AD 96-12-03 R1

This document corrects the airworthiness directive (AD) number of an amendment that was published in the Federal Register on August 22, 1997 (62 FR 44535), and concerns Aviat Aircraft, Inc. Models S-1S, S-1T, S-2, S-2A, S-2S, and S-2B airplanes. The referenced amendment revises AD 96-12-03, but was inadvertently assigned the number of AD 97-17-07 instead of AD 96-12-03 R1. The AD currently requires repetitively inspecting the aft lower fuselage wing attach fitting on both wings for cracks and modifying any cracked aft lower fuselage wing attach fitting. Modifying the aft lower fuselage wing attach fitting on both wings eliminates the repetitive inspection requirement of the AD. This action corrects the amendment to reflect the right AD number throughout the entire document.

Final rule; correction.

96-12-03 R1 AVIAT AIRCRAFT, INC.: Amendment 39-10109; Docket No. 96-CE-23-AD.

Applicability: The following airplane models and serial numbers, certificated in any category, that are equipped with aft lower fuselage wing attach fittings incorporating part number (P/N) 76090, 2-2107-1, or 1-210-102, and where these aft lower fuselage wing attach fittings on both wings have not been modified in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Aviat Service Bulletin (SB) No. 25, dated April 3, 1996, Revised November 12, 1996; or Aviat SB No. 25, dated April 3, 1996:

- Models S-1S, S-1T, S-2, S-2A, and S-2S airplanes, all serial numbers.

- Model S-2B airplanes, serial numbers 5000 through 5348.

NOTE 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (e) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.
Compliance: Required as indicated in the body of this AD.

To prevent possible in-flight separation of the wing from the airplane caused by a cracked aft lower fuselage wing attach fitting, accomplish the following:

(a) Within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished (compliance with AD 96-12-03), and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 50 hours TIS, inspect the aft lower fuselage wing attach fitting on both wings for cracks. Accomplish these inspections in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Aviat SB No. 25, dated April 3, 1996, Revised November 12, 1996; or Aviat SB No. 25, dated April 3, 1996.

(b) If any cracked aft lower fuselage wing attach fitting is found during any inspection required by this AD, prior to further flight, modify the cracked aft lower fuselage wing attach fitting in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Aviat SB No. 25, dated April 3, 1996, Revised November 12, 1996; or Aviat SB No. 25, dated April 3, 1996. Repetitive inspections are no longer necessary on an aft lower fuselage wing attachment fitting that was found cracked and has the referenced modification incorporated.

(c) Modifying the aft lower fuselage wing attach fitting on both wings in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Aviat SB No. 25, dated April 3, 1996, Revised November 12, 1996; or Aviat SB No. 25, dated April 3, 1996, is considered terminating action for the repetitiveinspection requirement of this AD.

(d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

(e) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the initial or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Denver Aircraft Certification Office, 26805 E. 68th Avenue, Room 214, Denver, Colorado 80249. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Denver ACO. Alternative methods of compliance approved in accordance with AD 96-12-03 are considered approved for this AD.

NOTE 2: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Denver ACO.

(f) The inspections and modification required by this AD shall be done in accordance with Aviat Service Bulletin No. 25, dated April 3, 1996, Revised November 12, 1996; or Aviat Service Bulletin No. 25, dated April 3, 1996.

(1) The incorporation by reference of Aviat Service Bulletin No. 25, dated April 3, 1996, Revised November 12, 1996, was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

(2) The incorporation by reference of Aviat Service Bulletin No. 25, dated April 3, 1996, was previously approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 as of June 6, 1996 (61 FR 28730).

(3) Copies of these service bulletins may be obtained from Aviat Aircraft, Inc., P.O. Box 1240 (postal service delivery), 672 South Washington Street (express mail), Afton, Wyoming 83110. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

(g) This amendment (39-10109) revises AD 96-12-03, Amendment 39-9645.

(h) This amendment (39-10109) becomes effective on October 3, 1997.

Discussion
On August 13, 1997, the FAA issued Amendment 10109 (62 FR 44535, August 22, 1997), which applies to Aviat Models S-1S, S-1T, S-2, S-2A, S-2S, and S-2B airplanes. This action revises AD 96-12-03 by retaining the requirements of repetitively inspecting the aft lower fuselage wing attach fitting on both wings for cracks, and modifying any cracked aft lower fuselage wing attach fitting; except the action eliminates from the applicability those airplanes that were equipped with aft lower fuselage wing attach fittings, either P/N 76090, 2-2107-1, or 1-210-102, at manufacture. These aft lower fuselage wing attach fittings were incorporated at manufacture on the Model S-2B airplanes beginning with serial number 5349. AD 96-12-03 applied to all serial numbers of the Model S-2B airplanes.

Need for the Correction
The AD number of this action is incorrectly referenced as AD 97-17-07 instead of AD 96-12-03 R1 throughout the document. Referencing the action as AD 97-17-07 may not allow operators of the affected airplanes that accomplished the intent of AD 96-12-03 to realize that the AD contains the same actions as contained in the original AD. The operators may spend unnecessary time tracking down information and approvals for "unless already accomplished" credit for the AD action.

Correction of Publication
Accordingly, the publication of August 22, 1997 (62 FR 44535), of Amendment 39-10109; AD 97-17-07, which was the subject of FR Doc. 97-22046, is corrected as follows:

Section 39.13 [Corrected]
On page 44535, in the third column, 5th line from the top of the column, correct "AD 97-17-07" to "AD 96-12-03 R1".

On page 44536, in the third column, section 39.13, the sixth line in this section and the 19th line from the top of the column, correct "97-17-07" to "96-12-03 R1".

Action is taken herein to correct this reference in Amendment 39-10109 and to add this AD correction to section 39.13 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 39.13).

The effective date remains October 3, 1997.