AD/P68/22 Amdt 5 Wing Lower Front and Rear Spar Assemblies (Cth)
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
On the commencement date specified below, and for the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below repeals Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/P68/22 Amdt 4 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.001 (1) of CASR and subsection 33 (3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct an 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.
Vulcanair (Partenavia) P.68 Series Aeroplanes
| AD/P68/22 Amdt 5 | Wing Lower Front and Rear Spar Assemblies | 6/2019 |
Applicability: | This AD applies to all Partenavia P68 series aircraft up to and including serial number 356, other than aircraft that CASA excluded from the operation of |
Requirement: | 1. Inspect the wing front and rear spars for cracks in accordance with the Inspection Instructions in Partenavia Service Bulletin No. 65 Revision 3 (the SB), as in force at the commencement date of this AD. Note 1: Aircraft on which the rear spar modification was accomplished before the issue of AD/P68/22 Amdt 3 require further repetitive inspections of the wing rear spar, unless the rear spar has been modified in accordance with AD/P68/22 Amdt 3, 4 or 5. 2. Modify the front and rear spar in accordance with the Repair Instructions in the SB and the following requirements: (a) Modifications to front or rear spars, reinforcement plates and fasteners must be wet assembled with jointing compound or sealant (Hylomar SQ-32, PR1436G, PR1422 or similar) to prevent corrosion; (b) The Avdel 5/32" diameter blind rivets specified on Partenavia rear spar drawing R-0081 cannot be locked without using a special pulling head which is not readily available in Australia. Substitution of 3/16" diameter high strength structural rivets or close-tolerance steel bolts is required. Some approved types are listed below. Grip lengths are not specified because of variations between individual assemblies. This list is not exhaustive, but alternative types will require approval from CASA under reg 39.004 of the CASR. Rivets (Hole size .192"/.196") Bolts (Hole size .1895"/.1915") |
Compliance: | 1. For aircraft which have achieved 1800 hours’ time in service - within 25 hours’ time in service after 20 September 1984, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 500 hours’ time in service, or; For aircraft which have not achieved 1800 hours’ time in service - before achieving 1800 hours’ time in service, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 500 hours’ time in service; Note 2: An inspection carried out in accordance with AD/P68/22 Amdt 1, 2, 3 or 4 is taken to be an inspection for this AD. Note 3: Inspection of the wing front spar is not required where the front spar has been modified in accordance with AD/P68/22 Amdt 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. Note 4: Inspection of the wing rear spar is not required where the rear spar has been modified in accordance with AD/P68/22 Amdt 3, 4 or 5. 2. If cracks are detected in a spar, before further flight. |
| This AD commences on 22 March 2019. | |
Background: | A number of Australian aircraft have developed cracks in the front and rear lower spar cap angles. The critical area in each case is the radius run-out where the horizontal flange abruptly tapers down near the wing-fuselage attachment. As a result of these reports, the manufacturer issued SB No. 65, which detailed an improved inspection method and a repair for the front spar only. An AD was issued to incorporate SB No. 65 Revision 1, which included the rear spar. However, some variations to the rear spar repair scheme were, and still are, required. AD/P68/22 Amdt 4 introduced SB No. 65 Revision 2, which contained a re-designed front spar reinforcement. However, the previous modification was still considered to be satisfactory. Later serial number aircraft were also exempt from the requirements of AD/P68/22 Amdt 4. This AD introduces SB No. 65 Revision 3, which contains no further technical changes but extends the applicability to aircraft with serial numbers up to 356 in accordance with the Partenavia Service Bulletin 65 Revision 3. Additionally, the applicability section has been modified to enable exclusions issued by CASA from the operation of AD/P68/22 Amdt 4 to be treated as exclusions from this AD. The AD requirement and compliance sections have been modified for clarity. |
Pieter van Dijk
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority
18 March 2019
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