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 39.1 (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.
De Havilland DH 83 (Fox Moth) Series Aeroplanes
AD/DH 83/3 Cockpit Lateral Tie Rods and Aircraft Structure 12/2003
Applicability: All DH 83 series aircraft.
Requirement: 1. Action in accordance with the Paragraph 2.A and 2.C of the Accomplishment Instructions of British Aerospace Technical News Sheet (TNS) CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3.
2. Inspect in accordance with Paragraph 2.B of the Accomplishment Instructions of British Aerospace TNS CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3.
Note: UK CAA AD 006-10-97 refers.
Compliance: 1. Within 2,000 flying hours or 18 years from the last tie rod renewal, whichever occurs first. In cases where no evidence of last renewal date is found to exist, accomplish within 100 flying hours after 27 November 2003 or before 27 January 2004, whichever occurs first. Thereafter at intervals not to exceed 2,000 flying hours or 18 years, whichever occurs first.
2. Within 2 calendar months after 27 November 2003, unless the initial inspection is already accomplished, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 calendar months; and, before further flight after a heavy landing or undercarriage trauma occurrence (as defined in TNS CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3).
This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 27 November 2003.
De Havilland DH 83 (Fox Moth) Series Aeroplanes
AD/DH 83/3 (continued)
Background: During routine maintenance on a DH 82 aircraft, it was found that the lateral fuselage tie rod at the aft position had sheared at its location with the spar attachment fitting. Subsequent investigation found the failure was a result of fatigue cracking in the thread root. This Directive requires that both lateral fuselage tie rods become “lifed items”, introduces a procedure for the examination of the aircraft structure at annual intervals, and inspection following a heavy landing or an undercarriage trauma occurrence.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 14 October 2003
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 5 November 2003.
Overview
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Airworthiness Directive AD/DH 83/3 for the De Havilland DH 83 (Fox Moth) series aeroplanes in 2003. This legislation was introduced to address safety concerns identified during routine maintenance, specifically the failure of the lateral fuselage tie rod due to fatigue cracking. The directive requires specific actions to be taken to correct the unsafe condition, including inspecting and renewing the lateral tie rods and related aircraft structure according to British Aerospace Technical News Sheet CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3. The policy objective is to ensure the ongoing airworthiness of the DH 83 series aircraft by mitigating the risk of structural failure. This Airworthiness Directive became effective on 27 November 2003, with compliance intervals set at 2,000 flying hours or 18 years for tie rod renewals, and within 2 calendar months after 27 November 2003 for the initial inspection, with subsequent inspections at intervals not exceeding 12 calendar months or after a heavy landing or undercarriage trauma occurrence.
Scope and Application
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies to all De Havilland DH 83 (Fox Moth) series aeroplanes, mandating specific actions to address an identified unsafe condition related to the cockpit lateral tie rods and aircraft structure. The AD was issued under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate, David Villiers, and became effective on 27 November 2003. The directive requires that the lateral tie rods be renewed according to the instructions in Paragraph 2.A and 2.C of the Accomplishment Instructions of British Aerospace Technical News Sheet (TNS) CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3, and inspections must be conducted as per Paragraph 2.B of the same instructions. Compliance with these requirements must occur within specific timeframes: the tie rods must be renewed within 2,000 flying hours or 18 years from the last renewal, whichever comes first, or within 100 flying hours after 27 November 2003 if the last renewal date is unknown. Structural inspections must be completed within 2 calendar months of 27 November 2003 or before 27 January 2004 if an initial inspection has already been carried out, and then at intervals not exceeding 12 calendar months or after any heavy landing or undercarriage trauma occurrence. The AD is applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia and is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette.
Key Provisions
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies to all De Havilland DH 83 (Fox Moth) Series Aeroplanes, as outlined in section 1. The AD requires specific actions to address issues with cockpit lateral tie rods and aircraft structure. Firstly, in accordance with Paragraph 2.A and 2.C of the Accomplishment Instructions of British Aerospace Technical News Sheet (TNS) CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3, certain actions must be taken. Secondly, inspections must be conducted as per Paragraph 2.B of the same Accomplishment Instructions, referencing UK CAA AD 006-10-97.
The obligations imposed by this AD include the requirement for aircraft operators and owners to adhere to the specific actions and inspections outlined in the directive. Operators must ensure that the actions specified in the Accomplishment Instructions of British Aerospace TNS CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 3 are carried out. This includes renewing or inspecting the lateral fuselage tie rods and conducting thorough inspections of the aircraft structure. Operators must comply with the timeframes specified in the AD, which mandate actions within 2,000 flying hours or 18 years from the last tie rod renewal, and initial inspections within 2 calendar months from the AD's issuance.
Failure to comply with this Airworthiness Directive can result in serious consequences. Although specific penalties are not detailed in the text, non-compliance could potentially lead to the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, which could result in grounding of the aircraft and possible civil or criminal penalties. The severity of these penalties would depend on the extent of non-compliance and its impact on aviation safety. Operators and owners must ensure strict adherence to the AD to avoid any legal repercussions and to maintain the airworthiness of their aircraft.