Are there plenty of spare parts available for the Skycatcher

[N918KT]

Hello everyone. I was wondering if Cessna isn't producing the Cessna Skycatcher anymore, if something breaks on the Skycatcher, are there plenty of spare parts available if a certain part or engine needed to be replaced? Will Cessna continue to produce spare parts for the Skycatcher if the Skycatcher model is already discontinued?

[MrMorden]

Hello everyone. I was wondering if Cessna isn't producing the Cessna Skycatcher anymore, if something breaks on the Skycatcher, are there plenty of spare parts available if a certain part or engine needed to be replaced? Will Cessna continue to produce spare parts for the Skycatcher if the Skycatcher model is already discontinued?

I don't know the answer to your question. However, one way around this problem would be to to change the status of a Skycatcher from an S-LSA to an E-LSA. As an experimental any parts, changes, or modifications are allowable, as long as they don't put the airplane outside LSA performance limits.

That way, if something breaks on the plane, if a factory part or assembly were not available, an equivalent part could be fabricated and installed legally. The only real downside is that the plane could no longer be used in flight instruction for hire (though the owner could still train in it).

[Jack Tyler]

Shortly after Cessna announced they would stop producing and selling Skycatchers, it was subsequently announced that the 80 or so Skycatchers still in the production sequence would not be finished but instead would be put into a 'spares' inventory and parted out as demand warranted. So if e.g. a given Skycatcher lost a door due to improper securing - which has happened multiple times - then a replacement door could be purchased ($$$) from Cessna so long as their inventory of spare doors lasts. Definitely a finite inventory.