Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-16053 · American Champion Aircraft Corp. Models 7ECA, 7GCAA, 7GCBC, 7KCAB, 8KCAB, and 8GCBC Airplanes
American Champion Aircraft Corp. Models 7ECA, 7GCAA, 7GCBC, 7KCAB, 8KCAB, and 8GCBC Airplanes
This AD applies to Models 7ECA, 7GCAA, 7GCBC, 7KCAB, 8KCAB, and 8GCBC airplanes, all serial numbers, that are:
(1) Manufactured prior to 1989;
(2) Equipped with folding rear seat backs; and
(3) Certificated in any category.
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all American Champion Aircraft Corp. Models 7ECA, 7GCAA, 7GCBC, 7KCAB, 8KCAB, and 8GCBC airplanes, manufactured prior to 1989 and equipped with folding rear seat backs. This AD requires inspection of the rear seat back hinge areas for cracking and excessive elongation of the rear seat hinge bolt hole and, if cracking or excessive elongation is found, replacement of the rear seat frame. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the rear seat back hinge area and excessive elongation of the rear seat hinge bolt hole, either of which could result in failure of the seat back. This failure could lead to a rear- seated pilot or passenger inadvertently interfering with the control stick while attempting to not roll to the rear of the airplane upon seat back failure. Consequently, this failure could result in loss of control.
To address this problem, you must do the following, unless already done:
| Actions | Compliance | Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Inspect the rear seat back hinge area for cracking and elongation of the rear seat hinge bolt hole | Within the next 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) after December 3, 2009 (the effective date of this AD) and repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 100 hours TIS or every 12 months, whichever occurs first | Follow American Champion Aircraft Corp. Service Letter No. 431, dated July 20, 2009. |
| (2) If cracking or excessive elongation of the rear seat bolt hole is found during any inspection required in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD, replace the seat frame with a factory remanufactured seat frame, a new part number (P/N) 7-1500 (standard) seat frame, or a new P/N 7-1501 (wide) seat frame. Replacement of the seat frame terminates the repetitive inspection requirements of this AD | Before further flight after the inspection where cracking or excessive elongation of the rear seat bolt hole is found | Follow American Champion Aircraft Corp. Service Letter No. 431, dated July 20, 2009. |
| (3) You may at any time replace the rear seat frame with a factory remanufactured seat frame, a new part number (P/N) 7-1500 (standard) seat frame, or a new P/N 7-1501 (wide) seat frame to terminate the repetitive inspection requirements of this AD | Not applicable | Follow American Champion Aircraft Corp. Service Letter No. 431, dated July 20, 2009. |
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.
