Thu, Jun 21, 2007
Says SAIB Is More Appropriate; Fix Might Limit Rudder
Travel
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association tells ANN the pilot
advocacy group is formally opposing a proposed airworthiness
directive (AD) for Cessna 150 and 152 aircraft that would require
the rudder stop, rudder stop bumper, and attachment hardware be
replaced and safety wires substituted with jamnuts within the next
100 hours time in service or 12 months.
Instead of what would amount to be a costly AD, the group is
proposing the FAA issue a special airworthiness information
bulletin (SAIB), providing for a one-time inspection by the owner
of the aircraft or a mechanic to check for proper installation.
AOPA says this is an appropriate way to address what is ultimately
a maintenance issue.
As ANN reported, the NTSB
issued a safety recommendation in March based on two fatal
accidents in the aircraft, one in Canada in 1998 and another in the
United States in 2005. In both cases, the pilots were practicing
spins and were unable to recover because the rudders were jammed
beyond their travel limits. The proposed AD is based on that
recommendation.
"What the FAA isn't taking into consideration is that in the
1998 accident, the aircraft wasn't airworthy before the flight; in
the 2005 accident, the rudder bumpers were installed incorrectly,"
said Rob Hackman, AOPA senior director of regulatory affairs. "This
is an overreaction to maintenance issues that affected these
aircraft prior to their respective accidents."
The AD would affect nearly 19,000 aircraft, and AOPA believes
there is evidence to suggest that the proposed fix could inhibit
rudder travel.
A Canadian pilot, who had complied with a Canadian AD that
required the same fix that the FAA is proposing, said that the
enlarged rudder stop bolts that were required in the AD caused
binding between the rudder and rudder stop bolts.
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