Privateers status?

[Fouga23]

I read on the registry that all privateers are grounded by the FAA? What is the reason? Will this ban be lifted in the future?

[mustangdriver]

I think it had something to do with the wingspar. There was a firebomber that came apart due to this reason.

[Fouga23]

How come this doesn't affect B-24's? Different wing design?

[bdk]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2003-NM-164-AD; Amendment 39-13292; AD 2003-18-01]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; General Dynamics (Convair) Model P4Y-2 Airplanes, General
Dynamics (Consolidated-Vultee) (Army) Model LB-30 Airplanes, and General Dynamics
(Consolidated) (Army) Model C-87A Airplanes

Actions Since Issuance of Previous Rule

Since the issuance of that AD, the FAA has received inquiries concerning the applicability of the
AD. The commenters indicate that the applicability of the AD, as published, contains a phrase that
could lead the reader to believe that the AD applies to all former military surplus aircraft, rather than
just those airplanes specifically called out by model in the AD.
We agree that using the phrase ''including, but not limited to, all of the following surplus military
airplanes'' in the applicability of the existing AD may be misleading; therefore, we have clarified the
applicability of this new AD by removing that phrase. We also have revised the applicability to retain
only those airplane models for which a U.S. type certificate has been issued: General Dynamics
(Consolidated-Vultee) (Army) Model LB-30 airplanes, and General Dynamics (Convair) Model P4Y-
2 airplanes. Additionally, this AD adds a new airplane model, General Dynamics (Consolidated)
(Army) Model C-87A airplanes, to the applicability of this AD. Other models specified in the
existing AD have been removed from the applicability of this new AD.

Explanation of Requirements of Rule

Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes
of the same type design, this AD supersedes AD 2003-08-13 to continue to require repetitive
inspections to find fatigue cracks in the lower rear cap of the wing front spar, front spar web, and
lower skin of the wings; repair or replacement of any cracked part with a new part; and follow-on
inspections at new intervals. As specified above, this AD clarifies and revises the applicability of the
existing AD to add another airplane model and remove certain other airplane models.

http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_an ... 031801.pdf

[retroaviation]

Thanks for that copy BDK. I was just going through some stuff looking for that.

Gary

[Matt Gunsch]

I have some photos of the cracks that they are talking about from the 4Ys up in Greybull. After reading the AD, did the CAF do the inspection to Diamond Lil ?

[retroaviation]

After reading the AD, did the CAF do the inspection to Diamond Lil ?

You betcha!!!