# AD 73-05-02: Rudder Control System

- Type: Airworthiness directive
- Status: Current
- Products: Alexandria 17-30A, 17-31A and 17-31ATC
- Effective: March 7, 1973
- Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD
- Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane
- Amendment: 39-1599
- Registered aircraft: 542 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/C527D1B7C3E52B5086256A3400589E98.0001
- DRS record last changed: May 30, 2024
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/73-05-02

## The airworthiness directive

73-05-02 BELLANCA: Amdt. 39-1599. Applies to Model 17-30A, Serial Numbers 30346 through 73-30496; Model 17-31A, Serial Numbers 32-37 through 73-32-97; and Model 17-31ATC, Serial Numbers 31015 through 73-31045, certificated in all categories.

Compliance required as indicated, unless already accomplished.

To prevent possible failure of the rudder control system, accomplish the following:

      (A) Within the next 10 hours time in service after the effective date of this airworthiness directive, unless already accomplished, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 25 hours time in service from the last inspection, inspect the rudder pedal shaft assemblies, Part Numbers 195266, 195268, 195270 and 195272, equipped with brakes where the vertical tube is welded to the horizontal tube for evidence of cracks or other failures in accordance with Bellanca Service Letter No. 77 dated February 10, 1973, or later approved revisions, or an equivalent approved by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, Great Lakes Region. All shaft assemblies found cracked must be replaced prior to further flight with a new part of the same number utilizing a horizontal tube having a .058" wall thickness.

      (B) Within the next 100 hours time in service after the effective date of this airworthiness directive unless already accomplished, replace all rudder shaft assemblies, Part Numbers 195266, 195268, 195270, and 195272, on which rudder/brake pedals are installed having .049" thick horizontal tube walls with a new assembly of the same part number utilizing a horizontal tube having a .058" wall thickness in accordance with Bellanca Service Letter No. 77 dated February 10, 1973, or later FAA approved revisions, or an equivalent approved by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, Great Lakes Region. Rudder pedal shaft assemblies not having the brake pedal installed are not affected by this airworthiness directive.

      (C) The repetitive inspections of paragraph (A) of this airworthiness directive are no longer required when compliance with paragraph (B) of this airworthiness directive is accomplished.

      (D) Aircraft Serial Numbers 73-30497 through 73-30509, 73-32-98 through 73-32- 100 were produced with .049" wall tubes but with a reinforcement gusset added and are exempt from this airworthiness directive unless the rudder pedals have been replaced during the service life of these aircraft.

This amendment becomes effective March 7, 1973.

## Affected data sheets (1) (OpenAirDocs)

The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names.

- [TCDS A18CE](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A18CE): Bellanca Aircraft Inc.; names 3 of 3 models: 17-31ATC, 17-31A, 17-30A

## 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: 542 (542 by airframe model, 0 by engine model)
- Makers: Bellanca 541, Alexandria 1

Models with the most aircraft:

- [Bellanca 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a): 399 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Bellanca 17-31ATC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-31atc): 71 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Bellanca 17-31A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-31a): 71 aircraft (airframe model)
- [Alexandria 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/alexandria-17-30a): 1 aircraft (airframe model)

All 5 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/73-05-02/models.md
Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/73-05-02/aircraft.md

Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs.

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