# AD 72-06-02: Rudder Aileron and Elevator Control Cables - Type: Airworthiness directive - Status: Current - Products: True Flight Holdings AA-1, AA-1A, AA-1B and AA-5 - Effective: August 29, 1974 - Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD - Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane - Amendment: 39-1934 - Registered aircraft: 1,002 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs) - FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/C81C11FD2B7C8FF486256E0D0050403C.0001 - DRS record last changed: May 30, 2024 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/72-06-02 ## The airworthiness directive 72-06-02 GRUMMAN-AMERICAN AVIATION CORPORATION: Formerly American Aviation. Amendment 39-1400 as amended by Amendment 39-1467 and 39-1887 is further amended by Amendment 39-1934. Applies to American Aviation (presently Grumman- American Aviation Corporation) all Models AA-1 and AA-1A, only Models AA-1B S/N's 0001 thru 0049, and only Models AA-5 S/N's 0001 thru 0209 certified in all categories. To detect worn and broken rudder aileron and elevator control cables and pulleys control cables, accomplish the following prior to the next flight after the effective date of this A.D. unless already accomplished within the last 75 hours and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours in service from the last inspection. a. Thoroughly clean and inspect all rudder aileron and elevator control pulleys and cables where the cables pass under the pulley grouping forward of the wing center spar. Worn control cables or cables with more than four (4) internal or external broken wires orpulleys indicating wear must be replaced with an unused part of the same part number or an equivalent part prior to next flight. b. Upon submission of substantiating data by an owner or operator through an FAA Maintenance Inspector, the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, FAA, Great Lakes Region, may adjust the repetitive inspection interval specified in this Airworthiness Directive. Equivalent parts and inspections must be approved by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, FAA, Great Lakes Region. Amendment 39-1400 was effective March 14, 1972, or was effective for all recipients of the airmail dispatches of February 2 and February 10, 1972 which contained this amendment. Amendment 39-1467 was effective June 27, 1972. Amendment 39-1887 became effective July 7, 1974. This Amendment 39-1934 becomes effective August 29, 1974. ## Affected data sheets (2) (OpenAirDocs) The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names. - [TCDS A11EA](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A11EA): True Flight Holdings LLC; names 3 of 4 models: AA-1A, AA-1, AA-1B - [TCDS A16EA](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A16EA): True Flight Holdings LLC; names 1 of 4 models: AA-5 ## 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: 1,002 (1,002 by airframe model, 0 by engine model) - Makers: American 513, Grumman American Avn. 489 Models with the most aircraft: - [Grumman American Avn. AA-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5): 257 aircraft (airframe model) - [Grumman American Avn. AA-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-1b): 231 aircraft (airframe model) - [American AA-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1a): 207 aircraft (airframe model) - [American AA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1): 153 aircraft (airframe model) - [American AA-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-5): 127 aircraft (airframe model) - [American AA-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1b): 26 aircraft (airframe model) - [Grumman American Avn. AA-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-1a): 1 aircraft (airframe model) All 7 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/72-06-02/models.md Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/72-06-02/aircraft.md Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs. ## NTSB investigations that cite this AD (4) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB WPR14FA239](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA239), Jun 9, 2014: American AA-1A (N9454L), El Mirage, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of airplane control while intentionally maneuvering close to the ground, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack in a steep bank and entering an… - [NTSB CEN14LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA221), Apr 21, 2014: American AA 1 (N481HY), Peyton, CO, destroyed. Probable cause: The loss of directional control during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined due to the extent of fire damage. - [NTSB FTW98FA299](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98FA299), Jul 5, 1998: Grumman American AA-1A (N9453L), Larkspur, CO, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot inadvertently stalling the airplane and entering an unrecoverable spin. A factor was clear air turbulence. - [NTSB BFO92LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA143), Sep 24, 1992: Grumman AA-1A (N6445L), Bedford, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION WHICH FAILED TO REVEAL A DETERIORATED RUDDER CABLE WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED AND CAUSED LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. --- 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.