Aircraft
Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
CE-09-37 R1
October 23, 2009
This is information only. Recommendations
aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you,
owners and operators of True Flight Aerospace LLC (Grumman American)
Model AA-5 airplanes, of an issue concerning the horizontal stabilizer
forward spar attachment and surrounding structure in the aft fuselage
area.
At this time, this airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition
that would warrant AD action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal
Aviation Regulations (14CFR) part 39.
This SAIB revises SAIB CE-09-37 to add True Flight Aerospace Critical Service Bulletin SB-192, dated August 20, 2009.
Background
During a routine inspection, maintenance personnel found cracked and
deformed structure in the aft fuselage area including horizontal
stabilizer forward spar attachment structure, spar support angles, and
stiffeners. After the original issuance of this SAIB on July 1, 2009, a
second airplane was found to have damage in this area which prompted
True Flight Aerospace to issue Critical Service Bulletin SB-192, dated
August 20, 2009.
Recommendation
We encourage owners and maintenance personnel to perform detailed
visual inspections of the horizontal stabilizer forward spar attachment
structure, and surrounding area, of the AA-5 airplanes in accordance
with True Flight Aerospace Critical Service Bulletin SB-192 dated
August 20, 2009, at the following times:
At every annual/100 hour inspection
After hard landings, tail strikes, or any other notable impact or force in tail area.
Please contact True Flight at 229-263-4205 for a copy of the service bulletin.
If you find cracks or deformation, it is always helpful to the FAA if
you submit a Malfunction or Defect Report to the FAA’s website at
http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/report/.
For Further Information Contact
Cindy Lorenzen, Program Manager, FAA, Central Region, Atlanta Aircraft
Certification Office, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia
30337; phone (404)474-5524; fax (404)474-5606; email:
Cindy.Lorenzen@faa.gov.