AD 2005-12-02 70 FR 33820

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 98-10-12, which applies to all Revo, Incorporated (REVO) (Type Certificate 1A13 formerly held by Colonial Aircraft Company, Lake Aircraft Corporation, Consolidated Aeronautics, Inc., and Global Amphibians LLC) Models Colonial C-2, Lake LA-4, Lake LA-4A, Lake LA-4P, and Lake LA-4-200 airplanes. AD 98-10-12 currently requires you to ensure adequate clearance between the attachment fitting and the horizontal stabilizer rear beam and between the attachment fitting and the stabilizer skin with inspections, possible replacement, and adjustments as necessary. This new AD is the result of several reports of fatigue cracks found in the horizontal stabilizer attachment fitting (part number 2-2200-21) of Model LA-4-200 airplanes that were in compliance with AD 98-10-12. This includes an airplane accident with a fatality attributed to a fatigue crack in the horizontal stabilizer attachment fitting. Consequently, this AD requires either a dye penetrant inspection of the horizontal stabilizer attachment fitting for any evidence of fretting, cracking, or corrosion (with necessary replacement and modification) or replacement of the fittings depending on the number of operational hours on the fitting. The AD also requires you to repetitively replace the fitting every 850 hours time-in-service (TIS), repetitively inspect (visually) the fittings between replacement times, and report to FAA the results of the initial inspection and any cracks found on repetitive inspections. We are issuing this AD to detect, correct, and prevent future cracks in the horizontal stabilizer attachment fitting, which could result in failure of the horizontal stabilizer attachment fitting. This failure could result in loss of control of the airplane.