2007-13-17: Cracked engine mounts

2007-13-17 Air Tractor, Inc.: Amendment 39-15121; Docket No. FAA- 2007-27212; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-011-AD. Effective Date (a) This AD becomes effective on August 10, 2007. Affected ADs (b) This AD supersedes AD 2006-22-08, Amendment 39-14805. Applicability (c) This AD affects all Models AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A airplanes, all serial numbers, that are certificated in any category. Unsafe Condition (d) This AD results from reports of two Model AT-802A airplanes with cracked engine mounts (at 2,815 hours time-in-service (TIS) and 1,900 hours TIS) below the initial compliance time in AD 2006-22-08. The FAA has determined that an initial inspection when the airplane reaches a total of 1,300 hours TIS is required instead of 4,000 hours TIS as required by AD 2006-22-08. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the engine mount, which could result in failure of the engine mount. Such failure could lead to separation of the enginefrom the airplane. Compliance (e) To address this problem, you must do the following, unless already done: Actions Compliance Procedures (1) Visually inspect the engine mount for any cracks. Initially inspect when the airplane reaches a total of 1,300 hours TIS or within the next 100 hours TIS after August 10, 2007 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later, unless already done. Thereafter, inspect repetitively at intervals not to exceed 300 hours TIS. Follow Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter #253, dated December 12, 2005, revised January 22, 2007. (2) If you find any crack damage, do the following: (i) Obtain an FAA-approved repair scheme or replacement procedure from the manufacturer; and (ii) Repair following the FAA-approved repair scheme or replace the engine mount with a new engine mount following the replacement procedure. Before further flight after any inspection required by paragraph (e)(1) of this AD where crack damage is found.If you repair the cracked engine mount, then continue to reinspect at intervals not to exceed 300 hours TIS, unless the repair scheme states differently. If you replace the engine mount, then initially inspect upon accumulating 1,300 hours TIS and repetitively at intervals not to exceed 300 hours TIS. For obtaining a repair scheme or replacement procedure: Contact Air Tractor Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374; telephone: (940) 564-5616; facsimile: (940) 564-5612. (3) Report any cracks that you find to the FAA at the address specified in paragraph (f) of this AD. Include in your report: (i) Airplane serial number; (ii) Airplane hours TIS and engine mount hours TIS; (iii) Crack location(s) and size(s); (iv) Corrective action taken; and (v) Point of contact name and telephone number. Within the next 30 days after you find the cracks or within the next 30 days after August 10, 2007 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the information collection requirements contained in this regulation under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056. Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (f) The Manager, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, ASW-150 (c/o MIDO-43), 10100 Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio, Texas 78216; telephone: (210) 308-3365; facsimile: (210) 308-3370. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO. (g) AMOCs approved for AD 2006-22-08 are not approved for this AD. Related Information (h) To get copies of the service information referenced in this AD, contact Air Tractor Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374; telephone: (940) 564-5616; facsimile: (940) 564-5612. To view the AD docket, go to U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is Docket No. FAA-2007-27212; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-011-AD. Material Incorporated by Reference (i) You must use Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter 253, dated December 12, 2005, revised January 22, 2007, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Air Tractor Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374; telephone: (940) 564-5616; facsimile: (940) 564-5612. (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202- 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html .