AD 2009-22-02 Airworthiness Directives; American Champion Aircraft Corp. Models 7ECA, 7GCAA, 7GCBC, 7KCAB, 8KCAB, and 8GCBC Airplanes

Makes named: american champion, champion. Models named: 7ECA, 7GCAA, 7GCBC, 7KCAB, 8KCAB, 8GCBC. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

This AD applies to Models 7ECA, 7GCAA, 7GCBC, 7KCAB, 8KCAB, and 8GCBC airplanes, all serial numbers, that are: (1) Manufactured prior to 1989; (2) Equipped with folding rear seat backs; and (3) Certificated in any category.

To address this problem, you must do the following, unless already done:   Actions Compliance Procedures (1) Inspect the rear seat back hinge area for cracking and elongation of the rear seat hinge bolt hole Within the next 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) after December 3, 2009 (the effective date of this AD) and repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed every 100 hours TIS or every 12 months, whichever occurs first Follow American Champion Aircraft Corp. Service Letter No. 431, dated July 20, 2009. (2) If cracking or excessive elongation of the rear seat bolt hole is found during any inspection required in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD, replace the seat frame with a factory remanufactured seat frame, a new part number (P/N) 7-1500 (standard) seat frame, or a new P/N 7-1501 (wide) seat frame. Replacement of the seat frame terminates the repetitive inspection requirements of this AD Before further flight after the inspection where cracking or excessive elongation of the rear seat bolt hole is found Follow American Champion Aircraft Corp. Service Letter No. 431, dated July 20, 2009. (3) You may at any time replace the rear seat frame with a factory remanufactured seat frame, a new part number (P/N) 7-1500 (standard) seat frame, or a new P/N 7-1501 (wide) seat frame to terminate the repetitive inspection requirements of this AD Not applicable Follow American Champion Aircraft Corp. Service Letter No. 431, dated July 20, 2009. Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (f) The Manager, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Wess Rouse, Aerospace Engineer, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Room 107, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone: (847) 294-8113; fax: (847) 294-7834. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO. Material Incorporated by Reference (g) You must use American Champion Aircraft Corp. Service Letter No. 431, dated July 20, 2009, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact American Champion Aircraft Corporation, P.O Box 37, 32032 Washington Ave., Rochester, Wisconsin 53167; telephone: (262) 534-6315; fax: (262) 534-2395; Internet: http://www.amerchampionaircraft.com/Technical/Technical.html. (3) You may review copies of the service information incorporated by reference for this AD at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the Central Region, call (816) 329-3768. (4) You may also review copies of the service information incorporated by reference for this AD at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 13, 2009. Kim Smith, Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. E9-25258 Filed 10-28-09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD results from an occurrence of the rear seat frame failing in flight. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the rear seat back hinge area and excessive elongation of the rear seat hinge bolt hole, which could result in failure of the rear seat back. This failure could lead to a rear-seated pilot or passenger inadvertently interfering with the control stick while attempting to not roll to the rear of the airplane upon seat back failure. Consequently, this failure could result in loss of control.