AD/Do 328/71 Amdt 1 Wing Lower Inner Panel (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

On the effective date specified below, and for the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/DO 328/71 and issues the following 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 328/71 Amdt 1 Wing Lower Inner Panel 11/2009

Applicability:

Model 328-100 aircraft, all serial numbers.

Model 328-300 aircraft, all serial numbers.

Requirement:

Action in accordance with the requirements of EASA AD 2009-0194.

Note:  328 Support Services GmbH Alert Service Bulletin ASB-328-57-037
Revision 1, ASB-328J-57-015 Revision 1, SB-328-57-481 original issue, and
SB-328J-57-230 original issue, as applicable, or later EASA approved revisions, refer.

Compliance:

As specified in the Requirement document, with a revised effective date of
22 October 2009.

This Amendment becomes effective on 22 October 2009.

Background:

During a routine inspection of an aircraft by the operator, cracks were detected on a lower wing panel rear trailing edge, inboard of flap lever arm 1 (rib 5).  A subsequent inspection of other aircraft in the operator’s fleet revealed several more aircraft with cracks at the same location.  This condition, if not corrected, could lead to structural failure of the affected wing panel and possible wing failure, with consequent loss of control.

Amendment 1 is issued in response to a new EASA AD which, while retaining the inspection and repair requirements of the previous issue of this Directive, now adds new repetitive inspections and a requirement to modify both the left hand and right hand wing panel rear trailing edges from rib 3 to rib 9.  This modification action does not constitute terminating action for the new repetitive inspection requirements of this Directive.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

9 September 2009