AD Number 2004-03-01

MANUFACTURER: Air Cruisers Company

PRODUCT: Emergency Evacuation Slide/Raft System

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for a certain Air Cruisers Company Emergency Evacuation Slide/Raft System. That AD currently requires a one-time unpacking and subsequent repacking of the slide/raft systems, identified by basic part number (P/N) with dash numbers, and serial numbers (SNs) listed in the AD, and mandates repacking of all other slide/raft systems of the same design at the next required normal maintenance schedule of the slide/raft system.

This AD contains the same requirements but replaces the specific slide/raft system P/N dash numbers with the word ``-series'', reduces the number of affected slide/raft systems to the SNs identified in paragraph (g) of the AD, and eliminates mandating the utilization of the applicable Folding Procedures for subsequent repacking of all slide/raft systems of the same design during the normal scheduled maintenance.

This AD is prompted by recent information received that Air Cruisers Company has made modifications which have added new dash numbers to the slide/raft system basic P/N. This has affected some of the SN slide/raft systems listed in the AD. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the slide/raft to properly inflate, which could impede the emergency evacuation of passengers in the event of an airplane emergency.

This AD becomes effective March 11, 2004.

FMI:  http://ftp.atp.com/ADs/pdf/040301.pdf