Ad/At 800/12 - Rudder-Aileron Interconnect Cable Shield (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.001(1) of CASR 1998.  The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

Airtractor 800 Series Aeroplanes

AD/AT 800/12 Rudder-Aileron Interconnect Cable Shield 11/2009 DM

Applicability:

Models AT-802 and AT-802A aircraft, serial numbers 802/802A-001 through 802/802A-0319.

Requirement:

1.    Secure any items stowed in the baggage compartment using tie down straps and/or a cargo net.

2.    Install the following rudder-aileron interconnect cable shield kit, as applicable, in accordance with Snow Engineering Co., Service Letter #274 Revision A, dated
6 April 2009:

-      For all aircraft equipped for agricultural spray operations and all fire-fighting aircraft retrofitted with Gen II Fire Retardant Delivery System relay box, install cable shield kit SL#274.

-      For all fire-fighting aircraft not equipped with Gen II Fire Retardant Delivery System relay box, install cable shield kit SL#274-2.

Installation of the applicable cable shield kit SL#274 or SL#274-2 terminates Requirement 1 of this Directive.

Note:  FAA AD 2009-18-04 Amdt 39-16000.

Compliance:

1.    Before each flight after 1 October 2009; until Requirement 2 is accomplished.

2.    No later than 31 December 2009.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 1 October 2009.

Background: The FAA received a report of the rudder pedal cable becoming jammed in flight.  The requirements of this Directive are intended to prevent jamming of the rudder-aileron interconnect cables by unsecured items in the baggage compartment, which could result in failure of the rudder-aileron interconnect cable system.  Such a failure could lead to loss of control.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

2 September 2009