Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2006B08550:body:0:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2006B08550
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 2744–4959

American Champion (Aeronca, Bellanca) Series Aeroplanes

 AD/CHA/23 Amdt 3 (Continued)

             For Group 2 aircraft: Initially inspect at the first annual inspection that occurs 30 calendar days or more after 22 March 2001 or within the next 13 calendar months after 22 March 2001, whichever occurs later. Repetitively inspect thereafter at intervals not to exceed 500 hours time in service or 12 calendar months, whichever occurs first.

2.    Before further flight after each accident/incident that involved wing damage.

3.    Before further flight after the inspection where the damage is found.

           This amendment becomes effective on 22 March 2001.

           Background:  Accidents caused by in-flight structural failure of the wings were attributed to compression failures in the wooden wing spars. Significant compression failures have also been found in other areas not addressed by FAA AD 87-18-09.

           Amendment 2 required repetitive inspections of the front and rear spars for damage, including installing any necessary inspection holes, and repairing or replacing any damaged spar. The FAA actions resulted from in-flight wing structural failure on one of the affected aircraft that was in compliance with AD 87-18-09, plus four other ACAC Model 8GCBC accidents and eleven service difficulty reports of compression cracked spars.

           Amendment 3 is issued in response to a new FAA AD which retains the actions of AD 98-05-04 for the Model 8GCBC aircraft; extends the actions to all 7,8, and 11 series aircraft, and incorporates alternative methods of accomplishing the actions. The AD is the result of a review of the service history of the affected aircraft that incorporate wood wing spars and of damage found on the spars.

           Amendment 2 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 12 August 1999. Amendment 1 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 16 May 1991.
           The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 3 December 1987.

 David Alan Villiers

 Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 9 February 2001
 The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 21 February 2001.