flies perfectly straight and level as long as the yoke is turned about 15 degrees to the right. This repair may require re-rigging or a simple control wheel adjustment.
- Cabin air vents: The air vent tubes are extremely difficult to open, and the passenger side tube came apart during the flight to AirVenture. AirMod donated a new set of cabin vents for installation.
- Tires: The current tires are very old and have dry rot.
- Right brake: We’ve noticed a little clicking coming from the right brake. It functions perfectly and we’ve yet to have a mechanic find any issue, but we are continuing to investigate.
- Rudder cables: The rudder cables were worn and need to be replaced.
- Parking brake: The parking brake stopped working on the trip back from AirVenture
- Rear right window: A small crack requires repair.
- Reattached a few knobs: With all that vibrating on our long cross-country, things came loose.
Once buttoned up, we will focus on getting the AOPA Sweepstakes Cessna 182 back in front of the membership at airports and events across the country.
A couple of squawks and additions are still on the horizon for the 182. AmSafe donated its SOARS airbag restraint system for installation. After its showing at the Buckeye Air Fair in February, N4000D will go under the knife once again as we install a dual electronic ignition, courtesy of ElectroAir. From there, the aircraft will make its way back to Master Aircraft Services to undergo paint correction and receive its freshly painted wheel pants.
Claim your chance to win this airplane today.
No purchase or contribution necessary to enter or win. Void where prohibited. Ends at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on June 30, 2025. To enter and view complete official rules, visit aopa.org/sweeps. Sponsor: AOPA
aopa.org/sweeps
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