# AD 80-14-09: Gondola Fittings - Type: Airworthiness directive - Status: Current - Products: Eagle Balloons Challenger, T and TC-4A - Effective: July 7, 1980 - Superseded by: Nothing supersedes this AD - Product type: Aircraft, Balloon - Amendment: 39-3825 - Registered aircraft: 5 may be affected, by airframe or engine model (OpenAirDocs) - FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/00BA0C12B136AB1D86256A4E0056F344.0001 - DRS record last changed: May 30, 2024 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ad/80-14-09 ## The airworthiness directive 80-14-09 EAGLE BALLOONS LTD. (SEMCO): Amendment 39-3825. Applies to Semco Hot Air Balloon, Model TC-4A, S/N SEM 81 and subsequent; Model T, S/N SEM 78 and subsequent Challenger, S/N SEM 25 and subsequent, equipped with tubular aluminum gondolas covered with chair duck canvas. Compliance required as indicated below after the effective date of this AD. To preclude failure of the gondola structural fittings and to alter the gondola chair duck canvas, accomplish the following: 1. Before next flight, and each flight thereafter: a. Visually check all Diamond aluminum fittings for cracks, in the tongue radius area, on the following models: Model No. Fitting Dash No. Part Qty. 11 No. 150 4 14 No. 156 8 28 No. 115 4 Model TC-4A Dug. No. 1 4 No. 103 8 4 No. 150 4 5 No. 156 8 3 No. 115 4 Model T Dug. No. 1 6 No. 103 8 3 No. 150 4 6 No. 156 8 9 No. 115 4 Challenger Dug. No. 1 11 No. 1038 b. Replace cracked parts with new parts before next flight. 2. Secure the gondola chair duck canvas siding to the gondola floor using grommets in the lower portion of the canvas. Extend the existing canvas using a 3/8" french fell seam per Advisory Circular 43.13-1A, Chapter 3, Page 85. Hem the bottom of the canvas and install grommets as noted in sketch below. AD 80-14-09 Rework existing plywood floor as shown below. AD 80-14-09 Lace canvas to plywood floor using 1/4" diameter braided nylon line as shown. AD 80-14-09 3. Within the next 100 hours or next annual inspection, whichever occurs first, accomplish the following: a. Remove Diamond aluminum slip-on fittings noted in paragraph 1.a. b. Clean surfaces as necessary and visually inspect for cracks by dye penetrant with a glass of at least 10 power, or equivalent, particularly in the tongue radius area. c. If no cracks are found, the Diamond aluminum slip-on fittings may be returned to service. d. Replace cracked parts with unused parts prior to next flight. 4. The repetitive inspection in paragraph (3) is to be accomplished at intervals not to exceed 100 hours in service or annually thereafter, whichever occurs first. 5. Equivalent inspections, alterations and replacement parts must be approved by the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, FAA, Eastern Region. 6. Upon submission of substantiating data by an owner, or operator through an FAA Maintenance inspector, the Chief, Engineering and Manufacturing Branch, FAA, Eastern Region, may adjust the compliance times specified in this AD. This amendment is effective July 7, 1980. AD 80-14-09 ## Affected data sheets (3) (OpenAirDocs) The type certificate data sheets whose models the AD names. - [TCDS A13SO](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A13SO): Eagle Balloons Corp.; names 1 of 3 models: Challenger - [TCDS A13WE](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A13WE): Eagle Balloons Corp.; names 1 of 2 models: TC-4A - [TCDS A1NW](https://openairdocs.org/tcds/A1NW): Eagle Balloons Corp.; names 1 of 1 models: T ## 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: 5 (5 by airframe model, 0 by engine model) - Makers: Semco Balloon 5 Models with the most aircraft: - [Semco Balloon CHALLENGER](https://openairdocs.org/model/semco-balloon-challenger): 3 aircraft (airframe model) - [Semco Balloon T](https://openairdocs.org/model/semco-balloon-t): 2 aircraft (airframe model) All 2 models: https://openairdocs.org/ad/80-14-09/models.md Every aircraft: https://openairdocs.org/ad/80-14-09/aircraft.md ## Related documents - [AC 43.13-1B CHG 1 Ed Update](https://openairdocs.org/ac/43.13-1): Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices—Aircraft Inspection and Repair. Cited as AC 43.13-1A in the AD's requirements --- 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.