Latest developments with the North American
T-6/SNJ/Harvard Wing Attach Angles.
Rick Siegfried, EAA Warbird of America Safety Chairman
The North American Trainer Association and EAA Warbirds of America has recently requested and received an Alternate Method of Compliance (AMOC) to AD 2005-12-51.
Since the AD was issued June 8, 2005 the T-6 community has been working with the FAA analyzing the data obtained from the first round of inspections on the aircraft. Reviewing this data from approximately 600 aircraft inspected it was clear that the inspection interval on the Upper Wing Attach Angles of 200 hours could safely be extended. NATA requested that the inspection interval be extended to 1000 hours between inspections on the Upper Wing Attach Angles.
NATA holds the AMOC and has been authorized by the FAA to share the AMOC with any interested party. To use this AMOC on your aircraft simply contact NATA and ask for a copy of the AD 2005-12-51 AMOC letter. When the required inspection is due on your aircraft an Authorized Inspector (AI) will sign off the Upper Wing Attach Angles as due 1000 hours after the initial inspection. Insert the AMOC letter into the aircraft’s permanent records. Advise your local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) that you have satisfied the AD 2005-12-51 Upper Wing Attach Angles with the AMOC prior to returning the aircraft to service. Then complete the inspection procedure described in
AD 2005-12-51 on the Lower Wing Attach Angles which is still required at 200 hour intervals. At the completion of the AD 2005-12-51 a written report of the findings to the FAA is no longer required.
NATA and EAA Warbirds of America are still looking into the possibility of extending the inspection interval on the lower Wing Attach Angle if that interval can be safely extended.
