----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- Coupers, whether members of the Ercoupe Owners Club or not, lend me your eyes! Skip Carden has been informed that it's probable the AD for center section corrosion inspection will be instituted without making the very reasonable adjustments proposed by John Wright, Sr., and others and without taking into account some problems in the NPRM process (illegalities?). Please read through the material below and take action if you choose. Your involvement may be very important to you. In a few hours, I'll also have this material on the EOC website. At that time, I'll post a message with a link to the document. Please make other Coupers you know aware of this issue whether they're EOC members or not. Thank you. Ed Burkhead N3802H, ERCO 415-D http://www.ercoupe.org <http://www.ercoupe.org/> DATES: The FAA must receive any comments on this proposed rule on or before June 3, 2002. >From the Skip Carden, Executive Director of the Ercoupe Owners Club: IMPENDING AD AND POTENTIAL IMPACT TO ERCOUPE OWNERS
While I was in Florida John Wright said that he had received word of an NPRM on Ercoupe center sections. This is the same subject that we asked you to comment on in the November issue of Coupe Capers. I am sure that many of you did call write and email Roger Caldwell. He told me that he had been overwhelmed at the response. At this point I was not really concerned as my understanding of the new AD process was that they would get club input and then ask for recommendations on a fix. In fact if you read the letter that they submitted and was printed in the November issue it says that they will work with type clubs in determining what if any corrective action should be taken. As usual the FAA says one thing and then does what they please. I never heard another word from them, so with no input from the club they draft a NPRM. The only way that learned about the proposed AD from John Wright's comments at the Ercoupe Forum. I contacted John and we had a long talk about the corrosion problem in the rear spar. He said that it was something that he had seen and that it was a problem that should be addressed and corrected. He said that the proposed fix was at best only partial solution to the inspection problem and that he had found through actual experience that that area is very visible and can be adequately inspected by removing the wings. He also said that once this was done and the area inspected found to be good that it should not have to be re inspected for five years. John has called and tried to get inspectors to come and look at his recommendations but so far no luck. I received a call from AOPA's Andy Werking in government affairs and I told him our problem. The AOPA has agreed to help us with this matter. I had John Wright call Andy and tell him of his experiences and his recommended inspection procedure. In the mean time I was also contacted by one of our members Gene Taylor, a former FAA DER who said that this AD was illegally drafted and even sent a letter to the FAA citing the inaccuracies in the drafting of the proposed AD. Please read his letter and the emails that he sent to me. What to do now? Well I would like to ask that everyone (EOC member or not) who sent a letter, email, or called Roger Caldwell to send me (at the EOC) a copy and or the time and date that you called. It seems that the only way to deal with these people is to document everything. In fact I was told that that they might even deny the number of and refuse to tell us how many comments that they received. So if you want to help please send me the copies that we will need to fight this. Last but not least, write to the FAA (and send a copy to me at the EOC) stating that this is not an acceptable AD and state that you want to see it revised as per John Wright's recommendations of the wing removal process. Again be courteous and put it in your own words. They will not recognize duplicate letters so be sure to put in your words. Send your comments to: FAA Central Region, Office Of The Regional Counsel Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-CE-45-AD 901 Locust Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Please also send a copy to the club (whether you're a member or not). We need this to document the comments. Ercoupe Owners Club Attn: Center Section AD PO Box 15388 Durham, NC 27704 If we stick together we can get it changed and will not have to butcher up our planes. John has told me that he thinks that using his method of inspection it should only take about 5 hours to remove the wings and do the inspection and that this would be good for 5 years. The cost should run between $150.00 and $250.00. This is using hourly rates of $30.00 an hour and $50.00 an hour which we both feel is adequate. The Proposed AD is using a figure of $750 and we all know that that is their estimate which is usually lower than actual costs. If you have any questions and or comments contact me at: Ercoupe Owners Club, PO Box 15388, Durham, NC 27704 or at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or call (919) 471-9492 Skip Carden Executive Director Ercoupe Owners Club _____________________________________________________________ See the next message ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aVxiLm.aVzvvT Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
<<attachment: winmail.dat>>
