COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

PZL M18 Dromader Series Aeroplanes

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 CAR 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.

AD/PZL/5 Centre Wing to Outboard Wing Attach Joints 12/2000 DM

Applicability: All Models PZL M18, M18A, and M18B aircraft.

Requirement: 1. Inspect, using magnetic particle methods, the centre wing to outboard wing attach joints for cracks in the lugs, corrosion in the main holes, and ovalisation of the main holes in accordance with PZL Service Bulletin No. E/02.170/2000, dated 3 August 2000.

2.    Accomplish the following after each inspection:

1. Repair corrosion damage found to the extent allowed in the Requirement document and apply anti-corrosion protection.

b.    Replace the wing attach joints if found cracked or if the corrosion damage is more than is specified in the Requirement document.

c.                                                                                              Eliminate any ovalisation of the wing main joint holes

Note: FAA AD 2000-18-12 Amdt 39-11897 refers.

Compliance: 1. Initial Inspection: Unless accomplished since 27 December 1999, accomplish upon accumulating 2,500 hours total time in service or before 19 November 2000, whichever occurs later.

Repetitive Inspections:

1. For existing attach joints: Within 500 hours time in service or 12 calendar months, whichever occurs first, after the initial inspection, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 500 hours time in service or 12 calendar months, whichever occurs first. The first repetitive inspection starts at 12 calendar months after the last inspection for those aircraft that have already had the initial inspection accomplished since 27 December 1999.

b.    For new attach joints: Upon accumulating 2,500 hours total time in service on the joint, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 500 hours or 12 calendar months, whichever occurs first.

2. Before further flight after the inspection where the discrepancy was found.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 25 October 2000.

Background:  This Directive is the result of local reports of cracking and the issue of an Airworthiness Directive by the FAA following two instances of in-flight wing separations, where severe corrosion and pitting led to high stress concentrations on the wing attachment joints. The FAA AD and PZL Service Bulletin call for the initial inspection at 3000 hours TIS. However cracks have been found in an Australian registered M-18A at only 2,776 hours TIS.

William Ronald Smith

Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 19 October 2000

The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 25 October 2000.