Front windshield leaking

[aaronk25]

So about in April of 2012 when my plane was at Willmar Air Service down for repairs I had them install new windows. Well, like everything else Willmar screwed up about 5 months later I noticed when flying though rain a drip developed coming from the top of the windshield. I just thought well they missed a small spot.

Yesterday I was flying through small ice crystals and it was collecting on the inside of the right windshield, so it's leaking more.

Taking it back to Willmar is not a option as the quality of workmanship was just flat out lousy. But besides spreading a bead of clear silicone around it is there any other sealant that will be more lasting and applied to the outside so I don't have to remove the windshield completely to have a MSC completely reseal?

I can plan for that but I have a 1,100 mile trip tomorrow to Florida and the wind noise is getting fairly bad. When I push on top of wind shield the noise goes away.

Thanks,

Aaron

[quik flite]

If you decide to use  a sealer I would use painters tape on the windshield and the airplane so you get a perfect 1/16 or 1/8 bead of sealer , you pick the color , but it will make a nicer job. If I had to do it,  I  would do the whole way around so it looks nice. I  cannot recommend a sealer , some are safer for aluminum.

[aaronk25]

Taping it off is a great idea. Thanks! Now what to use?

[orionflt]

You can use a Dow silicone or you can order some pro seal panel sealant (around $50 a tube) both will seal but the silicone is a lot cheaper. And I agree about using the painters tape to get a nice look, remember to remove it while the sealant is wet otherwise you will have a hard time getting it off.

[jetdriven]

Use PR-1425B2 or sealpak CS3201B1/2. The number after the B is the working time in hours. They are basically fuel tank sealers but that's what you see when you see black shiny sealer around the windows.

I've seen hardware store silicone and such, it doesn't work.

Edit: Dow Corning 795 may work. It's. Polyurethane window sealer and glue for skyscrapers. I installed my new plexiglas boat windows 5 years ago and it still looks great.

[N201MKTurbo]

I second what Byron said.

[MARZ]

Yep the tank sealer works great. Clean grease and wax with denatured alcohol.

Once you have it worked in get soapy water, dip your finger in it and rub the surface to get a smooth bead. Pull the tape slow @45 degrees across the bead. Denatured Alcohol to clean the shield after.

[OR75]

if you cannot get the sealant before your long trip, you could use temporarily aluminum tape around the windshield to seal it. it will look ugly and won't reassure any passenger you may have.

but water and avionics just don't work well together .