# AD 52-02-02: Aileron Balance Assembly - Type: Airworthiness directive - Status: Historical - Products: Univair 415-C, 415-CD, 415-D, E and G - Superseded by: [AD 2012-08-06](https://openairdocs.org/ad/2012-08-06) - Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane - Registered aircraft: 1,033 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs) - FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/4A9EB35C0F1B126086256A8000609FFC.0001 - DRS record last changed: August 7, 2025 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/52-02-02 ## The airworthiness directive 52-02-02 ERCO: Applies to All Model 415 Series and Models E and G Aircraft. Compliance required as indicated. As a result of several Ercoupe accidents, the following precautionary measures should be taken: 1. Before the next flight and at each 25-hour inspection: (a) Inspect the aileron balance assembly (Erco P/N 415-16009) and ailerons for cracks in support structure and skin, respectively. Repair or replace defective parts. (b) Inspect the four No. 6-32 screws which attach the balance weight support to the aileron for looseness and damage. Replace defective screws with AN 526-632 screws, taking care not to overstress during tightening. 2. Before next flight and at each 100-hour inspection, thereafter, inspect the aileron hinges and aileron control system for excessive looseness or wear in hinge pins or bearings. If, with one aileron blocked in the neutral position, the total play of the other aileron, measured at the trailing edge, exceeds 7/16-inch, allthe joints and bearing should be checked and those which are loose should be tightened or replaced. 3. If the aileron balance weights have been removed in accordance with Erco Service Bulletin No. 57, item 1 above and AD 47-20-06 do not apply. However, any previous cracks in the aileron skin or beam which occurred prior to removal of the aileron balance weights must be repaired or the parts replaced. The free play referred to in item 2 above must be reduced to 5/16-inch. 4. Before the next flight, determine that the air speed instrument is distinctly marked in accordance with the operating limitations. (Engineering and Research Corp. Service Memorandum No. 56 covers this same subject.) This supersedes AD 49-02-02; the new material is contained in item 3. ## Affected data sheets (3) (OpenAirDocs) The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names. - [TCDS A-718](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A-718): Univair Aircraft Corporation; names 2 of 2 models: 415-CD, 415-C - [TCDS A-787](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A-787): Univair Aircraft Corporation; names 1 of 8 models: 415-D - [TCDS TC 674](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/TC%20674): Dart Aircraft Corporation; names 1 of 4 models: G ## Registered aircraft it may apply to (OpenAirDocs) Matched by airframe and engine model; the AD's applicability may narrow it by serial number, part number or equipment. - Aircraft: 1,033 (1,033 by airframe model, 0 by engine model) - Makers: Ercoupe 793, Engineering & Research 200, Forney 21, Erco 12, Dart 5, Monocoupe 1, Univair 1 Models with the most aircraft: - [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c): 623 aircraft (airframe model) - [Engineering & Research 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-415-c): 160 aircraft (airframe model) - [Ercoupe 415-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-d): 101 aircraft (airframe model) - [Ercoupe 415-CD](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-cd): 48 aircraft (airframe model) - [Engineering & Research 415-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-415-d): 24 aircraft (airframe model) - [Ercoupe G](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-g): 21 aircraft (airframe model) - [Forney 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/forney-415-c): 17 aircraft (airframe model) - [Engineering & Research 415-CD](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-415-cd): 16 aircraft (airframe model) - [Erco 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/erco-415-c): 7 aircraft (airframe model) - [Dart G](https://openairdocs.org/model/dart-g): 5 aircraft (airframe model) - [Erco 415-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/erco-415-d): 4 aircraft (airframe model) - [Forney 415-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/forney-415-d): 2 aircraft (airframe model) - [Forney 415-CD](https://openairdocs.org/model/forney-415-cd): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Erco 415-CD](https://openairdocs.org/model/erco-415-cd): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Forney G](https://openairdocs.org/model/forney-g): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Monocoupe G](https://openairdocs.org/model/monocoupe-g): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Univair 415-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/univair-415-d): 1 aircraft (airframe model) All 17 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/52-02-02/models.md Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/52-02-02/aircraft.md ## Related documents - [AD 2012-08-06](https://openairdocs.org/ad/2012-08-06): Flight Controls ยท Univair 415-C, 415-CD, 415-D and 7 more. Effective Oct 3, 2012. Supersedes this AD Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.