Cessna 152 — Airworthiness Directives & records checklist
1,613 Cessna 152s are on the U.S. registry. Here’s what a records review covers for one — the Airworthiness Directives that apply, the known trouble spots, and the checklist a buyer or owner should hold every logbook against.
Airworthiness Directives that apply to the Cessna 152
- recurringAD 2011-10988 — Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Models 150, 152, 170, 172, 175, 177, 180, 182, 185, 188, 190, 195, 206, 207, 210, T303, 336, and 337 Airplanes · 2011-05-13
We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) 150, 152, 170, 172, 175, 177, 180, 182, 185, 188, 190, 195, 206, 207, 210, T303, 336, and 337 series airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitive inspections and replacement of pa…
- one-timeAD 87-20-03 R2 — Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Model 150, A150, 152, A152, 170, 172, P172D, R172, 175, 177, 180, 182, R182, TR182, T182, 185, A185, 188, A188, 190, 195, 2 · 1987-01-01
- one-timeAD 81-05-01 — Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Model 152, A152, 172N, 172P, R172K and 172RG Airplanes · 1981-01-01
- one-timeAD 80-06-03 — Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Models 150M, A150M, 152, A152, 172N and R172K Airplanes · 1980-01-01
- one-timeAD 80-01-06 — Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Model 152/F152, A152/FA152 and 172RG Airplanes · 1980-01-01
- one-timeAD 79-02-06 — Airworthiness Directives; CESSNA Models 152 and A152 Airplanes · 1979-01-01
This is the applicability list. Which of these are complied with, their computed next-due dates, and the 16 serial/mod-conditional ADs that actually apply to your aircraft come from its digitized logbooks — that’s the verified report.
Known trouble spots on the 152
Worn seat rails and seat-lock pins let a seat slide back on takeoff — a repeat NTSB cause on Cessna singles. Recurring inspection of the rails, roller housings, and lock pins is required; look for the seat-rail inspection at each annual.
Cracked mufflers and exhaust risers on Cessna singles let carbon monoxide into the cabin-heat air — a repeat fatal accident cause. Look for exhaust-system pressure/borescope inspection, muffler replacement, and a CO detector install.
Many Hartzell and McCauley constant-speed props carry blade-shank or hub ADs plus a calendar/hours overhaul interval; blade corrosion and hub grease leaks are common findings. Confirm the prop AD status and last overhaul against the interval.
The records checklist for a Cessna 152
Enter a tail number and Tailplate reads its logbooks against this list — every AD matched to compliance evidence, next-due dates computed, damage history pulled, and a records-adjusted value.
Look up a tail number →or see the free AD listApplicability is derived from the FAA directive corpus and the aircraft’s type certificate; it is advisory and not a legal airworthiness determination. Compliance is established only from an aircraft’s actual records.