Ad/DH 82/14 - Streamline Wires (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.001(1) of CASR 1998.  The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

DH 82 (Tiger Moth) Series Aeroplanes

AD/DH 82/14 Streamline Wires 11/2005

Applicability:

Models DH82 aircraft and DH82A aircraft (All Variants).

Requirement:

1.    Inspect and where required replace the stainless steel streamline wires in accordance with de Havilland Support Ltd Technical News Sheet (TNS) CT (MOTH) No. 40 Issue 1, or later CAA approved revision.  The results of all inspections conducted must be reported to de Havilland Support Ltd in accordance with paragraph 3.c. of TNS CT (MOTH) No. 40 Issue 1.

2.    Aerobatic manoeuvres and intentional spinning (if permitted) are prohibited until the inspections, and where required, replacement of the streamline wires in accordance with TNS CT (MOTH) No. 40 Issue 1, or later CAA approved revision has been completed.

Note:  UK CAA AD G-2005-0025 refers.

Compliance:

1.    Before 31 December 2005.

2.    From the effective date of this Directive.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 27 October 2005.

Background:

Two in-flight fractures of stainless steel streamline wire bracing are known to have occurred to biplane de Havilland aircraft since 2001.  Both fractures involved rear lift wires, fitted respectively to a DH82A aircraft and to a DH87B aircraft.  Fracture of one or more stainless steel streamline wires will reduce the structural integrity of a de Havilland Moth series aircraft and may induce widespread structural failure.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

15 September 2005