Brake Pedal Link Rod

FAA Aircraft Certification Service SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN SUBJ: Brake Pedal Link Rod SAIB: CE-08-34 Date: July 15, 2008 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin informs Swift Model GC-1A and GC-1B airplane owners, operators, and maintenance technicians of the possibility of brake pedal link rod failure. The failure of this link rod can result in loss of brake and rudder action.

Background

A failure of a brake link rod, part number 1830, in a Swift airplane has been reported to the FAA. This link rod connects the brake pedal to the bell crank which actuates the master brake cylinder. The failure of this link rod allows the pedal to travel forward to the cabin floor and jam against a channel which results in the loss of both brake actuation and rudder pedal travel. Upon further examination of the failed link rod by the Swift Museum Foundation, they found the steel sleeve bushing on the link rod had worn completely through which in turn allowed the aluminum link rod to wear through and fail.

The Swift Museum Foundation issued Customer Service Maintenance Bulletin #39 on June 7, 2008, regarding the link rod failure. The service bulletin requires a check for looseness in the 1830 brake pedal link rods and if looseness is found then the link rods are removed to inspect for any wear in the steel bushings or the link rods. If these parts are worn, the service bulletin requires replacement of the link rods, the steel bushings, and associated hardware. The Swift Museum Foundation has assembled these replacement parts into the “1830 Brake Repair Kit”. The kit cost is $51.00 and will take approximately 1 work-hour to install.

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

Recommendations

The FAA is recommending all owners, operators, and maintenance technicians of Swift GC-1A and GC-1B airplanes perform the actions described in Swift Customer Service Maintenance Bulletin #39 dated June 7, 2008.

For Further Information Contact

Cindy Lorenzen, Aerospace Engineer, 1895 Phoenix Parkway, Suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia, 30349; telephone: 770-703-6078; fax: 770-703-6055; or e-mail: [email protected].

For Related Service Information Contact

A copy of Customer Service Maintenance Bulletin #39 and the 1830 Brake Repair Kit are available from the Swift Museum Foundation, PO Box 644, Athens, Tennessee, 37371-0644; telephone 423- 744-9696; fax 423-745-9869; or e-mail: [email protected].