Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-13956 · Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd. Model GA8 Airplanes
Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd. Model GA8 Airplanes
This AD affects model GA8 airplanes, serial numbers GA8-00-004 through GA8-04-056, that are certificated in any category.
The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd. Model GA8 airplanes. This AD requires you to inspect the pilot and co-pilot control column wheels and aileron cable operating arm shafts for damage and, if damage is found, to repair the shafts or to replace the steel shafts with bronze shafts. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct damage of the pilot and co- pilot control wheels and aileron cable operating arm shafts. This damage could result in the aileron controls becoming stiff or locking, which could lead to loss of control of the airplane.
To address this problem, you must do the following:
| Actions | Compliance | Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Inspect the pilot and co-pilot control column wheel and aileron cable operating arm shafts for damage | Perform the initial inspection within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after March 4, 2005 (the effective date of this AD) | Follow Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd. Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2004-11, Issue 2, dated August 25, 2004. |
| (2) If no damage is found, continue repetitive inspections | Perform repetitive inspections every 300 hours TIS until steel operating arm shafts are replaced with bronze operating arm shafts. Replacement of steel operating arm shafts with bronze operating arm shafts is terminating action for this AD on the side that was replaced. If one steel shaft requires replacement, all of the shafts on that side (pilot or co-pilot) must be replaced with bronze shafts. If only one side (pilot or co-pilot) is replaced, repetitive inspections are still required for the side that was not replaced | Follow Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd. Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2004-11, Issue 2, dated August 25, 2004. |
| (3) For airplanes where damage is found: (i) If damage can be repaired by polishing out marks or scratches so that material removed does not exceed 0.005 inches, repair the shaft. You can not repair by polishing out marks or scratches more than one time. (ii) If damage can not be repaired by polishing out marks or scratches so that that material removed does not exceed 0.005 inches or you have already repaired the damage by polishing out marks or scratches previously, the damed steel operating arm shaft must be replaced with a bronze operating arm shaft. When a shaft (pilot or co-pilot) requires replacement, you must install new bronze shafts in all areas of the affected side | If damage is found, repair or replace operating arm shafts prior to further flight. If airplane is repaired, repetitively inspect every 300 hours TIS after repair until replacement of the operating arm shafts. Replacement of the steel operating arm shafts with bronze operating arm shafts is terminating action for this AD. If only one side (pilot or co-pilot) is replaced with bronze shafts, you must still repetitively inspect the other side that was not replaced | Follow Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd. Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2004-11, Issue 2, dated August 25, 2004. |
| (4) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install shafts that are not bronze on any affected Model GA8 airplane | As of March 4, 2005 (the effective date of this AD) | Follow Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd. Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2004-11, Issue 2, dated August 25, 2004. |
