National Aeronca Association Bulletin Board

Does anyone know if it's legal to install Citabria wings with wood spars on a Champ? It looks like all of the structural components are the same. The Citabria wings have large tanks and the rib spacing looks a bit different when measured from the root end.

John,

When they refurbished my 7AC-conv 7CCM in 2005 they put 7ECA wings on it from ACAC in Rochester. Those wings had metal spars and one 18 gallon tank in the right wing. I have all of the 337's if you want to follow that path.

Richard

That sounds interesting. I have a set of wings, however, that have wood spars and a gas tank in each wing. They probably aren't as new as the ones you had installed.

I just took a long look through my paperwork and can't find any 337 for the wings. There is one for nearly everything else you can think of including removing the auto-fuel stc because the owner didn't want it. I was looking in the official record from OKC. I hope this will not be an issue at the annual.

Why would you have to eliminate the 337 for auto fuel? Just because you have an auto fuel STC doesn't mean that you have to use it.

John,
The wording of the AD would start with,"Any aircraft operated on Mogas or holds the Mogas STC accomplish the following".
That's why people will remove the STC's from the aircraft.
Paul

John

Not only is there the 337 removing the Auto Fuel STC, three years later a new owner had another 337 adding an Auto Fuel STC with a different engine.

Richard

I'm planning on the same thing with my 7EC but haven't figured out how I'm going to proceed with the paperwork. I've got a nice set of 7ECA wings and would like to leave both 18 gal. tanks in just in case I decide on a bigger engine, floats, or whatever.

You might consider giving Jerry Junior a call at ACA and get his thoughts. He has always been helpful with my questions although I haven't spoken to him about this specifically.

I can't believe someone in Alaska hasn't done this already.

Steve near Chicago

I called ACAC in Rochester when I wanted to repair the wings I have and they were very helpful. I was encouraged to do the repairs myself and bought all of my parts from them. Very nice folks!

Thank you. I will try that. I thought someone on this post would have done it before if it was legal.

I got to browsing Aeronca information today and Service Letter 420a addresses putting metal wings on the Champ


Download the full service letter here:
http://www.amerchampionaircraft.com/tech/Sl420a.pdf

Thank you very much for your information. I wonder if this would also apply to Citabria wings with wood spars.

John,
Probably not. Any information from ACA wouldn't be relevant. ACA never produced a wood wing airplane.
Paul