Emergency Exits

1 FAA Aviation Safety SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN SUBJ: Emergency Exits SAIB: AIR-22-04 Date: March 14, 2022 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin advises owners and operators of Thrush Aircraft, LLC S2R (see list of specific models in “Background” section) airplanes of an airworthiness concern, specifically the potential for the door emergency egress panels to be extremely difficult or impossible to push out in the event of an emergency.

At this time, the FAA has determined that the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that would warrant airworthiness directive (AD) action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 39.

Background

The FAA has received a report of Thrush Aircraft, LLC S2R airplanes having had sealant applied during assembly to the emergency egress panels located on each door. Sealant was applied to prevent water intrusion, but has the unintended consequence of possibly preventing a pilot or occupant from easily pushing through the panel as part of the procedures for emergency egress stated in the airplane flight manual. These procedures require pushing out the panel, reaching through to pull the hinge pin, and pushing the door out.

The issue has since been corrected in manufacturing with a new egress panel assembly. Additionally, Service Bulletin SB-AG-79, dated 01/04/2022, has been released and specifies the necessary procedures for determining if sealant is present and replacing the existing egress panel assembly. See Figures 1 and 2 for location and detail of the emergency egress panel and hinge pin assemblies.

All serial numbers of the following Thrush Aircraft, LLC S2R models are affected by this SAIB and referenced service information: S2R, S2R-T34, S2R-T15, S2R-R3S, S2R-T11, S2R-R1340, S2R- R1820, S2R-T65, S2RHG-T65, S2R-T45, S2R-G6, S2R-G10, S2R-G5, S2R-G1, S2RHG-T34, S2R- T660, and S2R-H80.

Recommendations

The FAA recommends that all owners and operators of the affected airplanes follow the actions outlined in the referenced service bulletin at the earliest opportunity.

For Further Information Contact

Fred Caplan, Aviation Safety Engineer, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: (404) 474-5507; e-mail: [email protected].

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For Related Service Information Contact

Thrush Aircraft LLC, Attn: Product Support, 300 Old Pretoria Road, Albany, GA 31721; phone: (229) 317-8225; fax: (229) 439-9790; e-mail: [email protected].

Figure 1. External Egress Panel and Emergency Egress Hinge Pin Assembly EMERGENCY EGRESS HINGE PIN EMERGENCY EGRESS PANEL

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Figure 2. Egress Panels in Relation to Cockpit Door (shown handles are on outside of door)