I can't stand stupidity

Anal manufacturers issue #1

3/24/2000

Cameron Balloons US wins the "we are always right no matter how stupid it makes us look" award for this week.

About 3 years ago, a customer brought in his Cameron 120 for annual. I found a number of small holes, all within airworthiness limits. It's my normal policy to sew patches on such holes. I've found that adhesive patches fall off eventually.

I therefore sewed on patches, with a maximum size of 3" x 3". My recollection is 5 or 6 of them, Cameron says 9, using Aerostar fabric. It's what I had in stock and keep in mind the holes could have remained unpatched, per Cameron's Maintenance Manual.

The owner sent the envelope to Cameron this year for annual and evaluation of a porosity problem.

Lo and Behold, Cameron now tells the owner the only problem with the envelope is that the 5, 6, or 9 3" x 3" patches make the envelope unairworthy and it will cost him at least $300 to fix it.

If the holes had remained unpatched, I suppose they would have had to find some other excuse!

Yeah, the manual does say you have to use Cameron fabric for any repair. They have me there.

I would point out that this balloon is certified under FAR Part 31. If this balloon's porosity causes it to exceed it's maximum vertical velocity as defined under FAR Part 31.19, does that make it unairworthy?

If so, maybe it's the fault of the 5, 6 or 9 3"x 3" patches of Aerostar fabric and not the Duraflight stuff that Cameron sells.

I've asked the FAA. Knowing the FAA, I'll probably never get an answer, but if I do, Cameron Balloons US will be the second to know.

Pete Asp

2000