AD 80-14-09
Applicability
| Type | Manufacturer | Model | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| aircraft | Eagle Balloons Corp. | Challenger | Airworthiness Directives; EAGLE BALLOONS LTD. (SEMCO) Model TC-4A, Model T, and Challenger Balloons |
| aircraft | Eagle Balloons Corp. | T | Airworthiness Directives; EAGLE BALLOONS LTD. (SEMCO) Model TC-4A, Model T, and Challenger Balloons |
| aircraft | Eagle Balloons Corp. | TC-4A | Airworthiness Directives; EAGLE BALLOONS LTD. (SEMCO) Model TC-4A, Model T, and Challenger Balloons |
Unsafe Condition
Failure of the gondola structural fittings and alteration of the gondola chair duck canvas.
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Required Actions
Visually check all Diamond aluminum fittings for cracks in the tongue radius area before next flight and each flight thereafter. Replace cracked parts before next flight. Secure canvas to gondola floor with grommets, extend using 3/8" french fell seam, hem bottom, and lace with 1/4" braided nylon line. Remove slip-on fittings, inspect with dye penetrant, replace cracked parts. Repeat inspections every 100 hours or annually, whichever comes first.
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Compliance Time
Before next flight, and each flight thereafter for initial checks. Within the next 100 hours or next annual inspection, whichever occurs first for subsequent actions. Repetitive inspections at intervals not exceeding 100 hours in service or annually thereafter, whichever occurs first.
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Affected Aircraft
EAGLE BALLOONS LTD. (SEMCO) Model TC-4A (S/N SEM 81 and subsequent), Model T (S/N SEM 78 and subsequent), and Challenger (S/N SEM 25 and subsequent) equipped with tubular aluminum gondolas covered with chair duck canvas.
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Source: Official FAA Source ↗
Retrieved: Apr 8, 2026
Rights: U.S. Government Public Domain
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