ATA 22 - G36 and G58 Servo Mount Inspection Update to Communiqué #109

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) is issuing this update to Communiqué #109 to clarify the reimbursement for work accomplished during the annual testing of the servo slip clutch on the Garmin GSM 85 servo mounts.

When Communiqué #109 was released in December 2006, the GFC 700 Autopilot was a new state-of-the-art autopilot system initially installed on the Beechcraft G36 Bonanza and G58 Baron. The purpose of the inspection at the time was to obtain in-service data of the servo mount torque settings for the GSM 85 servo mounts. In the initial installation software load to do the servo slip clutch test, the individual servo mounts had to be removed from the airplane and the inspection performed on a test fixture. HBC estimated between 12 and 16 man-hours per airplane would be required to accomplish this test.

In an effort to promote customer satisfaction and to gather initial servo mount torque data, Garmin had advised HBC that they would (for a limited time only) pay a maximum of 16 hours labor per airplane to remove these servo mounts at the annual or the 500-hour inspection, whichever occurs first, to perform the servo mount slip clutch torque inspection and adjustment if required. In November of 2009, Garmin International determined that sufficient data had been collected from the work accomplished.

Model year 2008 Bonanza G36s and Baron G58s and subsequent production airplanes, as well as those airplanes modified by HBC Service Bulletins 34-3925 or 34-3926 have revised software, which includes electronic testing of the GMS85 slip clutches. This electronic testing is described in the HBC G36/G58 Maintenance Manual Supplements P/Ns 36-590001-11 or 58-590001-1 respectively.

For the above-mentioned reasons, Garmin will no longer reimburse for labor to perform the servo slip clutch inspection. Garmin will continue to reimburse warranty work for resetting and/or replacement of GSM85 mounts during the normal warranty period, but ONLY if they do not indicate the appropriate values during the electronic diagnostic test. Reimbursement is also available through Garmin International’s FliteLevel© (Parts and Labor) Warranty Program.

For more see Hawker Beechcraft Communique 127.