Aircraft
Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
CE-09-46
July 31, 2009
This is information only. Recommendations
aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin is being issued to
alert owners and installers to an airworthiness concern regarding
possible nose landing gear cracking on Cirrus Design Corporation
(Cirrus) Models SR20 and SR22 airplanes.
The airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that would warrant
airworthiness directive (AD) action under Title 14 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 39.
Background
The FAA is aware of two nose gear collapses that have occurred in Model
SR20 airplanes used for training. Further examination of SR20 training
airplanes has revealed cracking in the upper section of the nose gear
assembly starting in the fillet weld between the top gusset plate and
the attach point arms and moving downward through the attach point
arms. On Model SR22 airplanes, no nose gear collapses have occurred to
date (the nose gear design on the Model SR22 is significantly heavier
and slightly different than the Model SR20). However, cracks have been
found in the area of the cross tube weld and the gusset plate on the
Model SR22.
Recommendations
We recommend that owners and operators of Cirrus Models SR20 and SR22
airplanes comply with CDC service bulletin numbers SB 2X-32-18 R4 and
SB 2X-32-19, as applicable.
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
For Related Service Information Contact
To obtain copies of Cirrus Optional Service Bulletins SB 2X-32-18 R4 or
SB 2X-32-19, contact Cirrus Design Corporation, 4515 Taylor Circle
Duluth, MN 5581-1548 or visit their website at
www.cirruslink.com/mycirrus/servicepubs.aspx.