AD 76-16-08

76-16-08 PITTS AVIATION ENTERPRISES, INC.: Amendment 39-2692. Applies to Model S-1S, Serial Numbers 1-0001 through 1-0043, and Model S-2A, Serial Numbers 2001 through 2122, airplanes certificated in all categories.

Compliance required as indicated, unless already accomplished:

To prevent partial loss of rudder control due to control cable slippage resulting from improper swaging of the Nicopress sleeves, accomplish the following:

A. Within 10 hours' time in service after the effective date of this airworthiness directive or by September 13, 1976, whichever occurs first, inspect the 3 swaged grooves of the Nicopress part number 18-3-M sleeves in the rudder control system to assure that the major axis diameter is between .348 and .353 inches. The Nicopress "go" gage for this sleeve is part number 64-CGMP and has an opening of .353 inches. The correct opening for checking these sleeves is marked "M." The Model S-2A airplane has a total of 8 sleeves to be checked and the Model S-1S has 4. If improperly swaged sleeves are found, before further flight, reswage to the proper limits or replace as required.

B. Until compliance with paragraph A is accomplished, acrobatic flight (including but not limited to, maneuvers delineated in the respective FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manuals) is prohibited and prior to further flight a placard must be installed on the instrument panel in full view of the pilot which reads:

"ACROBATIC FLIGHT PROHIBITED."

C. Upon compliance with paragraph A, the placard required by paragraph B may be removed.

This amendment becomes effective August 20, 1976.