Sport Aircraft Works LLC

Description

BACKGROUND: As a safety precaution we are making the following information available to all SportCruiser owners and operators. The objective of this communication is to notify current customers of a safety related issue involving the failure of welded areas in the following parts: (1) Nose-gear leg assembly and (2) Exhaust sub system Many aircraft in the world-wide fleet have reported cracks developing in these areas. The current factory administration has prevented itself from disseminating timely and critical safety information relating to this particular subject. In light of the numerous cases being reported, the present factory management has chosen to do nothing about the issue of technical safety data vital to safe operation of the SportCruiser. Sport Aircraft Works has been monitoring this problem for quite sometime. We have not heard the proper response from the factory by way of a Safety Directive on this matter. Since we have confirmed a high number of cracks existing within the worldwide fleet, Sport Aircraft Works, Incorporated is issuing the following Authorized Safety Directive pertaining to the SportCruiser fleet (SLSA, and Kits delivered world-wide) made under Czech Aircraft Works SRO. View the complete Safety Directive SD-SC-007 here. PROBLEM: A high number of SportCruiser nose-gear leg assemblies have been cracking predictably near the shock absorber attachment bracket located near the upper airframe attach point. (Click on references photos above for more detail.) (Cracks in the exhaust muffler system have also been uncovered on numerous aircraft.) IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THIS GENERAL AREA, FAILURE OF THE NOSE GEAR LEG BELOW THE FORWARD PART OF THE SHOCK MOUNT, IS IMMINENT if this problem is not attended to and corrected immediately. CAUTION: The nose gear is an especially critical area that needs visual attention and inspection in order to avert any other more serious damage from occurring after a hard landing, i.e. a prop strike and structural damage and associated repair costs related to a complete nose gear failure. SOLUTION: Certain areas in the welded portion of the nose gear leg and exhaust muffler need stiffening reinforcement in order to prevent it from failing from structural loads experienced not only from normal life-cycle fatigue but as well as from hard landings. Failure to have this problem corrected will leave the operator open to any problems. WARNING: The Continued use of stock factory nose gear legs will have a higher probability of failing caused by fractures in areas determined to be prone to fail in certain high loading situations like a fast and hard landing or a 3 point landing with heavy side load, etc. This problem will not go away and will worsen with continued use. Cracks forming in the areas described on the nose gear leg needs to be addressed by each owner /operator immediately. At the minimum, an immediate visual inspection should be carried out and an inspection schedule to reflect Safety Directive SD-SC-007 , which addresses this issue in detail should be observed hereafter.

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