Fri, Apr 16, 2010
Would Require Replacement Of The Elevators In All
Airplanes
An FAA NPRM published in the Federal Register last week would
require that the elevators in all Cessna Citation X airplanes be
replaced, superseding an existing AD which calls only for the
inspection of the elevator assemblies.
The existing AD (2006-23-05) requires inspecting the
inboard-hinge brackets of the left and right elevators for cracking
and doing related investigative and corrective actions if
necessary. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would require
inspecting for cracks and corrosion of the bracket of the inboard
horizontal stabilizer and measuring the lug thickness of the
horizontal stabilizer hinges; doing corrective actions if
necessary; modifying the left and right elevators and left and
right horizontal stabilizer. For all airplanes, this proposed AD
would require replacing the existing elevator assemblies with new
elevator assemblies, which would make the existing AD moot.
The proposal is the result of a report of cracking and corrosion
found on the elevator inboard-hinge brackets and the horizontal
stabilizer hinges. We are issuing this AD to prevent such cracking
and corrosion of the elevator inboard-hinge brackets and the
horizontal stabilizer hinges, which could result in structural
failure of the elevators and consequent loss of control of the
airplane.
Cessna Service Bulletin SB750-27-62, Revision 3, dated August
21, 2009, calls specifically for an eddy current inspection for
cracks of the bracket of the inboard horizontal stabilizer and
replace any cracked brackets. This proposed AD would also require
an inspection for corrosion and replacement of any corroded
brackets.
Even with Cessna indicating to the FAA that they would provide
replacement parts to Citation X owners at no cost, the FAA
estimates that replacing the elevator on a Citation X will cost up
to $17,000 per airplane, for an overall fleet impact of $4.3
million.
The deadline for comments to the FAA concerning the proposed AD
is May 24, 2010.
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