Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-16758 · Wings
Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 337, 337A (USAF 02B), 337B, 337C, 337D, 337E, T337E, 337F, T337F, 337G, T337G, M337B, F 337E, FT337E, F 337F, FT337F, F 337G, and FT337GP Airplanes
This AD applies to Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 337, 337A (USAF 02B), 337B, 337C, 337D, 337E, T337E, 337F, T337F, 337G, T337G, M337B, F 337E, FT337E, F 337F, FT337F, F 337G, and FT337GP airplanes, all serial numbers, that:
(1) Are certificated in any category; and
(2) Are or have ever been modified by Flint Aero, Inc. Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA5090NM.
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD requires inspecting the wings for internal and external damage, repairing any damage, reinforcing the wings, installing operational limitation placards in the cockpit, and adding limitations to the airplane flight manual supplement. This AD was prompted by a review of installed Flint Aero, Inc. wing tip auxiliary fuel tanks, Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA5090NM. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct damage in the wings and to prevent overload failure of the wing due to the installation of the STC. Damage in the wing or overload failure of the wing could result in structural failure of the wing, which could result in loss of control.
(1) Within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after September 6, 2011 (the effective date of this AD) or within 30 days after September 6, 2011 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first, do a general and focused inspection of the left and right wing for internal and external damage at wing stations (WSTA) 150 and 177. Do the inspections following Appendix 1 of this AD.
(2) After the inspection required in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD if no damage was found and before the modification required in paragraph (g)(5) of this AD is incorporated, anytime severe and/or extreme turbulence is encountered during flight, before the next flight do a focused inspection of the wing for damage following steps 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 10 in Appendix 1 of this AD. Also inspect for signs of distress in the upper front spar in the area around WSTA 150 and 177. The definition of severe and extreme turbulence can be found in table 7-1-9 of the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM). You may obtain a copy of the FAA AIM at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim/.
(3) For airplanes that have not had the modification specified in paragraphs (g)(4) and (g)(5) incorporated, within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after September 6, 2011 (the effective date of this AD) or within 30 days after September 6, 2011 (the effective date of this AD), fabricate a placard (using at least 1/8 -inch letters) with the following words and install the placard on the instrument panel within the pilot's clear view:
(i) “MAINTAIN AT LEAST 12 GAL OF FUEL IN EACH WING TIP FUEL TANK FOR AIRPLANE WEIGHTS BETWEEN 3,400 LBS AND 4,330 LBS.”
(ii) “MAINTAIN FULL FUEL IN EACH WING TIP FUEL TANK FOR AIRPLANE WEIGHTS AT OR ABOVE 4,330 LBS.”
(4) If damage or signs of distress are found during the inspections required in paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD, before further flight do the following:
(i) Repair all damaged and distressed parts following FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 43.13-1B, Chapter 4, which can be found at http://rgl.faa.gov/;
(ii) Incorporate the modification reinforcement specified in Flint Aero, Inc. Service Bulletin FA2, Rev 2, dated April 8, 2011, or Flint Aero, Inc. Service Bulletin FA2, Rev 3, dated May 3, 2011, following Flint Aero, Inc. Drawing FA2, Rev A, dated April 8, 2011;
(iii) Remove the placard specified in paragraph (g)(3) of this AD;
(iv) Fabricate a new placard (using at least 1/8 -inch letters) with the following words and install the placard on the instrument panel within the pilot's clear view: “MAINTAIN AT LEAST 12 GAL OF FUEL IN EACH WING TIP FUEL TANK FOR AIRPLANE WEIGHTS AT OR ABOVE 4,330 LBS”; and
(v) Incorporate the information from Appendix 2 of this AD into the Limitations section of the Flint Aero, Inc. Airplane Flight Manual Supplement.
(5) If no damage or signs of distress are found during the inspections required in paragraphs (g)(1) and (g)(2) of this AD, within the next 100 hours TIS after September 6, 2011 (the effective date of this AD) or within 12 months after September 6, 2011 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first, do the following:
(i) Incorporate the modification reinforcement specified in Flint Aero, Inc. Service Bulletin FA2, Rev 2, dated April 8, 2011, or Flint Aero, Inc. Service Bulletin FA2, Rev 3, dated May 3, 2011, following Flint Aero, Inc. Drawing FA2, Rev A, dated April 8, 2011;
(ii) Remove the placard specified in paragraph (g)(3) of this AD;
(iii) Fabricate a new placard (using at least 1/8-inch letters) with the following words and install the placard on the instrument panel within the pilot's clear view: “MAINTAIN AT LEAST 12 GAL OF FUEL IN EACH WING TIP FUEL TANK FOR AIRPLANE WEIGHTS AT OR ABOVE 4,330 LBS”; and
(iv) Incorporate the information from Appendix 2 of this AD into the Limitations section of the Flint Aero, Inc. Airplane Flight Manual Supplement.
(6) You may incorporate the modification reinforcement specified in Flint Aero, Inc. Service Bulletin FA2, Rev 2, dated April 8, 2011, or Flint Aero, Inc. Service Bulletin FA2, Rev 3, dated May 3, 2011, following Flint Aero, Inc. Drawing FA2, Rev A, dated April 8, 2011, at any time after the inspection required in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD but no later than the compliance time specified in paragraph (g)(5) of this AD as long as no cracks were found. As required in paragraph (g)(4) of this AD, the modification reinforcement must be incorporated before further flight if damage or signs of distress are found.
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.
