SAIB CE-00-35

SPECIAL

AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION

BULLETIN Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration No. CE-00-35 September 14, 2000 We post SAIBs on the internet at "av-info.faa.gov" This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.

Introduction This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) advises and alerts you, a registered owner or operator of Vulcanair S.p.A. (Partenavia) P 68 model aircraft, of the need for a landing gear attach bolt inspection.

Background The Small Airplane Directorate of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received safety information from the REGISTRO AERONAUTICO ITALIANO (RAI) on the Vulcanair S.p.A.

(Partenavia) P 68 aircraft. The safety information stated results of a failure of one of the landing gear attach bolts on a P68 aircraft. Investigation showed that the failure was due to excessive torque being applied to the nut and bolt assembly. RAI determined that this over-tightening could have occurred during maintenance. The manufacturer or U.S. dealer may already have provided this information to you. The FAA does not plan to issue an Airworthiness Directive at this time, since this has only occurred on one aircraft. Partenavia issued a service bulletin for inspection.

RAI also issued Airworthiness Directive 2000-140, dated March 20, 2000.

Recommendation The FAA agrees with the manufacturer and recommends that you follow the information described in Partenavia/Vulcanair Service Bulletin (SB) No. 99, Rev 1, issued March 17, 2000. This service bulletin calls for an inspection of the suspect area to check for correct bolt torque or bolt replacement if necessary.

For further information, contact Roman T. Gabrys, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri, 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4141; Fax: (816) 329-4090; email: roman.gabrys@faa.gov.