Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-15915 · Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-400, AT-400A, AT-402, AT-402A, AT-402B, AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, AT-503A, AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A Airplanes
Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-400, AT-400A, AT-402, AT-402A, AT-402B, AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, AT-503A, AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A Airplanes
This AD applies to the following airplane models and serial numbers that are certificated in any category:
| Models | Serial Nos. |
|---|---|
| AT-400, AT-400A, AT-402, AT-402A, and AT-402B | −0001 through −1175. |
| AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, and AT-503A | −0001 through −2597. |
| AT-602 | −0001 through −1141. |
| AT-802 and AT-802A | −0001 through −0227. |
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede AD 2008-10-12, which applies to certain Air Tractor, Inc. AT- 400, AT-500, AT-600, and AT-800 series airplanes. AD 2008-10-12 currently requires repetitively inspecting the engine mounts for cracks, repairing any crack damage found, and installing gussets as a terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This AD results from a report of a Model AT-602 airplane with a crack completely through the gusset that was installed as required in AD 2008-10-12. Consequently, this AD would require you to continue repetitively inspecting the engine mounts for cracks for all previously affected Air Tractor, Inc. AT-400, AT-500, AT-600, and AT-800 series airplanes with or without gussets installed, and repairing any crack damage found. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the engine mount, which could result in failure of the engine mount. This failure could lead to separation of the engine from the airplane.
Inspect the engine mount as follows using the service information in paragraph (i) of this AD:
| Models | Compliance time without Gussets installed | Compliance time with Gussets installed |
|---|---|---|
| (1) For all Models AT-400, AT-400A, AT-402, AT-402A, AT-402B, AT-502, AT-502B, and AT-503A airplanes | Initially and repetitively as follows: (i) With less than 5,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) on the airplane: Initially within the next 12 months after June 12, 2008 (the effective date of AD 2008-10-12). Repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 12 months until accumulating 5,000 hours TIS; | Initially and repetitively as follows: (A) With less than 5,000 hours TIS on the airplane: Initially within the next 12 months after June 1, 2009 (the effective date of this AD). Repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 12 months until accumulating 5,000 hours TIS; |
| (ii) With 5,000 hours TIS or more on the airplane: Initially upon accumulating 5,000 hours TIS on the airplane or within the next 10 hours TIS after June 1, 2009 (the effective date of this AD), or within the next 100 hours TIS from the last inspection performed, whichever occurs later. Repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 100 hours TIS. | (B) With 5,000 hours TIS or more on the airplane: Initially upon accumulating 5,000 hours TIS on the airplane or within the next 10 hours TIS after June 1, 2009 (the effective date of this AD), or within the next 100 hours TIS from the last inspection performed, whichever occurs later. Repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 100 hours TIS. | |
| (2) AT-502A | (i) With less than 5,000 hours TIS on the airplane: Initially upon accumulating 1,300 hours TIS on the airplane or within the next 100 hours TIS after June 12, 2008 (the effective date of AD 2008-10-12), whichever occurs later. Repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 300 hours TIS. | (i) With less than 5,000 hours TIS on the airplane: Initially upon accumulating 1,300 hours TIS on the airplane or within the next 100 hours TIS after June 1, 2009 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later. Repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 300 hours TIS. |
| (ii) With 5,000 hours TIS or more on the airplane: Initially upon accumulating 5,000 hours TIS on the airplane or within the next 10 hours TIS after June 1, 2009 (the effective date of this AD), or within the next 100 hours TIS from the last inspection performed, whichever occurs later. Repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 100 hours TIS. | (ii) With 5,000 hours TIS or more on the airplane: Initially upon accumulating 5,000 hours TIS on the airplane or within the next 10 hours TIS after June 1, 2009 (the effective date of this AD), or within the next 100 hours TIS from the last inspection performed, whichever occurs later. Repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 100 hours TIS. | |
| (3) AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A | (i) With less than 5,000 hours TIS on the airplane: Initially upon accumulating 1,300 hours TIS on the airplane or within the next 100 hours TIS after August 10, 2007 (the effective date of AD 2007-13-17), whichever occurs later. Repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 300 hours TIS. | (i) With less than 5,000 hours TIS on the airplane: Initially upon accumulating 1,300 hours TIS on the airplane or within the next 100 hours TIS after June 1, 2009 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later. Repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 300 hours TIS. |
| (ii) With 5,000 hours TIS or more on the airplane: Initially upon accumulating 5,000 hours TIS on the airplane or within the next 10 hours TIS after June 1, 2009 (the effective date of this AD), or within the next 100 hours TIS from the last inspection performed, whichever occurs later. Repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 100 hours TIS. | (ii) With 5,000 hours TIS or more on the airplane: Initially upon accumulating 5,000 hours TIS on the airplane or within the next 10 hours TIS after June 1, 2009 (the effective date of this AD), or within the next 100 hours TIS from the last inspection performed, whichever occurs later. Repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 100 hours TIS. |
(f) For all airplanes: Before further flight after any inspection required by paragraph (e)(1), (e)(2), and (e)(3) of this AD where crack damage is found, replace with a new engine mount or repair the engine mount.
(1) If choosing repair, return cracked mounts to Air Tractor, Inc. for repair or obtain FAA-approved written repair instructions coordinated with Air Tractor, Inc. before starting the repair.
(2) Contact Air Tractor, Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374; telephone: (940) 564-5616; fax: (940) 564-5612; Internet: http://www.airtractor.com, for specific FAA-approved repair/replacement instructions.
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.
