C159/152 ad

AD: 2009-10-09:

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) 150 and 152 series airplanes. This AD requires you to either install a placard prohibiting spins and other acrobatic maneuvers in the airplane or to replace the rudder stop, rudder stop bumper, and attachment hardware with a new rudder stop modification kit and replace the safety wire with jamnuts. This AD results from follow-on investigations of two accidents where the rudder was found in the over-travel position with the stop plate hooked over the stop bolt heads. While neither of the accident aircraft met type design, investigations revealed that aircraft in full conformity with type design can exceed the travel limits set by the rudder stops. We are issuing this AD to prevent the
rudder from traveling past the normal travel limit. Operation in this non certificated control position is unacceptable and could cause undesirable consequences, such as contact between the rudder and the elevator.

AD can be found on FAAs AD directory.
 
A new one? Didn't they already do an AD on this issue?
It was a Service Bulliten for years and only recently became an AD.

Now that it is an AD the kit price for the rudder is 3x as much....go figure.
 
I got the kits for 80$ each from Intermountain Air.

Not a bad price for peace of mind ;)


Or you can just placard it as suggested by the AD and not do spins:eek: That's what I did for now, when I get the time I'll switch the stops. I don't do spins in mine anyway.
 
I actually really don't understand all the outrage over the "cost" of this AD... Maybe I'm too used to the cost of "airplane" parts ;)

Anyway, I've had to placard them until the kits come in... but they should arrive next Monday since I ordered them the day they issued the AD.
 
Maybe it's just me but I'd have reservations about spinning any of the 150s I've been around just based on their appearance. Half of them look like they're ready to fall apart sitting on the ramp. :p
 
I had heard that a few planes crashed while doing spin training. When the NTSB observed the wreckage they concluded that the rudder stop nuts were jammed into the sides of the rudders. As if that could not have happened from the crash! They claim people were slamming the rudder back and forth puncturing the rudder with the stops and jamming them. BAHAHH crazy! Seems like an AD that is meant to generate money. My A&P friend said you now can get a "new" rudder stop kit for this AD that runs about $100.00 bucks.

50 years and all of a sudden no more spins...........

The flight school I work for put the placards up.
 
Kit?? When we did the service bulletin a few years ago, I think it was just check for cracks and make sure the stops were properly adjusted and restrained. Also check for proper travel. What is the kit?
 
I had heard that a few planes crashed while doing spin training. When the NTSB observed the wreckage they concluded that the rudder stop nuts were jammed into the sides of the rudders. As if that could not have happened from the crash! They claim people were slamming the rudder back and forth puncturing the rudder with the stops and jamming them. BAHAHH crazy! Seems like an AD that is meant to generate money. My A&P friend said you now can get a "new" rudder stop kit for this AD that runs about $100.00 bucks.

The count was two. One in Canada and one here in the US. I believe the Canadian plane had the stops installed incorrectly:confused: Can't remember the problem with the US airplane

Kit?? When we did the service bulletin a few years ago, I think it was just check for cracks and make sure the stops were properly adjusted and restrained. Also check for proper travel. What is the kit?

"The Kit" Is larger rudder stops and jam nuts instead of safety wire.
 
I had heard that a few planes crashed while doing spin training. When the NTSB observed the wreckage they concluded that the rudder stop nuts were jammed into the sides of the rudders. As if that could not have happened from the crash! They claim people were slamming the rudder back and forth puncturing the rudder with the stops and jamming them. BAHAHH crazy! Seems like an AD that is meant to generate money. My A&P friend said you now can get a "new" rudder stop kit for this AD that runs about $100.00 bucks.

50 years and all of a sudden no more spins...........

The flight school I work for put the placards up.

There's absolutely no way you could "puncture" the rudder with the stops, the rudder itself never touches them.

They discovered on two occasions that the rudder stop plate on the rudder horn had lifted up and over the bolt head on the stop and jammed there during a spin, the rudder being past the stop means it also contacts the elevator, meaning you may be unable to recover from the spin.

The owner of several other 152's that I work on has gone the placard route as well because he doesn't like people spinning his airplanes, but if people can't spin the 152's they're just going to go spin the 172's instead...
 
The count was two. One in Canada and one here in the US. I believe the Canadian plane had the stops installed incorrectly:confused: Can't remember the problem with the US airplane


From What I can find about the second one, it was a guy who was about 220lbs flying with a girl who was about 100lbs going for his CFI cert., doing spin training. He had some notes in his file about other instructors having to fight the controls away from him dirung stalls that weren't so "preaty." They think that he froze on the controls and she coulden't get them back. But, I have no evidence to back this up yet, I am still searching.

I just don't get it. 50 years of 150's, and many of them are used for spin training, and al of the sudden they are unsafe. Can we say "kneejerk!?" Stupid mother effer's.
 
From What I can find about the second one, it was a guy who was about 220lbs flying with a girl who was about 100lbs going for his CFI cert., doing spin training. He had some notes in his file about other instructors having to fight the controls away from him dirung stalls that weren't so "preaty." They think that he froze on the controls and she coulden't get them back. But, I have no evidence to back this up yet, I am still searching.

I just don't get it. 50 years of 150's, and many of them are used for spin training, and al of the sudden they are unsafe. Can we say "kneejerk!?" Stupid mother effer's.


As far as I know this accident has nothing to do with the rudder AD.
 
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