The Vintage Mechanic ROBERT G. LOCK
Critical inspection items I SENT OUT EMAILS to various Travel Air Restorers
Association (TARA) members asking for input into what they felt were critical inspection items. Thus far I have received three responses. I am looking for “common threads” that may run through the lists. My task was to compile a list of 10 critical items, publish that list in TARA’s newsletter, and then add to the list as other concerns appear. These additional concerns can be added at a later date, but I want to get things going. We will only be helping ourselves by getting information like this out to members now. By publishing these critical inspection items and proactively addressing them during maintenance, there should be little or no need for future airworthiness directives (AD) notes on these old airplanes. In other words, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is allowing us to “police” our own airplanes for critical airworthiness issues. I think that is much better than facing possible future AD notes. While this list is specific to the Travel Air, it can serve as a “brain teaser” for you as you create your own critical inspection item list for your favorite airplane. So let’s get with the program. The old Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) airworthiness maintenance bulletins were the first attempt to warn owners of potential hazardous problems with their aircraft. These bulletins apparently began in 1938. Today they are airworthiness directives, or AD notes (FAR Part 39). I will rely on some fine work forwarded to me by Phil Wyels and will duplicate it here in this column. For further information, contact the Travel Air Restorers Association. The following is quoted from Phil Wyels. There are no airworthiness directives listed in FAR Part 39 applicable to the Travel Air or Curtiss Wright Travel Air. There were the equivalent of today’s AD notes issued by the CAA. These were titled airworthiness maintenance bulletins. The three of which the writer has a copy are: Bulletin 8 dated 4-11-39. Subject: Wing to center section spar fitting; early model 2000, 3000, and 4000 with single vertical bolt. Bulletin 30 dated 7-13-40. Subject: Axle inspection and reinforcement; B series with outrigger landing gear. Bulletin 51 dated 6-10-41. Subject: Rear safety belt attachment; applies to all Travel Air aircraft.
60 July/August 2019
MODEL
ATC*
SPECIAL NOTES
D-4-D
2-178
11
6-B
352
2
10-D
278
12
12-K
406
10, 19, 21
12-Q
401
10, 12, 19, 21 10, 12, 19, 21
12-W
407
A-14-D
442
12
15-C
426
22
16-E
463
10, 17, 19, 21
16-K
411
10, 19, 21
16-W
429
10, 19, 21
2000
30
11, 20, 23
2000
2-42
11, 20, 23
SC-2000
111
11, 20, 23
2000-T
2-368
9, 11, 20, 23
3000
31
9, 11, 23
4000
32
9, 11, 20, 23
A-4000
148
11, 20, 23
B-4000
146
11, 13, 20, 23
B9-4000
2-381
11, 13, 20, 23
C-4000
149
9, 11, 20, 23
D-4000
2-84
11, 20, 23
E-4000
188
11, 20, 23
K-4000
205
11, 20, 23
W-4000
112
11, 20, 23
W-4000
2-35
11, 20, 23
6000
100
2
A-6000-A
116
2, 12
A-6000-A
2-76
2, 12
A-6000-A SP
2-308
2, 12
SA-6000-A
175
2
S-6000-B
130
2, 12
S-6000-B SP
2-302
2, 12
*ATC numbers with 2-xxx indicate a Group 2 Approval.
