SAIB CE-05-28 —

SAIB CE-05-28 Current Issued 01/21/2005 Air Tractor, Inc. AT-502 | AT-502A | AT-502B | AT-503A

What is a SAIB?

A Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin is an FAA-issued advisory — not mandatory like an AD, but worth knowing about. SAIBs typically flag service bulletins, manufacturer recommendations, or emerging issues that don't (yet) rise to AD level.

Bulletin text

Verbatim from the FAA-published PDF. 17 paragraphs · 324 words.

1 SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN

Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration

CE-05-28 January 21, 2005 www.faa.gov/certification/aircraft This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) informs you, registered owners and operator of Air Tractor Model AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, and AT-503A airplanes, of an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) to FAA’s Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2002-26-05. This AMOC allows an inspection program instead of the safe life replacement program imposed by AD 2002-26-05. This AMOC does not apply to those airplanes that incorporate or have incorporated Marburger Enterprises, Inc. winglets.

Background

The FAA issued AD 2002-26-05 to prevent fatigue cracks from occurring in the wing lower spar cap before the established safe life is reached. Fatigue cracks in the wing lower spar cap, if not detected, and corrected, could result in the wing separating from the airplanes during flight. AD 2002-26-05 established a safe life with inspection, replacement/modification, and result reporting requirements.

The following service documents include procedures and information on a repetitive inspection program for the Air Tractor Model AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, and AT-503A airplanes: • Snow Engineering Drawing 20989, Sheets 1 through 9, Revision A, dated August 12, 2004; • Snow Engineering Service Letters #233 and #234, both dated May 18, 2004; and • Snow Engineering Process Specification #197, dated June 4, 2002.

The FAA has developed a schedule and program that would allow owners and operators of certain Air Tractor Model AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, and AT-503A airplanes to operate past the scheduled safe life time in AD 2002-26-05.

The AMOC

The schedule and program referenced above is approved as an AMOC to AD 2002-26-05. FAA letter, dated January 13, 2005, outlines the criteria of and specifications of this AMOC, copy attched.

For Further Information Contact

Rob Romero, Aerospace Engineer, FAA Fort Worth ACO, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0150; phone: (817) 222- 5102; fax: (817) 222-5960; e-mail: [email protected]

The FAA-published PDF is the authoritative source. Open on drs.faa.gov ↗