More cracks prompt new checks on Air Tractor crop duster wings
Published Date: 8/14/2026
Rule
Summary
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2024-16- 06, which applied to all Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor) Model AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes with Wipaire, Inc. Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. SA01795CH installed. AD 2024-16-06 required repetitively inspecting the left and right, forward and rear, horizontal stabilizer spars for cracks, replacing any horizontal stabilizer spar found cracked or damaged, installing bathtub fittings, and reporting inspection results to the FAA. Since the FAA issued AD 2024-16-06, additional cracks in the horizontal stabilizer spars were reported where the vertical fin structural support brace mounts to the horizontal stabilizer spar. This AD retains all the actions of AD 2024- 16-06 and adds inspections to another area. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Immediate and Frequent Mandatory Inspections
If you operate an Air Tractor AT-802 or AT-802A with Wipaire STC No. SA01795CH installed, you must do initial inspections within 7 days or before 110 hours time-in-service (TIS) after STC installation, and then inspect at intervals not to exceed 110 hours TIS until modified. The AD also requires a new inspection at the finlet strut-to-spar mount locations within 50 hours TIS or 7 days after the AD and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 50 hours TIS. The AD is effective August 31, 2026.
Required Installation of Bathtub Fittings
You must install bathtub fittings (Service Kit 1012347-01 or 1012347-02) within 300 hours TIS or 12 months after the effective date of September 4, 2024, whichever occurs first, unless already done. The FAA estimates installing the bathtub fittings costs $6,500 per airplane (40 work-hours at $85/hour plus $3,100 parts) and the AD affects 35 U.S.-registered airplanes.
FAA Cost Estimates and Replacement Costs
The FAA estimates this AD affects 35 U.S. airplanes and provides per-action cost estimates: initial inspection without bathtub fittings is estimated at 20 work-hours (20 x $85) = $1,700 per airplane per inspection cycle; installing bathtub fittings is estimated at $6,500 per airplane; inspections with bathtub fittings are estimated at $255 per inspection; inspection of the rear spar brace mount location is estimated at $510 per inspection; reporting is estimated at $85 per inspection. The FAA also lists on-condition replacement costs and notes some costs may be covered under warranty.
Mandatory 5-Day Inspection Reporting and Paperwork
After each inspection required by the AD you must report the inspection information to the FAA within 5 days to the specified email address, including model, serial number, hours, crack details, and photos if available. The Paperwork Reduction Act burden estimate for these reports is about 1 hour per response (OMB Control Number 2120-0056).
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