Federal Register #2026-16672

FAA Airworthiness Directive for Air Tractor AT-802/AT-802A with Wipaire STC: Inspection and Retrofit Requirements

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), under the Department of Transportation, has issued a new airworthiness directive (AD 2026-16-12) for Air Tractor AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes equipped with Wipaire, Inc. Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. SA01795CH. - Applies to aircraft with Wipaire STC No. SA01795CH installed - Requires repetitive inspections of horizontal stabilizer spars for cracks, elongated holes, or corrosion - If damage is found, the affected spar must be replaced - Mandates installation of bathtub fittings using Wipaire Service Kit 101234701 or 101234702 - Operators must report inspection results to the FAA within 5 days - Expanded inspection areas due to additional cracks reported near the vertical fin support brace - References Wipaire, Inc. Service Letters 253 and 277 for compliance procedures - No specific procurement of products or services is requested; this is a regulatory safety directive - OEMs highlighted: Air Tractor, Inc. (aircraft manufacturer) and Wipaire, Inc. (STC and kit provider) - Notable requirements: strict inspection intervals, mandatory reporting, and compliance with specific service kits and procedures

Description

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2024-16-06 for Air Tractor, Inc. Model AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes with Wipaire, Inc. Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. SA01795CH installed. The previous AD required repetitive inspections of the horizontal stabilizer spars for cracks, replacement of damaged spars, installation of bathtub fittings, and reporting of results. Additional cracks have been reported near the vertical fin support brace, so this AD retains all previous actions and adds inspections to another area to address the unsafe condition. The AD is effective August 31, 2026, and comments are requested.

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