SAIB CE-06-30 —

1 SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN

Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration

CE-06-30 February 9, 2006 http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/alerts/SAIB This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) advises you, owners and operators of Cirrus Design Corporation (CDC) Model SR20 and SR22 airplanes, of several changes, now available, that will significantly reduce the possibility of right brake failure.

Background

We issued SAIB CE-05-77 on July 27, 2005. That SAIB advised Cirrus owners of two accidents in 2005 as a result of leaking hydraulic fluid from the right brake caliper. The SAIB highlighted the issuance of Cirrus Owner Service Advisory number SA 05-04 and recommended that the preflight walk around include a close inspection of the ground and wheel fairing of each main gear for leaking hydraulic fluid. Since the issuance of SAIB CE-05-77, three additional aircraft have experienced right brake fires.

Discussion

Cirrus’ evaluation of the right brake leaking hydraulic fluid has confirmed what we reported in the previous SAIB. Helical propwash with a free castering nose wheel leads to occasional right braking during taxi for directional control. Taxi with reduced power and right rudder reduces the need for right braking. Improper taxi procedure (excessive or continuous use of the right brake) can lead to an overheated brake. The brake caliper piston seal overheats and no longer performs its function. This results in the loss of hydraulic fluid with possible resultant loss of braking or brake fire.

Cirrus has issued Service Bulletin (SB) SB 2X-32-13, dated December 15, 2005; and SB 2X-32-14, dated January 18, 2006.

SB 2X-32-14 adds a mandatory Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) change, which limits the maximum engine revolution per minute (RPM) to 1000 RPM for taxi on flat, smooth, hard surfaces. Eliminating high- power taxi should prevent the occurrence of an overheated brake due to the pilot dragging the right brake for directional control. SB 2X-32- 14 also requires adding a temperature sticker to the brake caliper with an inspection hole added to the wheel pant. The temperature sticker will change color if the brake caliper piston seal overheats.

Cirrus revised the POH to call for an inspection of the temperature sticker as part of the preflight walk-around procedure. If the sticker color has changed, you should replace the caliper piston O-rings. Also, SB2X-32-14 recommends changing the caliper piston O- ring if you didn’t change it at the last annual or 100 flight hour inspection, as the Aircraft Maintenance Manual requires.

2 SB 2X-32-13 is optional. It changes the brake calipers to ones that have a higher energy capacity. On the SR20, the capacity is increased by 46 percent and the SR22 capacity is increased by 25 percent. However, the heavy-duty brakes, like any brake system, are not free from the effects of overheating.

Recommendation

Cirrus is paying for the cost of the mandatory components. We recommend that you comply with Cirrus SB 2X-32-14. In addition, we highly recommend that you either change the brake caliper piston o-ring seals in your existing calipers (if you didn’t change them at last annual or 100 flight hour inspection), or accomplish SB 2X-32-13, which changes the brake calipers with calipers of higher energy capacity. This is especially important because Cirrus has advised us that annual maintenance on the aircraft hasn’t typically included replacement of the brake caliper piston o-rings, as the Aircraft Maintenance Manual requires. For Further Information Contact

Wesley Rouse, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Chicago Aircraft Certification, 2300 E. Devon, Des Plaines, IL 60018; phone (847) 294-8113; email: [email protected]

You can also get service information from Cirrus Design Corporation on the web at www.cirrusdesign.com under “Service & Upgrades” – Service Publications”.