Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-17741 · Doors
Bombardier, Inc. Airplanes
This AD applies to Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400, -401, and -402 airplanes; certificated in any category; serial numbers 4001, and 4003 through 4364 inclusive.
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a translating door handle jamming during opening of an aft door. This AD requires replacing the handle shaft with a new single-piece machined handle shaft on the aft entry and service doors, and requires revising the maintenance program by incorporating a new airworthiness limitation task. We are issuing this AD to prevent a migrated pin from jamming a translating door handle, which could prevent opening of the door and impede an emergency evacuation.
You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done.
Within 6,000 flight hours or 36 months, whichever occurs first, after the effective date of this AD, replace the handle shaft with a new single-piece machined handle shaft on the aft entry and service doors by incorporating Modification Summary (ModSum) 4-113687, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-52-66, Revision A, dated October 24, 2011.
(1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, revise the maintenance program by incorporating the information in maintenance Tasks 521200-105 and 524100-105 of Bombardier Temporary Revision (TR) ALI-122, dated November 4, 2011, into Section 1 Certification Maintenance Requirements of the Airworthiness Limitations Items (ALI) Part 2, Bombardier Q400 Dash 8 Maintenance Requirements Manual, PSM 1-84-7. The compliance time for doing the initial inspections of the handle shafts on the aft entry and service door is within 25,000 flight hours after installation of the new handle shaft specified in paragraph (g) of this AD. The flight hours specified in the tasks must be applied to the airplane service life, not to the handle service life. Thereafter, no alternative actions (e.g., inspections) or intervals may be used unless the actions or intervals are approved as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (j)(1) of this AD.
(2) The maintenance program revision required by paragraph (h)(1) of this AD may be done by inserting a copy of Bombardier TR ALI-122, dated November 4, 2011, into Section 1 Certification Maintenance Requirements of the Airworthiness Limitations Items (ALI) Part 2, Bombardier Q400 Dash 8 Maintenance Requirements Manual, PSM 1-84-7. When this TR has been included in general revisions of the maintenance requirements manual, the general revisions may be inserted in the maintenance requirements manual and this TR removed.
