Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-17962 · Fuselage, wing attach fittings
Various de Havilland Airplanes
This AD applies to Harry E. Williams and Cliff Robertson Model de Havilland DH 82A airplanes, all serial numbers, and de Havilland Model DH 83 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Harry E. Williams de Havilland Model DH 82A airplanes, all Cliff Robertson de Havilland Model DH 82A airplanes, and all de Havilland Model DH 83 airplanes. This AD requires inspecting the aircraft maintenance records and/or the installed lateral fuselage tie rods and attaching nuts to determine the origin of manufacture. This AD also requires immediately replacing lateral fuselage tie rods and attaching nuts produced by a specific manufacturer. This AD was prompted by reports of structural failure of the attachment of the wing to the fuselage that resulted from failed lateral fuselage tie rods. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.
(1) As of September 18, 2014 (the effective date of this AD), the airplane is restricted to non-aerobatic flight until the actions required in paragraphs (h)(1) through (i)(1) of this AD are done.
(2) As of September 18, 2014 (the effective date of this AD), before further flight, place a copy of this AD into the Limitations section of the airplane flight manual (AFM).
Within the next 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) after September 18, 2014 (the effective date of this AD), review the aircraft maintenance records and/or inspect the installed lateral fuselage tie rods and attaching nuts to determine if the lateral fuselage tie rods and attaching nuts were produced by J & R Aerospace Pty Ltd., P/N JRA-776-1 (for de Havilland Model DH 82A airplanes), and P/N JRA-776-3 (for de Havilland Model DH 83 airplanes).
(1) If you are able to positively determine that the installed lateral fuselage tie rods and attaching nuts are not produced by J & R Aerospace Pty Ltd, remove the flight restriction required in paragraph (g) of this AD, and no further action is required by this AD.
(2) If you are not able to positively determine that the installed lateral fuselage tie rods and attaching nuts are not produced by J & R Aerospace Pty Ltd or if you determine that the installed lateral fuselage tie rods and attaching nuts are produced by J & R Aerospace, before further flight, remove and replace the lateral fuselage tie rods and attaching nuts as specified in paragraph (i) of this AD.
(1) Before further flight after making the determination required in paragraph (h)(2) of this AD, remove and destroy the installed lateral fuselage tie rods and attaching nuts and replace the lateral fuselage tie rods and attaching nuts. Replace the lateral tie rods and attaching nuts following the procedures in paragraph 2.C. of the Accomplishment Instructions and using the table on Figure 1 in British Aerospace Military Aircraft and Aerostructures BAe Aircraft Bulletin for De Havilland Moth Aircraft, Document Type and Ref No Technical News Sheet CT (Moth) No 29, Issue 3, dated March 1, 1999.
(2) Before further flight after doing the replacement required in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD, remove the flight restriction required in paragraph (g) of this AD.
As of September 18, 2014 (the effective date of this AD), do not install P/N JRA-776-1 or JRA-776-3 lateral fuselage tie rods manufactured under Australian part manufacture approval (PMA) manufacturer J & R Aerospace Pty Ltd.
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
Aircraft
Appliances and equipment
