AD/F406/17 Landing Gear Emergency Blowdown Bottle (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.

Reims Aviation F406 Series Aeroplanes

AD/F406/17 Landing Gear Emergency Blowdown Bottle 9/2007

Applicability:

Model F 406 aircraft, all serial numbers, equipped with landing gear emergency blowdown bottle part number 9910154-4.

Requirement:

Remove the affected landing gear emergency blowdown bottle and install a new bottle part number 4063700-1 in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Reims Aviation Industries Service Bulletin No. F406-66 original issue, or later EASA approved revision.

Note:  EASA AD 2007-0190 refers.

Compliance:

No later than the next 5 year inspection or at the next removal of the emergency blowdown bottle, whichever occurs first after 30 August 2007.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 30 August 2007.

Background:

Reports were received of leakage from landing gear emergency blowdown bottles.  Investigation revealed leakage due to a design deficiency in the bottle head.  Loss of bottle pressure could result in the inability to extend landing gears in the event of an emergency situation.

David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

20 July 2007