Announcement

**Frank DeBartolo** · 08-08-2007, 10:00

Re: Strut Service Bulliten

Dave,

I purchased a UA-A815 from Univair three years ago (front lift strut). You are correct in how the SB reads. Univair's strut is FAA/PMA Approved-Oiled and Sealed. Hopefully the FAA will accept this as a valid replacement. I just talked to Univair today and the price they quoted me was $760.21 for the front strut (UA-A815) and $603.47 for the rear strut (UA-A854). Also, are you still making and selling the bungee tools?

Thanks,

Frank

**Guest** · 08-08-2007, 10:23

Re: Strut Service Bulliten

Yes- no AD's or SB's either!

**Frank DeBartolo** · 08-08-2007, 10:37

Re: Strut Service Bulliten

How much for the bungee tool and what is the lead time on the order? I don't need it right away but I will be installing new bungees within a year.

Thanks,

Frank

**Guest** · 08-08-2007, 10:41

Re: Strut Service Bulliten

Frank, I sent you an email with info. Dave

**Guest** · 08-09-2007, 06:14

Re: Strut Service Bulletin

I spent most of Wednesday investigating and making phone calls.

I spoke with FAA engineers & managers, Taylorcraft and inspection people.

I shared about 80% of what I learned with this group.

If you perceived that as whining or panic to bad for you.

There is a AD in process that reads ALMOST like the T-craft service bulletin and as I said in this thread earlier it is not related to this accident.

A second AD is being considered now that is related to the accident.

I told them they would ground the fleet with the timing and methods involved in this AD.

So for those of you who are outspoken enough that you would like to also call the FAA contact me and I will give you names and numbers to call.

They were pleasant helpful people willing to listen and discuss.

Dave

**SOPWITH2K** · 08-09-2007, 06:51

Re: Strut Service Bulletin

Good Ole' Harry ows me a whole bunch of money for an airplane he never delivered. Maybe I can take it out in "new lift struts". I too would be interested in the bungee tool.
Paul

**Frank DeBartolo** · 08-09-2007, 06:55

Re: Strut Service Bulletin

Dave,

Did the Federales tell you what item or items the second AD is going to address?? And regarding the SB, is the only approved part # in the AD that refers to struts the same part # as the SB--which would exclude Univair struts?

Frank

**Winston L.** · 08-09-2007, 07:42

Re: Strut Service Bulletin

That sounds like something the FAA needs to be aware of. Replacing with struts that are new, sealed struts, regardless of where you buy them from, should take care of the AD.

**VictorBravo** · 08-09-2007, 08:03

Re: Strut Service Bulletin

Originally posted by drude View Post

So for those of you who are outspoken enough that you would like to also call the FAA contact me and I will give you names and numbers to call.

They were pleasant helpful people willing to listen and discuss.

Dave

Dave, post that info on this thread. Perhaps if enough people are on board with it, I would volunteer to draft a strongly worded petition that can be presented by the Foundation as one voice, but with 100 or 200 signatures on it.

Meantime I will draft a letter which any interested parties are free to use on an individual basis.

Bill

**1938BF50** · 08-09-2007, 08:14

Re: Strut Service Bulletin

Bill,

Thank you ! count me in. Are electronic signatures valid?

**VictorBravo** · 08-09-2007, 09:36

Re: Strut Service Bulletin

Here's the text of a strong letter that should make the FAA take a little more notice regarding more than one method of inspection, repair, compliance etc. Anyone wishing to use this letter in communicating with the FAA on the strut AD is welcome. My version here has text formatting (bold, italics, underline) to make it hit a little harder. Anyone who wants a MS Word copy just PM me.

FAA Office Name
Name of Recipient
Address
Address

Re: Proposed Airworthiness Directive(s),
Taylorcraft aircraft

Date

Dear ____________,

As an owner and operator of an aircraft potentially affected by a rumored AD, I would like to insist in the strongest possible terms that several additional factors be considered by the responsible parties before drafting any such AD.

These aircraft are aging, and it is indeed appropriate to address factors that will affect the continued airworthiness and flight safety of the 60+ year old fleet of Taylorcrafts. That fact is not being disputed. However, there are several facts that I feel are not being fully considered by the FAA, and are likely being downplayed by one of the “participants” in this matter:

There has not been an appreciable record of inflight structural failures on the Taylorcraft design, whether involving the lift struts or any other areas of primary structure. The recent tragedy involving an experimental Taylorcraft was a rarity.

The FAA has successfully addressed similar questions (regarding the structural integrity of the lift struts) on other aircraft by allowing more than one method of inspection.

There exists a variety of FAA approved inspection methods, from visual inspection, to physical impact testing (the Piper strut “center-punch”test), to Eddy Current testing, to X-ray testing, to Ultrasound, etc.

The FAA has successfully addressed the repair of damaged or corroded lift struts on other aircraft using more than one method of repair.

The FAA has almost always provided as many different methods as possible (under the specific circumstances) to comply with AD’s. This is done to offer owners and mechanics the greatest flexibility and choice within the obvious parameters of completing a safe repair.

In previous cases where replacement of lift struts was one method of compliance with an AD, more than one source of approved parts was allowed (i. e. Univair struts, Wag-Aero, Safe-Air Repair, etc). There also exists an FAR which purposely allows owner-manufactured parts to be made to equal quality and construction as an option.

The community of Taylorcraft owners and operators has become aware of a Service Bulletin issued by the current Type Certificate holder, recommending the replacement of all original lift struts with brand new struts (struts that the Type Certificate holder just happens to offer for sale). It is also known that “the factory” has lobbied the FAA to use the Service Bulletin as the basis of an AD. It is no surprise to me that the new Taylorcraft “factory” would like to sell millions of dollars worth of new parts. Perhaps they have lobbied the FAA to issue an AD requiring new wings and fuselages as well.

It is improper, illegal and highly fraudulent for the Type Certificate holder to coerce the FAA into issuing an AD that effectively requires aircraft owners to purchase parts from himself, when a clear history of several other safe, acceptable alternate methods of compliance exist.

It is even more improper and very risky for the FAA to allow itself to be used as nothing more than the marketing division for the TC holder’s parts department.

Univair and other approved suppliers have been selling FAA approved lift struts for Taylorcrafts for many years. There are several types of inspections that are FAA approved and have a history of keeping vintage fabric covered aircraft safe to fly, such as X-ray, Eddy Current, the “Piper center-punch” test, and more. If there is a legitimate concern about corrosion and failure in Taylorcraft lift struts, then the FAA should allow for as many different methods of inspection and testing as are appropriate, and should further allow for as many different methods of repair/replacement as possible. By doing so, the FAA will prevent any questions of impropriety being raised.

Myself and the Taylorcraft community worldwide stand ready to assist the FAA in making a fair and unbiased determination as to if (and/or how) it is appropriate to inspect, repair or replace the lift struts on the Taylorcraft fleet. We collectively have far more knowledge, hundreds of years of field experience, and dedicated resources than the current TC holder and possibly the FAA have on this particular aircraft.

Sincerely,

____________________

**Larry Lyons** · 08-09-2007, 09:40

Re: Strut Service Bulletin

Count me in, I do not want to see the fleet grounded with no proven cure or reliable replacement parts available.
Larry

PS: I have no trouble calling the FAA but I would need a good cheat sheet in front of me. I have done enough lobbying at the state and federal level to know how to speak but I need to come across as a knowledgeable source.

**Ragwing nut** · 08-09-2007, 10:05

Re: Strut Service Bulletin

I looked on the FAA website and found no NPRM for the imposing strut AD. Anyone have a link either old or new? They are not allowed to bypass the comment period unless they issue and emergency AD that I am aware of.

Mike

**Guest** · 08-09-2007, 10:14

Re: Strut Service Bulletin

Hi Mike,

Do AD's normally show up in NPRM? I am not real familiar with the process. The engineers say it in process but maybe that means its on its way to NPRM and I was not sharp enough to catch that.

Dave

Announcement

Strut Service Bulletin

Strut Service Bulletin

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment