{"abstract":"This amendment supersedes Airworthiness Directive (AD) 96-03- 11, which currently requires the following on American Champion Aircraft Corporation (American Champion) Models 8KCAB, 8GCBC, 7GCBC, and 7ECA airplanes that are equipped with metal spar wings: inspecting (one-time) the wing front strut attach fittings for cracks, scratches, or surface deformities; replacing any wing front strut attach fitting with cracks, scratches, or surface deformities; and reporting the inspection results to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This action results from reports submitted as a requirement of the existing AD that reference 24 fittings with cracks, scratches, or surface deformities on 7 different airplanes, and the FAA's determination that improved wing front strut attach fittings (developed by American Champion) are not susceptible to cracks, scratches, or surface deformities. This action requires installing removable inspection hole covers for the wing front strut attach fittings, and replacing the wing front strut attach fittings with fittings of improved design. The action also provides the provision of repetitively inspecting the wing front strut attach fittings (provided no cracks, scratches, or surface deformities are found) if parts have been ordered but are not available. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent structural failure of a wing caused by cracked wing front strut attach fittings, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in loss of control of the airplane.","action":"Final rule; request for comments.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION","name":"Transportation Department","id":492,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/transportation-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/492","parent_id":null,"slug":"transportation-department"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/1996/08/28/96-21746.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":39,"title":14}],"citation":"61 FR 44157","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Effective September 20, 1996.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket No. 96-CE-36-AD","Amendment 39-9726","AD 96-18-02"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"96-21746","effective_on":"1996-09-20","end_page":44160,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"explanation":null,"full_text_xml_url":null,"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1996/08/28/96-21746/airworthiness-directives-american-champion-aircraft-corporation-models-8kcab-8gcbc-7gcbc-7eca-7gcaa","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/96-21746?publication_date=1996-08-28","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-1996-08-28/96-21746/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":4,"page_views":{"count":306,"last_updated":"2026-04-03 22:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1996-08-28/pdf/96-21746.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"1996-08-28","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/1996/08/28/96-21746.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"2120-AA64":{"issue":"202504","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2120-AA64/airworthiness-directives","title":"Airworthiness Directives","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202504&RIN=2120-AA64&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Routine and Frequent"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["2120-AA64"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2011-09-21T08:08:47Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":false,"signing_date":null,"start_page":44157,"subtype":null,"title":"Airworthiness Directives; American Champion Aircraft Corporation Models 8KCAB, 8GCBC, 7GCBC, 7ECA, 7GCAA, and 7KCAB Airplanes","toc_doc":null,"toc_subject":null,"topics":[],"type":"Rule","volume":61}