The bulletin
Text extracted from the PDF.
SPECIAL
AIRWORTHINESS
INFORMATION
BULLETIN
Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
CE-05-21 December 15, 2004 www.faa.gov/certification/aircraft This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) provides safety information to you, owners and operators of airplanes with Alaska Bushwheel Tundra Tires installed, part numbers (P/N) 26126, 29136, & 31136, manufactured by Alaska Tire & Rubber Company, Eagle River, Alaska.
Background
We are issuing this SAIB because independent laboratory destructive analysis shows that Alaska Bushwheel Tundra Tire serial numbers ATR006253 and ATR811227 were manufactured from unapproved ply material. Ply material possessing 34 Ends Per Inch (EPI) is the only approved material that Alaska Tire & Rubber Company may use in the manufacture of its Alaska Bushwheel Tundra Tire per Technical Standard Order Authorization issued February 26, 1997, by the Anchorage Aircraft Certification Office (ACO). Destructive analysis has shown that ply material containing 27 EPI instead of ply material containing 34 EPI was used in the construction of Alaska Bushwheel Tundra Tires. The FAA requested destructive analysis in support of Suspected Unapproved Parts (SUP) Investigation 2003-00080. The Technical Standard Order (TSO) approved minimum tire weights are as follows:
• P/N 26126 = 26 lbs.,
• P/N 29136 = 33.25 lbs., and
• P/N 31136 = 37.75 lbs.
The actual tire weight and the minimum approved tire weight may be compared and used as an indication of the EPI count.
Recommendations
We recommend that you evaluate the tire weight of any Alaska Bushwheel Tundra Tires, P/Ns 26126, 29136, & 31136, manufactured by Alaska Tire & Rubber Company, Eagle River, Alaska, in your possession within 100 landings after receipt of this SAIB, and replace them at your aircraft’s next annual inspection.
Further Information Contact
Rodney Bahr, Aerospace Engineer, FAA Anchorage ACO, 222 W 7th Ave, Unit 14 Anchorage, AK 99513-7587; phone: (907) 271-2646, fax: (907) 271-6365;
email: rodney.bahr@faa.gov