SAIB CE-05-64

SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION BULLETIN

Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration

CE-05-64 June 28, 2005

http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/alerts/ This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you, owners and operators of Cameron Balloons Limited, Thunder Balloons Ltd, Colt Balloons Ltd, Thunder and Colt Ltd and Sky Balloons Ltd., that the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) No. G-2004-0028, dated November 24, 2004 (attached).

Background

The manufacturer has identified several occurrences of damaged suspension wires on the underside of solid floor baskets. The damage is the result of inappropriate handling when loading and unloading the basket from a vehicle or trailer. Failure to detect and correct damaged basket suspension wires could cause one or more basket suspension wires to fail during flight. This failure could cause the basket to tip and cause injury to its occupants.

Recommendation

We recommend that you comply with CAA AD No. G-2004-0028, dated November 24, 2004 (attached). Specifics of the CAA AD are as follows:

• within the next 7 days, revise the CAA approved Flight Manual (FM).

• within 31 days, do the procedures as described in Cameron Balloons Alert Service Bulletin No 12, dated November 22, 2004 (also attached).

Reference Publications For questions about Cameron Alert Service Bulletin No 12, contact Cameron Balloons Ltd, St Johns Street, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4NH, United Kingdom; telephone: +44 (0) 117 9637216; facsimile: +44 (0) 117 9661168, or on the Internet at http://www.cameronballoons.co.uk/index.cfm.

For question about the CAA AD, contact Civil Aviation Authority, Aircraft Certification Section, Safety Regulation Group, Aviation House, Gatwick Airport South, West Sussex, RH6 OYR, United Kingdom; telephone:

+44(0) 1293 5732902; facsimile: +44 (0) 1293 573976, or on the Internet at http://www.caa.co.uk.

For Further Information Contact

Taylor Martin, Aerospace Engineer, FAA Small Airplane Directorate, ACE-112, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106;

phone: (816) 329-4138; fax: (816) 329-4090;

email: taylor.martin@faa.gov

Doc. Reference: CBL/TN/FJD/2369 Issue: A Date: 09.10.04 Alert Service CAMERON Bulletin BALLOONS

1. General This Service Bulletin is subject to CAA Airworthiness Directive number 2004-11238

(a) No.: 12

(b) Revision / Date Revision 0 / Date/ 22/11/04

(b)Title: Inspection of Solid Floor Basket Suspension Wires.

Possible damage caused to the suspension wires on the

(c)Description: underside of solid floor baskets by ground handling and transportation.

(d) Applicability: Thunder & Colt and Sky Balloons. All solid floor baskets manufactured by Cameron Balloons,

(e)Effectivity: All Note: Applicability= All types and variants to which the change can be applied.

Effectivity= Actual CN or group of CN's to which the bulletin has been/will be applied.

2. Background There have been isolated cases of baskets found with damaged wires on the underside during annual inspections.

3. Compliance (Category) Inspection before next flight and as part of continuing pre-flight checks.

4. Consequences of Non-Compliance (Possible);

Basket suspension wire failure.

5. Accomplishment Instructions Inspection of all solid floor baskets before next flight and as part of continued preflight checks.

6. Materials: Replacement Parts In case of damage being identified, contact the factory.

7. Other Publications Affected Flight Manual

8. Mass(Weight)/Balance: Not Affected

9. Maintenance and Operating Instructions;

The wires pass across the floor between the skids at right angles and diagonally.

They are protected by rawhide covers.

The following check must be performed before every flight- Prior to inflation, with the basket on its side, the basket wires on the underside of solid floor baskets must be checked for damage. The rawhide covers must have no Cameron Balloons Ltd., St Johns Street Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4NH, United Kingdom Page 1 of 2

Doc. Reference: CBL/TN/FJD/2369 Issue: A Date: 09.10.04 damage that exposes the wires. Check also where the wire is visible between the ends of the covers and the skids. Any such damage must be assessed by a qualified inspector against the criteria in Cameron iss. 9 maintenance manual section 6.16.4.

before flight.

The following precautions must be taken when transporting and handling solid floor baskets- WARNING- Great care must be taken when transporting solid floor baskets to ensure that damage is not caused to the wires on the underside of the basket floor. The rawhide wire protection on the underside of the basket must have no damage that exposes the wire.

Solid floor baskets must not be loaded or unloaded over the side of a vehicle or trailer, due to the high risk of wire damage from the edge of the vehicle or trailer.

Side (un)loading is permitted when modification C437 has been incorporated.

If the basket is to be winched lengthways onto a vehicle or trailer, only approved basket towing plates and bridles should be used. The winch cable must not be attached to the rope handles, or any other part of the basket, or serious damage could be caused to the basket structure.

10. Remarks None Compiled by: Notes:

Date:22/11/04 Name: R. BUCKLEY

11. Design Organisation Approval Statement of Compliance Verification I hereby confirm that this Alert Service Bulletin is in compliance with all the applicable airworthiness requirements.

Signed, for and on behalf of Cameron Balloons Ltd.

BEDour Head of Airworthiness Date: 22-11 - 04 Name:

Cameron Balloons Ltd., St Johns Street Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4NH, United Kingdom Page 2 of 2

AIRWORTHINESS

DIRECTIVE

United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority AD No: G-2004-0028

Issue Date: 24 November 2004

This AD is issued by the UK CAA acting for and on behalf of the European Aviation Safety Agency as the Primary Aviation Authori ty (ICAO Annex 8 Authority of State of Design) for the affected product(s).

Approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency under approval number 2004-11238 on 22 November 2004.

In accordance w ith Article 9(7)(b) of the Air Navigation Or der 2000 as amended the follow ing action required by this Airw orthiness Directive (AD) is mandatory for applicable aircraft registered in the United Kingdom.

No person may operate an aircraft to w hich an AD applies except in accordance w ith the requirements of that AD unless otherw ise agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry.

Type Approval Holders Name:

CAMERON BALLOONS LIMITED

Type/Model Designation(s):

SOLID FLOOR BASKETS Type Certificate Data Sheet No: Not Applicable

Superseded/ Revised ADs: None

ATA 53 – SOLID FLOOR BASKETS – INSPECTION

Manufacturer(s): Cameron Balloons Limited, Thunder Balloons Lt d, Colt Balloons Ltd, Thunder and Colt Ltd and Sky Balloons Ltd.

Applicability: All solid floor baskets manufactured by Camer on Balloons Limited, Thunder Balloons Ltd, Col t Balloons Ltd, Thunder and Colt Ltd and Sky Balloons Ltd.

Reason: The manufacturer has identified several occurr ences of damaged basket suspension wires on the underside of solid floor baskets. It is thought that damage to the basket occurs as a result of inappropriate handling when loading and unloading the basket from a vehicle or trailer. Failure to identify and rectify damaged suspension wires could result in the failure of one or mo re wires that may result in the basket tipping and causing injury to its occupants.

Effective Date: 26 November 2004

Compliance/Action:

a) Within 7 days of the effective date of this AD, re vise the CAA approved Flight Manual (FM) for any balloon fitted with a Cameron solid floor basket by incorporat ing the following into the Normal Procedures section o f the FM.

This may be accomplished by inserting a copy of this AD into the FM.

ADDITIONAL FLIGHT MANUAL INFORMATION (Section 4 – Normal Procedures):

Pre-Flight Check Of Basket Suspension Wires

Solid floor baskets must hav e no damage to the raw hide w ire protectors sufficient to expose the suspension wires. Check also for wire damage where the w ires are v isible between the protectors and the skids. Any such damage must be inspected by a qualified inspector and repaired if necessar y before flight in accordance with Cameron Balloons Maintenance Manual section 6.16.4.

continued on next page

G-2004-0028 page 2 of 2

Note:- Balloons for which Issue 9 amendment 1 of Came ron Balloons CAA Approved Flight Manual is applicable may use the manual as an acceptable means of compliance with paragraph a) of this AD.

b) Within 31 days of the effective date of this AD, in spect the basket suspension wires and rawhide protectors in accordance with Cameron Balloons Service Bulletin No 12 revision 0 or later EASA approved revision. I f any damage in excess of that permi tted by Cameron Balloons Maintenanc e Manual Issue 9 Section 6.16.4 o r later EASA approved revision must be repaired in a ccordance manufacturers approved data before furthe r flight.

The action required by Paragraph a) of this AD may be carried out by an owner/operator holding at least a private pilots licence. An entry must be made in the balloon’s records showing compliance with this AD.

Reference Publications: The documents referenced above may be obtained from Cameron Balloons Ltd, S t Johns Street, Bedminster, Bristo l BS3 4NH, United Kingdom. Phone: +44 (0) 117 9637216 Fax: +44 (0) 117 9661168 Website: www.cameronballoons.co.uk

Remarks: Enquires regarding this AD should be referred to Mr . N Williams, Civil Aviation Authority, Aircraf t Certification Section, Safety Regulat ion Group, Aviation House, Gatwick Airport South, West Sussex, RH6 0YR, United Kingdom. Phone: +44 (0) 1293 573292 Fax: +44 (0) 1293 573976 E-mail: neil.williams@srg.caa.co.uk

This Airworthiness Directive was originally issued as an Emergency AD on 24 November 2004.