2141 ICON Way, Vacaville, CA 95688
‐
Tel: 707.564.4000
SERVICE LETTER
SL-042820 REV A
ICA009717-E
PAGE 1 of 9
ID NUMBER & REVISION:
SL-042820-A
SUBJECT:
Seawing tip inspection and sealing
RELEASE DATE:
04/28/2020
EFFECTIVE DATE:
04/28/2020
SUPERSEDES NOTICE:
N/A
AIRCRAFT AFFECTED:
MAKE & MODEL:
ICON A5
SERIAL NUMBERS:
00075-00094 (inclusive)
ACTION:
None. Optional maintenance item
TIME OF COMPLIANCE:
Not Applicable. Recommend at next maintenance action
REVISION HISTORY:
A
Initial Release
LEVEL OF CERTIFICATION
REQUIRED (any level checked
can perform task):
☐
Pilot/Owner
☒
A & P
☒
LSA Repairman
–
Inspection
☐
Certified Repair Station
☒
LSA Repairman
–
Maintenance
☐
Manufacturer
PURPOSE:
ICON has become aware that the removable seawing tips on some A5 aircraft have departed the aircraft
during operational use as a result of hard landings on the water or while operating the aircraft beyond
the maximum suggested wave height of 12 inches. The departure of the seawing tip has created a large
gap or in some cases a hole on the outer seawing skin that has allowed water to intrude into the
Seawings™. The amount of water intrusion has overwhelmed the capacity of the bilge pump, leading to
significantly reduced buoyancy. ICON maintains that operations within the Water Operations Limitation
will preclude this type of damage. However, we also recognize that determining water conditions can be
difficult in real world scenarios and that unforeseen boat wakes and other surface waves can be hard to
predict.
Recognizing that operations in the above scenarios may occur unintentionally, ICON has updated the
bonding adhesive for the seawing tip mounting pins to a higher strength and begun to non-permanently
s
eal/bond the seawing tip to the Seawings™. Testing has shown these actions significantly reduce the
possibility of the seawing tip departing the aircraft during water operations, should there be inadvertent
use above the Water Operations Limitations. The Water Operating Limitations have not changed, since
the potential to damage the aircraft remains.
This engineering improvement is included on Aircraft Serial Number (ASN) 00075 and greater; however,
we have become aware that the work instructions may not have been performed correctly on ASN
00075-00094 (inclusive). This Service Letter includes instructions on how to perform the disassembly,
inspection, and proper re-installation of the sealed seawing tips. Although not mandatory, ICON Aircraft
will be completing this service letter on all internal fleet aircraft and highly recommends that owners of
