Summary
This document proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 87-18-09, which currently requires inspecting (one-time) the sides of the front and rear wood spars for compression cracks on certain American Champion Aircraft Corporation (ACAC) Model 8GCBC airplanes, and repairing or replacing any wood spar with compression cracks. The proposed AD would require installing inspection holes on the top and bottom wing surfaces, repetitively inspecting the front and rear wood spars for damage, repairing or replacing any damaged wood spar, and installing inspection covers. Damage is defined as cracks; compression cracks; longitudinal cracks through the bolt holes, spacer holes, or nail holes; or loose or missing rib nails. The proposed AD results from in-flight wing structural failure on one of the affected airplanes that was in compliance with the one-time inspection requirement of AD 87-18- 09. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent damage in the wood spar wing from going undetected, which could result in in-flight structural failure of the wing with consequent loss of control of the airplane.