# AD 72-18-03: Corrosion of Rudder and Elevator Cables - Type: Airworthiness directive - Status: Current - Products: American Champion 7GCAA, 7GCBC, 7KCAB and 8KCAB - Effective: September 1, 1972 - Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD - Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane - Amendment: 39-1507 - Registered aircraft: 2,422 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs) - FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/5342B6257D12159686256A3400590C3B.0001 - DRS record last changed: May 30, 2024 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/72-18-03 ## The airworthiness directive 72-18-03 BELLANCA: (Champion). Amdt. 39-1507. Applies to Model 7GCAA, 7GCBC, 7KCAB, and 8KCAB airplanes certificated in all categories. Compliance required within the next 10 hours time in service after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished within the last 15 hours time in service, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 25 hours time in service from the last inspection, until modified in accordance with paragraph (c) below. Compliance with paragraph (c) required no later than March 1, 1973. To detect battery acid corrosion of elevator and rudder control cables and to detect corrosion of other airframe components in the battery area, accomplish the following: a) Inspect the elevator and rudder control cables in the battery area for evidence of corrosion caused by battery acid spillage. If any evidence of control cable corrosion is found, replace the corroded cables before further flight, except that the airplane may be flown in accordancewith FAR 21.197 to a base where the repair can be performed. b) Inspect the battery compartment area for evidence of battery acid corrosion of airframe components other than control cables. If any corrosion is found, neutralize the affected areas with a soda water solution. Repair damage, as necessary. c) The repetitive inspections required by paragraphs (a) and (b) may be discontinued when a battery box which will assure that any battery acid spillage is drained overboard is installed in accordance with data approved by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, Great Lakes Region. The battery box must be installed no later than March 1, 1973. This amendment becomes effective September 1, 1972. ## Affected data sheets (2) (OpenAirDocs) The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names. - [TCDS A-759](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A-759): American Champion Aircraft Corp.; names 3 of 22 models: 7KCAB, 7GCAA, 7GCBC - [TCDS A21CE](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A21CE): American Champion Aircraft Corp.; names 1 of 2 models: 8KCAB ## 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: 2,422 (2,422 by airframe model, 0 by engine model) - Makers: Bellanca 1,206, American Champion 800, Champion 415, Aeronca 1 Models with the most aircraft: - [Bellanca 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc): 487 aircraft (airframe model) - [American Champion 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8kcab): 449 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bellanca 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8kcab): 371 aircraft (airframe model) - [American Champion 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7gcbc): 232 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bellanca 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7kcab): 230 aircraft (airframe model) - [Champion 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7kcab): 151 aircraft (airframe model) - [Champion 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gcbc): 144 aircraft (airframe model) - [American Champion 7GCAA](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7gcaa): 119 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bellanca 7GCAA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcaa): 118 aircraft (airframe model) - [Champion 7GCAA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gcaa): 114 aircraft (airframe model) - [Champion 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-8kcab): 5 aircraft (airframe model) - [Aeronca 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7gcbc): 1 aircraft (airframe model) - [Champion 7GCAA (CONV)](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gcaa-conv): 1 aircraft (airframe model) All 13 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/72-18-03/models.md Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/72-18-03/aircraft.md 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.