Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-15118 · Stabilizers
APEX Aircraft Model CAP 10 B Airplanes
This AD applies to Model CAP 10 B airplanes, all serial numbers, that are:
(1) Fitted with a rudder lower support, part number (P/N) CAP10-30-08-01* or CAP230-30-08-01* (* with or without a letter at the reference end), as applicable, supplied by APEX Aircraft after January 1, 2001; and
(2) Certificated in any category.
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:
Unless already done, do the following actions:
(1) Within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after August 3, 2007 (the effective date of this AD), do inspection A using Apex Aircraft Service Bulletin No. 040707, dated July 29, 2004.
(2) Every 50 hours TIS after the inspection required by paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, do inspection B using Apex Aircraft Service Bulletin No. 040707, dated July 29, 2004.
(3) When a crack is detected as a result of any inspection required by paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD, before further flight, return the part to APEX Aviation using Apex Aircraft Service Bulletin No. 040707, dated July 29, 2004, and install an airworthy part or incorporate the repair. Continued operation with any rudder lower support with cracks is prohibited.
(4) Before further flight after the inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, do not install a rudder lower support, P/N CAP10-30-08-01* or CAP230-30-08-01*, unless it is inspected and found to be crack free following the requirements of this AD.
Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows: The MCAI and service bulletin require inspection A before the next flight and inspection B every 25 flight hours. We consider before the next flight as an urgent safety of flight compliance time, and we do not consider this unsafe condition to be an urgent safety of flight condition. Because we do not consider this unsafe condition to be an urgent safety of flight condition, we issued this action through the normal notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) AD process followed by this final rule. The time of 50 hours TIS is an adequate compliance for this AD action and meets the FAA requirements of an NPRM followed by a final rule.
