AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/Z-242L/3 and issues the following 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.
Moravan Zlin Z-242L Series Aeroplanes
AD/Z-242L/3
Amdt 1
Limitation of Operation 13/2003
Applicability: All Model Z-242L aircraft.
Requirement: 1. For all aircraft: Record Acrobatic and Utility category operational time in the logbook. If the aircraft is utilised in either of these categories during a flight, the total time for that flight must be recorded in the Acrobatic or Utility category, as appropriate.
2. For aircraft in the serial number range 0001 through 0656 without strengthened wings installed (both left and right wings) in accordance with Moravan Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) Z 242L/27a-Rev. 2, dated 15 April 2003, or Rev. 1, dated 31 October 2000; accomplish the following as specified in MSB Z 242L/38a-Rev. 1, dated 15 April 2003:
- Incorporate aerobatic frequency information into Limitations Section of the Aircraft Flight Manual; and,
b. Establish the aircraft life limit of 3,500 hours time in service by incorporating the applicable information into the Airworthiness Limitations section of the maintenance manual.
3. For aircraft in the serial number range 0001 through 0656 without strengthened wings installed (both left and right wings) in accordance with MSB Z 242L/27a- Rev. 2, or Rev. 1; accomplish the following:
- Insert the following information into the Limitations Section of the Aircraft Flight Manual: “Do not operate in the Acrobatic or Utility category. Operate in the Normal category only”. MSB Z 242L/37a-Rev.1, dated 31 October 2000 refers.
b. Replace both wings with the following part number wings: L 242.2100 left hand wing, and L 242.2200 right hand wing; in accordance with MSB Z 242L/27a-Rev. 2, or Rev. 1. This replacement allows operation of the aircraft for a total of 5,500 hours time in service, and the time accumulated with unstrengthened wings installed counts toward this 5,500 hours time in service.
4. For aircraft with serial number 0657 or subsequent, or aircraft in the serial number range 0001 through 0656 with strengthened wings installed (both left and right wings) in accordance with MSB Z 242L/27a-Rev. 2 or Rev.1; accomplish the following, as specified in MSB Z 242L/38a-Rev. 1, dated 15 April 2003:
- Incorporate aerobatic frequency information into the Limitations Section of the Aircraft Flight Manual; and,
b. Establish the aircraft life limit of 5,500 hours time in service by incorporating the applicable information into the Airworthiness Limitations section of the maintenance manual.
5. For all aircraft: Only install a wing with a part number of L 242.2100 (left hand wing) or L 242.2200 (right hand wing). The aircraft is still life limited to a total of 5,500 hours time in service.
Note: Czech CAA AD-T-100/2000 R1 and FAA AD 2003-11-12 Amdt 39-13171 refer
Compliance: 1. As of 25 December 2003.
2. Before 4 January 2004.
3. AFM incorporation: Upon the accumulation of 190 hours time in service in the Acrobatic category and/or Utility category or 90 days after 25 December 2003, whichever occurs later.
Wing Replacement: Upon the accumulation of 3,500 hours time in service in all operations or within 50 hours time in service in all operations after 25 December 2003, whichever occurs later.
4. Before 4 January 2004.
5. As of 25 December 2003.
This Amendment becomes effective on 25 December 2003.
Background: The Czech CAA received a report of a wing failure on a Model Z-142 aircraft. As a result, a restriction was placed on aerobatic and spinning manoeuvres until a NDI inspection of the wing spar attachment fittings was accomplished.
The Czech CAA also required certain limitations due to the detection of aircraft operating at variance with conditions on which the technical service life of the airframe is based. These limitations were reflected in AD/Z-242L/4.
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a revision of the related Czech AD and a revision of a recently issued FAA AD which require replacement of the wings after a certain operational time. The initial issue of the FAA AD resulted from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the Czech CAA. The restrictions only took account for the aerobatic load spectrum and did not account for the aerobatic frequency. The restrictions also addressed the life limit of the wings when they should have addressed the life limit of the entire airframe (life limit of the aircraft).
Although the aerobatic frequency will extend the operational times, it more importantly will ensure that all aircraft (even those that have not reached the operational limits) are not subject to fatigue cracking caused by exceeding the aerobatic frequency. This Directive requires operational restrictions and incorporates the aerobatic frequency; and life limits the aircraft rather than just the wings.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 15 September 1999.
David Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 13 November 2003
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 3 December 2003.