Thread: Paint Flaking/peeling on CTSW windscreen

Please look at the attached pics. About 3 months back, small bits of paint/polymer on the windscreen perimeter started chipping/flaking off. The CT is 3 years old, is hangared 99% of the time and out of direct sunlight. Another CT (same model) has the identical problem in the next town. I used normal electrical insulation tape to cover the flaked area and prevent further deterioration (which has worked). Now, flaking has started on the roof. It seems to flake to about 20mm...the paint/polymer provides about 40mm seating of the windscreen. As I am new to this forum, this may have been dealt with before. Any ideas on what has happened and how to repair?
Ron
ZU-ELZ (CtSW 2007)

Ron, here in the U.S., most will call the main Flight Design distributor for the U.S, which is Flight Design USA. Arian Foldan is the person I talk to by phone or send email to if I have an issue which needs factory input to resolve. Is there a S. African counterpart to FD USA? You need to get information from someone who is very familiar with repair of the CT composite to resolve your concern. I have not seen this paint peeling but it would take someone familiar with the repair of CT's who would be able to answer your questions. It appears that the paint is de-bonding from the carbon fiber. Maybe the substrate was contaminated prior to the painting? Strange.

Ron,

You might try contacting Kenny or Matt at Lone Mountain Aviation in Las Vegas Nevada. 702-309-2200. They are experts in Carbon Fiber / Composite repair, etc. They might have an answer or at least start you in the right direction.

Good Luck and please keep us posted on your fix if it doesn't show up here.

Many thanks for posting

Roger H

The windshield is molded into the airplane. The paint edge comes out onto the plastic of the windshield. The plastic has to be scuffed real good for the paint to stick, but nobody wants a scuffed edge showing on thier windshiald. Sometimes the paint gets applied to smooth plastic, and it doesn't stick very well. The best that you can do is tape where the paint line should be, scuff the plastic, and feather the edges of the paint. Then touch up the area of the missing paint. Tom

3Dreaming, I thought that the peeling was also at the composite but looking at the pictures again, I see that the peeling is only around the windshield. Good observation on your part.

This only happens when you exceed the maximum allowable speed on the CTsw. Just kidding, of course. We had the exact same problem with our CTsw early on. The co-owner is very handy and handled the repair himself.

Originally Posted by 3Dreaming

The windshield is molded into the airplane. The paint edge comes out onto the plastic of the windshield. The plastic has to be scuffed real good for the paint to stick, but nobody wants a scuffed edge showing on thier windshiald. Sometimes the paint gets applied to smooth plastic, and it doesn't stick very well. The best that you can do is tape where the paint line should be, scuff the plastic, and feather the edges of the paint. Then touch up the area of the missing paint. Tom

Thanks for the guidance and help. Makes perfect sense. Unfortunately, there are only 11 CT's in Southern Africa and the backup service in a large market economy like the US would be on a different level. I have learnt more on this forum in a few hours of 'surfing' than in several years of flying. Thanks.. I will pass on the info to the other CT owner I know.

Wlfpckrs, what did your co-owner do to make the fix? This phemomenon has JUST started to show up in our 2006 CTsw. It is hangared 99% of the time. The ragged black areas on the periphery of our windshield look like hell, and would likely impact its resale appeal and value. What kind of paint did you use? Where'd you get it?

Ron,
I had a similar problem in exactly the same areas as your CT. Mine is also a 2006 CTsw.
If you fly through any heavy rain, it will cause this problem as I found out.
The repair is fairly simple however you will need some 2" aluminium tape & 2 pack (comes with hardener) epoxy white paint.
Place the aluminium tape over the windscreen along where you need to sand back the flaking paint (this will prevent the windscreen from getting scratched). Sand the damaged area back until there are no ridges and then apply the epoxy paint with a small brush or to get a really smooth finish, use a modeller’s mini spray gun.