AD/DHC-8/136 Fuel System Safety Maintenance Tasks (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.

Bombardier (Boeing Canada/De Havilland) DHC-8 Series Aeroplanes

AD/DHC-8/136 Fuel System Safety - Maintenance Tasks 3/2008 DM

Applicability:

Models DHC-8-400, DHC-8-401, DHC-8-402 aircraft, all serial numbers.

Requirement:

Revise the approved maintenance schedule by incorporating all Fuel System Limitations (FSL) tasks contained in Temporary Revision (TR) ALI-69 of DHC-8-400 Maintenance Requirements Manual, 1-84-7, Part 2 “Airworthiness Limitation Items”.

Note:  Transport Canada AD CF-2007-33 refers.

Compliance:

Within 60 days after the effective date of this Directive.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 31 January 2008.

Background:

Bombardier Aerospace has completed a system safety review of the aircraft fuel system against fuel tank safety standards introduced in Chapter 525 of the Airworthiness Manual through Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA) 2002-043.  The identified non-compliances were then assessed using Transport Canada Policy Letter No. 525-001, to determine if mandatory corrective action is required.

The assessment showed that supplemental maintenance tasks are required to prevent potential ignition sources within the fuel system, which could result in a fuel tank explosion.  Revisions have been made to Part 2 “Airworthiness Limitations List” of the DHC-8-400 Maintenance Program Manuals to introduce the required maintenance tasks.

Charles Lenarcic
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

16 January 2008