Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-14128 · Cessna Aircraft Company Models 401, 401A, 401B, 402, 402A, 402B, 411, and 411A Airplanes
Cessna Aircraft Company Models 401, 401A, 401B, 402, 402A, 402B, 411, and 411A Airplanes
This AD affects Models 401, 401A, 401B, 402, 402A, 402B, 411, and 411A, all serial numbers, that are certificated in any category.
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede AD 79-10-15, which applies to all Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 401, 401A, 401B, 402, 402A, 402B, 411, and 411A airplanes. AD 79-10-15 currently requires repetitive inspections of the right and left wing spar lower cap areas for fatigue cracks and requires wing spar cap repair or replacement as necessary. This AD is the result of fatigue and crack growth analyses of the wings of these airplanes, recent cracks found on similar design Model 402C airplanes, and the FAA's determination that repetitive inspections and a wing spar modification are necessary to address the unsafe condition. Consequently, this AD would require repetitive inspections and a spar strap modification on each wing. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent wing spar cap failure caused by undetected fatigue cracks. Such failure could result in loss of a wing with consequent loss of airplane control. FAA is also issuing AD 2005-12-13 to require the spar strap modification and long-term inspections on Models 402C and 414A airplanes.
Repetitive Inspection and Modification of the Wing Spars:
(1) For Cessna Models 411 and 411A airplanes that do not incorporate Cessna Service Kit SK411-56, SK411-56A, SK411-56B, or SK411-59, maintain the repetitive inspections required by AD 79-10-15, Amendment 39-3711, and do the actions below. You may terminate the repetitive inspections of AD 79-10-15 after you incorporate the modification using the service information in paragraph (h)(2) of this AD:
| If you have equal to or more than— | But less than— | Then initially inspect and modify using the service information in paragraph (h)(2) of this AD, and reinspect as specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this AD |
|---|---|---|
| (i) 18,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) on the wing or wing spar | Not applicable | Within 1000 hours TIS after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), unless already done. |
| (ii) 12,00 hours TIS on the wing or wing spar | 18,000 hours TIS | Within 200 hours TIS after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), unless already done. |
| (iii) 10,000 hours TIS on the wing or wing spar | 12,000 hours TIS | Within 400 hours TIS after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), unless already done. |
| (iv) 5,500 hours TIS on the wing or wing spar | 10,000 hours TIS | Within 800 hours TIS after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), unless already done. |
| (v) 0 hours TIS on the wing or wing spar | 5,500 hours TIS | At whichever of the following occurs later: • Upon accumulating 5,500 hours TIS on the wing or wing spar; or • Within 800 TIS after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), unless already done. |
(vi) If the wings or wing spars were replaced with new or used wings or wing spars during the life of the airplane and logbook records positively show the TIS of the wings or wing spars, then initially inspect and modify at applicable wing or wing spar times in paragraphs (e)(1)(i) through (e)(1)(v) of this AD.
(vii) If the wings or wing spars were replaced with new or used wings or wing spars during the life of the airplane and logbook records cannot positively show the TIS of the wings or wing spars, then inspect and modify within 100 hours TIS after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), unless already done.
(2) For Cessna Models 401, 401A, 401B, 402, 402A, and 402B airplanes that do not incorporate Cessna Service Kit SK402-36, SK402-36A, SK402-36B, SK402-36C, SK402-46, or SK402-46A, maintain the repetitive inspections required by AD 79-10-15, Amendment 39-3711, and do the actions below. You may terminate the repetitive inspections of AD 79-10-15 after you incorporate the modification using the service information in paragraph (h)(1) of this AD:
| If you have equal to or more than— | But less than— | Then initially inspect and modify using the service information in paragraph (h)(1) of this AD, and reinspect as specified in paragraph (e)(4) of this AD |
|---|---|---|
| (i) 18,000 hours TIS on the wing or wing spar | Not applicable | Within 100 hours TIS after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), unless already done. |
| (ii) 12,000 hours TIS on the wing or wing spar | 18,000 hours TIS | Within 200 hours TIS after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), unless already done. |
| (iii) 10,000 hours TIS on the wing or wing spar | 12,000 hours TIS | Within 400 hours TIS after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), unless already done. |
| (iv) 6,500 hours TIS on the wing or wing spar | 10,000 hours TIS | Within 800 hours TIS after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), unless already done. |
| (v) 0 hours TIS on the wing or wing spar | 6,500 hours TIS | At whichever of the following occurs later: • Upon accumulating 6,500 hours TIS on the wing or wing spar; or • Within 800 TIS after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), unless already done. |
(vi) If the wings or wing spars were replaced with new or used wings or wing spars during the life of the airplane and logbook records positively show the TIS of the wings or wing spars, then initially inspect and modify at applicable wing or wing spar times in paragraphs (e)(2)(i) through (e)(2)(v) of this AD.
(vii) If the wings or wing spars were replaced with new or used wings or wing spars during the life of the airplane and logbook records cannot positively show the TIS of the wings or wing spars, then inspect and modify within 100 hours TIS after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), unless already done.
(3) For all Cessna Models 411 and 411A airplanes with Cessna Service Kit SK411-56, SK411-56A, SK411-56B, or SK411-59 incorporated, inspect in the following areas and repair or replace as necessary prior to further flight after the inspection where cracks are found. Inspection areas and procedures are defined in the Cessna Model 411 Supplemental Inspection Document (SID):
(i) Area “A” (Inspection ID 57-10-11): Initially upon accumulating 5,500 hours TIS after incorporating the applicable service kit on a wing spar or within the next 100 hours TIS after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later, unless already done, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 2,500 hours TIS.
(ii) Area “B” (Inspection ID 57-10-12): Initially upon accumulating 5,500 hours TIS after incorporating the applicable service kit on a wing spar or within the next 100 hours TIS after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later, unless already done, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1,000 hours TIS.
(iii) Area “C” (Inspection ID 57-10-08): Upon accumulating 20,000 hours TIS after incorporating the applicable service kit on a wing spar or within the next 100 hours TIS after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later, unless already done, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 2,000 hours TIS.
(4) For all Cessna Models 401, 401A, 401B, 402, 402A, and 402B airplanes with Cessna Service Kit SK402-36, SK402-36A, SK402-36B, SK402-36C, SK402-46, or SK402-46A incorporated, inspect in the following areas and repair or replace as necessary prior to further flight after the inspection where cracks are found. Inspection areas and procedures are defined in the Cessna Models 401and 402 SID (compliance times in this AD take precedence over the compliance times in the SID):
(i) Area “A” (Inspection ID 57-10-11): Initially upon accumulating 15,000 hours TIS after incorporating the applicable service kit on a wing spar or within the next 100 hours TIS after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later, unless already done, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 5,000 hours TIS.
(ii) Area “B” (Inspection ID 57-10-12): Initially upon accumulating 7,500 hours TIS after incorporating the applicable service kit on a wing spar or within the next 100 hours TIS after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later, unless already done, and thereafter not to exceed 5,000 hours TIS. You may request an alternative method of compliance to adjust the compliance times for these inspections by following the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19 and this AD.
(iii) Area “C” (Inspection ID 57-10-08): Upon accumulating 20,000 hours TIS after incorporating the applicable service kit on a wing spar or within the next 100 hours TIS after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later, unless already done, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 2,500 hours TIS.
(f) Wing Spar Replacement if Cracks Found During any Inspection Required by this AD:
(1) Prior to further flight, replace the wing spar with a new wing spar or a used wing spar where wing or wing spar hours TIS can be positively identified. Do not install used wings spars when you are not able to positively identify total wing or wing spar hours TIS.
(2) After replacement, initially inspect at the applicable time in paragraphs (e)(1)(i) through (e)(1)(vii) or (e)(2)(i) through (e)(2)(vii) of this AD and repetitively inspect at the times specified in paragraphs (e)(3)(i) through (e)(3)(iii) or (e)(4)(i) through (e)(4)(iii) of this AD.
(g) Reporting Requirement: Report any cracks you find within 10 days after the cracks are found or within 10 days after June 22, 2005 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later. Do not report if no cracks are found. Include in your report the aircraft serial number, aircraft TIS, wing spar cap TIS, crack location and size, corrective action taken, and a point of contact name and phone number. Send your report to Paul Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, ACE-118W, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4125; facsimile: (316) 946-4107.
(h) Service Information to Perform the Actions of this AD:
(1) Original issue dated September 24, 2001, and Revision 1, dated December 22, 2003, of both Cessna Multi-engine Service Bulletin MEB01-06 and Service Kit SK402-46A; and
(2) Original issue dated September 24, 2001, of both Cessna Multi-engine Service Bulletin MEB01-07 and Service Kit SK411-59.
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
