Airworthiness Directives; Aerostar Aircraft Corporation PA-60-600 and PA-60-700 Series Airplanes

摘要

This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to all Aerostar Aircraft Corporation (Aerostar) PA-60-600 and PA-60-700 series airplanes. The proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting the forward face of each wing's 55-percent upper spar cap for cracks above the main landing gear fitting in the top of the wheel well, and replacing or repairing any cracked upper spar cap. The proposed AD is the result of reports of spanwise cracks in the area above the main landing gear attachment on two of the affected airplanes. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the wing upper spar cap, which could result in structural failure of the wing spar to the point of failure with consequent loss of control of the airplane.