Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-17023 · Flight controls
Univair Aircraft Corporation Airplanes
This AD applies to Univair Aircraft Corporation Models (ERCO) 415-C, 415-CD, 415-D, E, G; (Forney) F-1 and F-1A; (Alon) A-2 and A2-A; and (Mooney) M10 airplanes, all serial numbers, that are certificated in any category.
We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Univair Aircraft Corporation Models (ERCO) 415-C, 415-CD, 415-D, E, G; (Forney) F-1 and F-1A; (Alon) A-2 and A2-A; and (Mooney) M10 airplanes. That AD currently requires an inspection of the aileron balance assembly and ailerons for cracks and excessive looseness of associated parts with the required repair or replacement of defective parts as necessary. This new AD would add airplanes to the Applicability section; require inspections of the ailerons, aileron balance assembly, and aileron rigging for looseness or wear, require repair or replacement of parts as necessary; and require a report of the inspection results. This new AD was prompted by a report of a Univair Aircraft Corporation Model ERCO 415-D Ercoupe that crashed after an in-flight breakup due to possible aileron flutter. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.
| What must be done? | When must it be done? | How it must be done |
|---|---|---|
| (1) For all airplanes: Inspect the ailerons for cracks in the support structure and skin | Within the next 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) after October 3, 2012 (the effective date of this AD) or within 3 months after October 3, 2012 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first. Repetitively thereafter inspect at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS or 12 months, whichever occurs first | For all airplanes except the Mooney M-10, follow Ercoupe Service Memorandums No. 56 and 35A, both Revisions A, both dated September 1, 2008. For the Mooney M-10 follow the Mooney M-10 Service and Maintenance Manual, Serial Numbers 690001 through 690011 and 700001 and on, Revision A, dated September 1, 2008, Section V, pages 5-1 through 5-4. |
| (2) For airplanes with the aileron balance assembly (ERCO Part Number (P/N) 415-16009) installed: Inspect the assembly for cracks in the support structure and skin | Within the next 25 hours TIS after October 3, 2012 (the effective date of this AD) or within 3 months after October 3, 2012 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first. Repetitively thereafter inspect at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS or 12 months, whichever occurs first | Follow Ercoupe Service Memorandums No. 20, 56, and 57, all Revisions A, all dated September 1, 2008; and for Models E and (Forney) F-1 and F-1A, follow Ercoupe Service Memorandum No. 35A, Revision A, dated September 1, 2008. |
| (3) For all airplanes: If any cracking is found during the inspections required in paragraphs (g)(1) and/or (g)(2) of this AD, repair or replace cracked parts | Before further flight after the inspection where the cracking was found | Follow Ercoupe Service Memorandums No. 20, 56, and 57, all Revisions A, all dated September 1, 2008; and for Models E and (Forney) F-1 and F-1A, follow Ercoupe Service Memorandum No. 35A, Revision A, dated September 1, 2008. |
| (4) For airplanes with the aileron balance assembly (ERCO P/N 415-16009) installed: Inspect the four No. 6-32 screws that attach the balance weight support to the aileron for looseness and damage | Within the next 25 hours TIS after October 3, 2012 (the effective date of this AD) or within 3 months after October 3, 2012 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first. Repetitively thereafter inspect at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS or 12 months, whichever occurs first | Follow Ercoupe Service Memorandums No. 20, 56, and 57, all Revisions A, all dated September 1, 2008; and for Models E and (Forney) F-1 and F-1A, follow Ercoupe Service Memorandum No. 35A, Revision A, dated September 1, 2008. |
| (5) For all airplanes: If any looseness or damage is found during the inspection of the screws required in paragraph (g)(4) of this AD, replace the screws with AN 526-632 screws, making sure to not overstress during tightening | Before further flight after the inspection where the looseness or damage was found | Follow Ercoupe Service Memorandums No. 20, 56, and 57, all Revisions A, all dated September 1, 2008; and for Models E and (Forney) F-1 and F-1A, follow Ercoupe Service Memorandum No. 35A, Revision A, dated September 1, 2008. |
| (6) For airplanes with the aileron balance assembly (ERCO P/N 415-16009) installed: Inspect the aileron hinges and aileron control system for excessive looseness or wear in hinge pins or bearings. If, with one aileron blocked in the neutral position, the total play of the other aileron, measured at the trailing edge, exceeds 7/16 -inch, inspect all the joints and bearings and tighten or replace those which are loose | Within the next 25 hours TIS after October 3, 2012 (the effective date of this AD) or within 3 months after October 3, 2012 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first. Repetitively thereafter inspect at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS or 12 months, whichever occurs first | Follow Ercoupe Service Memorandums No. 20, 56, and 57, all Revisions A, all dated September 1, 2008; and for Models E and (Forney) F-1 and F-1A, follow Ercoupe Service Memorandum No. 35A, Revision A, dated September 1, 2008. |
| (7) For airplanes that do not have the aileron balance assembly (ERCO P/N 415-16009) installed: Inspect the aileron hinges and aileron control system for excessive looseness or wear in hinge pins or bearings. If, with one aileron blocked in the neutral position the total play of the other aileron, measured at the trailing edge, exceeds 5/16 -inch, inspect all the joints and bearings and tighten those which are loose | Within the next 25 hours TIS after October 3, 2012 (the effective date of this AD) or within 3 months after October 3, 2012 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first | Follow Ercoupe Service Memorandums No. 20, 56, and 57, all Revisions A, all dated September 1, 2008; and for Models E and (Forney) F-1 and F-1A, follow Ercoupe Service Memorandum No. 35A, Revision A, dated September 1, 2008. |
| (8) For all airplanes: Determine that the air-speed instrument is correctly calibrated and distinctly marked in accordance with the operating limitations | Within the next 25 hours TIS after October 3, 2012 (the effective date of this AD) or within 3 months after October 3, 2012 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first, and repetitively thereafter every four years, and any time maintenance occurs that affects the system integrity | For airspeed instrument calibration by bench test method, you must use an FAA-authorized instrument repair facility. For airspeed calibration by global positioning system (GPS) or other owner/operator FAA-approved method, you may follow the instructions in Advisory Circular (AC) AC 23-8C, Appendix 9, dated November 16, 2011. AC 23-8C can be found at: http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_ Guidance_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/bc4325ad70e84ff58625795d00635d7c/$FILE/23-8C.pdf. |
| (9) For all airplanes except the Mooney M-10: Remove load from nose wheel and adjust rigging | Within the next 25 hours TIS after October 3, 2012 (the effective date of this AD) or within 3 months after October 3, 2012 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first. Repetitively thereafter adjust at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS or 12 months, whichever occurs first | Follow Ercoupe Service Memorandum No. 35, Revised January 6, 2006, and/or Ercoupe Service Memorandum 35A, Revision A, dated September 1, 2008. |
| (10) For all airplanes: Submit a one-time report from the initial inspections and/or actions required in paragraphs (g)(1), (g)(2), (g)(4), (g)(6), (g)(7), (g)(8), and (g)(9) of this AD | Within 30 days after the initial inspections and/or actions required in paragraphs (g)(1), (g)(2), (g)(4), (g)(6), (g)(7), (g)(8), and (g)(9) of this AD, or 30 days after October 3, 2012 (the effective date of this AD) if you are using the “unless already done” credit | Use the reporting form found in Figure 1 of paragraph (g)(10) of this AD and send the report to the following offices: Roger A. Caldwell, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, ANM-100D, Denver Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 26805 East 68th Avenue, Room 214, Denver, Colorado 80249-6361; and Univair Aircraft Corporation, 2500 Himalaya Road, Aurora, Colorado 80011. |
A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the collection of information. All responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.
