Aircraft
Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
CE-09-20
March 20, 2009
This is information only. Recommendations
aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) advises you of
an airworthiness concern on American Champion Aircraft Corporation
(ACAC) Models 7AC, 7ACA, S7AC, 7BCM, 7CCM, S7CCM, 7DC, S7DC, 7EC, S7EC,
7ECA, 7FC, 7GC, 7GCA, 7GCAA, 7GCB, 7GCBC, 7HC, 7JC, 7KC, 7KCAB, 8KCAB,
& 8GCBC airplanes. There is a possibility of interference between
the seat back upholstery and the control stick when the rear folding
seat back is in the down position and the rear control stick is in the
full aft position.
At this time, this airworthiness concern is not considered an unsafe
condition that would warrant an airworthiness directive action under
Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR part 39).
Background
ACAC reports that the interference between the rear stick and the
folding back of a rear seat can occur as a result of any of the
following:
improper seat back stop cable length;
improperly installed seat back stop cable; or
frayed or broken seat back stop cable caused by the cable becoming pinched repeatedly in-between the seat back and bottom.
The Federal Aviation
Administration has confirmed that interference between the rear seat
back upholstery and the rear stick could occur on some airplanes if the
seat back was folded down and the stick was in the full aft position.
This airworthiness action has been taken after consideration of the
responses from ACAC as well as airplane owners/operators through
relevant associations and type clubs, using the procedures found in the
Small Airplane Directorate Airworthiness Directives Manual Supplement
(Airworthiness Concerns Process Guide).
Recommendations
We recommend that the ACAC model airplanes identified above that are
equipped with rear seats that have a folding back do the actions in
American Champion service letter number 432 to address a possible
stick/seat back interference problem. We also recommend the service
letter interference check be done within the next 30 flight hours and
on an annual basis/100-hour basis (whichever occurs first) after the
initial check. It is evident from the background information that
degradation of the seat back stop cable may occur over time-in-service.
For Further Information Contact
Wesley Rouse, Aerospace Engineer, FAA Chicago Aircraft Certification,
2300 E. Devon, Des Plaines, IL 60018; phone: (847) 294-8113; email:
wess.rouse@faa.gov