As many are aware, there's been talk of an AD for the old 1025 steel rudders after a couple rudder failures. From what I can recall they all had rudder mounted beacon lights and had higher horsepower ratings.
On 10/6/2023, there was a proposed AD published based on the recommendations from the NTSB report on the failure of these rudders. From the text: this proposed AD would require replacing any rudder equipped with a rudder post made from a certain carbon steel [1025] with a rudder equipped with a rudder post made from a certain lowalloy steel [4130N]. This AD would be for the following aircraft: J-3, J-4, J-5, PA-11, PA-12, PA-14, PA-15, PA-16, PA-17, PA-18, PA-20, PA-22. There is also a section for sending in a proposed Alternative Means of Compliance
https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2023-22259.pdf
It gives a compliance schedule depending on if you have a rudder mounted beacon and/or a greater than 150 hp engine
Comments are due 45 days after the publication, so November 20, 2023.
Edit: Dang it, I missed that this was being discussed in the "Take Action Jackson" area. Go over there for discussion.
On 10/6/2023, there was a proposed AD published based on the recommendations from the NTSB report on the failure of these rudders. From the text: this proposed AD would require replacing any rudder equipped with a rudder post made from a certain carbon steel [1025] with a rudder equipped with a rudder post made from a certain lowalloy steel [4130N]. This AD would be for the following aircraft: J-3, J-4, J-5, PA-11, PA-12, PA-14, PA-15, PA-16, PA-17, PA-18, PA-20, PA-22. There is also a section for sending in a proposed Alternative Means of Compliance
https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2023-22259.pdf
It gives a compliance schedule depending on if you have a rudder mounted beacon and/or a greater than 150 hp engine
- 2 years if you have a rudder beacon AND 150+ hp
- 3 years if you have a rudder beacon OR 150+ hp
- 5 years if you have neither
Comments are due 45 days after the publication, so November 20, 2023.
Edit: Dang it, I missed that this was being discussed in the "Take Action Jackson" area. Go over there for discussion.
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