FAA SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS
Aviation Safety INFORMATION BULLETIN
SAIB: CE-17-22
SUBJ: Flight Controls, Aileron Control System Date: August 22, 2017
This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) informs registered owners/operators of an
airworthiness concern for Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes (under Type
Certificate Data Sheet A19SW), serial numbers -0550 through -0600 and -4026 through -4029, of an
airworthiness concern. Specifically, this SAIB provides inspection procedures and on-condition
maintenance actions for the aileron bell crank attach plates for affected airplanes.
At this time, 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
Air Tractor, Inc. recently issued Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter (SL) #366 for Air Tractor, Inc.
Models AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes. The SL was issued after in-flight failure of the aileron bell
crank attach plates due to an incomplete weld on a Model AT-802 airplane. Failure of the welds
mounting the attach plate to the bell crank support led to loss of control of the aileron. The SL
provides owners and operators instructions for inspecting welds attaching the right and left wing
aileron bell crank attach plates and requires contacting the Air Tractor Customer Service Department
using the contact information provided in the event suspect welds are found.
Recommendations
The FAA recommends affected Air Tractor, Inc. airplane owners inspect their aileron bell crank
attach plates to the bell crank support assembly using the procedures in SL #366 and report any
suspect welds to the Air Tractor Service Department.
A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a
person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays a current
valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 2120-
0731. Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 5 minutes
per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering
and maintaining the data needed, completing and reviewing the collection of information. All
responses to this collection of information are voluntary. Send comments regarding this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this
burden to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20591, Attn: Information
Collection Clearance Officer, ASP-110.
1
For Further Information Contact
Kristi Bradley, Aerospace Engineer, AIR-7F2, Fort Worth ACO Branch, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Fort
Worth, TX 76177; phone: (817) 222-5485; email:
[email protected]
Kenneth Cook, Aerospace Engineer, AIR-7F1, Fort Worth ACO Branch, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Fort
Worth, TX 76177; phone: (817) 222-5475; e-mail:
[email protected]
For Related Service Information or to Report Inspection Findings Contact
Air Tractor, Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas, 76374; phone: (940) 564-5616; fax: (940) 564-5612;
email:
[email protected].
2
Please find attached a Foreign State of Design Advisory document, endorsed by EASA.
This advisory document is also online at https://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/CE-17-22 .
Should you have any questions, please contact the Agency by e-mail at
[email protected] or by fax,
No.: +49 221 89990 9515.
Safety Information Section Email:
[email protected]
EASA Website
(Attachment is in Acrobat PDF format)
Postal: Postfach 10 12 53, 50452 Cologne, Germany
An agency of the European Union