# AD 76-23-03 R1: Exhaust System - Type: Airworthiness directive - Status: Historical - Products: Alexandria 17-30, 17-30A, 17-31 and 17-31A - Effective: November 7, 1986 - Superseded by: [AD 2008-05-11](https://openairdocs.org/ad/2008-05-11) - Product type: Aircraft, Small airplane - Amendment: 39-5454 - Registered aircraft: 559 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs) - FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/E4D3FC2A676DA17E86256A340058A335.0001 - DRS record last changed: August 7, 2025 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/76-23-03-R1 ## The airworthiness directive 76-23-03 R1 BELLANCA: Amendment 39-2772, as amended by Amendment 39-5454. Applies to BellancaMN Models 17-30, serials 30-139 thru 30-262, 17-30A, serials 30-263 and up, 17-31, serials 32-1 thru 32-14, and 17-31A, serials 32-15 and up, airplanes certificated in all categories. For airplanes with 200 or more hours time in service on the effective date of this AD, compliance is required within the next 10 hours time in service and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours time in service or the next annual inspection, whichever occurs first. For airplanes with less than 200 hours time in service on the effective date of this AD compliance is required before the accumulation of 210 hours time in service and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours time in service or the next annual inspection, whichever occurs first. To prevent exhaust system failures which could result in cabin air contamination and heat damage to components in the nacelle accomplish the following: (A) Visually inspect the muffler and tailpipe assemblies for cracks paying particular attention to the ball joint welds, the outlets of the muffler and resonator, and the support for the tailpipe assembly. (B) Inspect the exhaust system for freedom of movement at the ball joints by removing the tailpipe support bolts. When the bolts are removed: (1) The left tailpipe assembly must drop from its supported position unassisted. (2) The right tailpipe assembly must move from its supported position when a two pound force is applied one inch below the resonator can 90 degrees to the axis of the resonator, i.e., the assembly must move when a two pound pull is applied one inch below the resonator can forward and down. (3) If a greater forces than the above are required: (a) Disassemble the ball joint and inspect for surface abnormalities such as galling or wear marks. (b) Rework the ball joints as required to correct noted discrepancies.(c) Reassemble the ball joint. Do not overtighten the clamp as this may distort ball surfaces. (4) Repeat (B)(1) thru (B)(3) as required until compliance with (B)(1) and (B)(2) is demonstrated. Amendment 39-2772 became effective November 23, 1976. This amendment, 39-5454, becomes effective November 7, 1986. ## Affected data sheets (2) (OpenAirDocs) The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names. - [TCDS 1A3](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/1A3): Bellanca Aircraft Inc.; names 2 of 7 models: 17-30, 17-31 - [TCDS A18CE](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A18CE): Bellanca Aircraft Inc.; names 2 of 3 models: 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: 559 (559 by airframe model, 0 by engine model) - Makers: Bellanca 558, Alexandria 1 Models with the most aircraft: - [Bellanca 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a): 399 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bellanca 17-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30): 83 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bellanca 17-31A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-31a): 71 aircraft (airframe model) - [Bellanca 17-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-31): 5 aircraft (airframe model) - [Alexandria 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/alexandria-17-30a): 1 aircraft (airframe model) All 6 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/76-23-03-R1/models.md Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/76-23-03-R1/aircraft.md ## Related documents - [AD 2008-05-11](https://openairdocs.org/ad/2008-05-11): Muffler and tailpipe assemblies ยท Alexandria 17-30, 17-30A, 17-31 and 2 more. Effective Apr 8, 2008. Supersedes this AD Its text cites no advisory circulars or STCs. ## NTSB investigations that cite this AD (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB SEA85LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85LA230), Sep 24, 1985: Bellanca 17-30A (N6627V), Burlington, WA, substantial damage - [NTSB ATL85LA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA227), Jul 30, 1985: Bellanca 17-30A (N6707V), Camden, SC, substantial damage --- From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of FAA and NTSB data. Only the Federal Register edition on govinfo.gov is the official legal text of an AD.