SAIB CE-04-05

SPECIAL

AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION

BULLETIN

Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration

No. CE-04-05 October 20, 2003 www.faa.gov - Search "SAIBs" This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.

Introduction This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you, an owner or operator of Slingsby T67A, T67B, T67C, T67M, T67M-MkII, T67M200, T67M260, and T67M260-T3A airplanes, that Slingsby has issued Service Bulletin (SB) No. 175, dated July 11, 2002. This service bulletin specifies a one-time inspection at the next 50-hour maintenance.

Background Cases have been reported of cracking in the Control Column Housing area of the joint between the bearing housing and the vertical tube where the control sits. While inspecting the individual housings, one crack was found in the brazed joint and another crack was found in the vertical tube itself. The latter crack had occurred during sub-contractor manufacture and had been brazed over.

Slingsby issued SB No. 175 to provide instructions for a one-time inspection and correction to this condition.

Recommendation We are recommending, but not requiring, that owners and operators of Slingsby T67A, T67B, T67C, T67M, T67M-MkII, T67M200, T67M260, and T67M260-T3A airplanes accomplish the inspection as specified in Slingsby SB No. 175, dated 11 July 2002, and that you perform this inspection at the next scheduled 50-hour maintenance.

For Further Information Contact Gunnar Berg, Aerospace Engineer, FAA Small Airplane Directorate, ACE-112, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (816)-329-4059; fax: (816)-329-4090; email:

gunnar.berg@faa.gov

You can obtain copies of Slingsby SB No. 175, dated 11 July 2002, from Slingsby, Kirkbymoorside, York, United Kingdom, YO62 6EZ; phone: 01751 432474; fax: 01751 431173; email:

SAL5@Slingsby.co.uk