AD/Do 328/69 Passenger Door and Service Doors (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.

Dornier 328 Series Aeroplanes

AD/DO 328/69 Passenger Door and Service Doors 10/2007 DM

Applicability:

Model 328-100 aircraft, serial numbers 3005 through 3098, 3100, 3101, 3106, 3107, 3109, 3110, 3112, 3113, 3115, 3117, and 3119.

Model 328-300 aircraft, serial numbers 3102, 3105, 3108, 3111, 3114, 3116, 3118, and 3120 through 3224.

Requirement:

1.    Install warning placards to the inside of the passenger door and service doors in accordance with AvCraft Aerospace GmbH Dornier 328 Service Bulletin SB-328-11-454 or SB-328J-11-209, as applicable; or later EASA approved revisions.

2.    Modify the passenger door hinge supports in accordance with AvCraft Aerospace GmbH Dornier 328 Service Bulletin SB-328-52-460 or SB-328J-52-213, as applicable; or later EASA approved revisions.

Note:  EASA AD 2007-0199 (corrected 26 July 2007), refers.

Compliance:

1.    Within one month after 8 August 2007.

2.    Within one year after 8 August 2007.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 8 August 2007.

Background:

An incident occurred where, immediately after take-off, the passenger door of a Model 328 aircraft opened.  The aircraft returned to the departure airfield and made an uneventful emergency landing.  Substantial damage was found on the door, handrails, door hinge arms, and fuselage skin.  An investigation revealed that no technical failure could be determined that precipitated the event.  This Directive requires door placards and a structural modification of the passenger door hinge supports to ensure that the door does not separate from the aircraft when inadvertently opened during flight.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

1 August 2007