Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-18695 · Autopilot
Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Airplanes
This AD applies to the following Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH model airplanes certificated in any category.
(1) Model DA 40 NG: Serial numbers 40.N260 through 40.N314;
(2) Model DA 42 NG: Serial numbers 42.N150 through 42.N223; and
(3) Model DA 42 M-NG: Serial numbers 42.MN035 through 42.MN052.
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Models DA 40 NG, DA 42 NG, and DA 42 M-NG airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as cracked autopilot bridle cable clamps. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products
Unless already done, do the following actions.
(1) Within the next 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) after November 16, 2016 (the effective date of this AD) or within the next 3 months after November 16, 2016 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first, and repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed 200 hours TIS, inspect each autopilot bridle cable clamp, part numbers (P/Ns) D41-2213-10-53 and D41-2213-10-54. Do the inspections following the INSTRUCTIONS section of Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH (DAI) Work Instruction WI-MSB 40NG-048, Revision 1, dated September 9, 2016, as specified in the Accomplishments/Instructions paragraph of DAI Mandatory Service Bulletin MSB 40NG-048/1, dated September 9, 2016, and the INSTRUCTIONS section of DAI Work Instruction WI-MSB 42NG-059, Revision 2, dated September 9, 2016, as specified in the Accomplishments/Instructions paragraph of DAI Mandatory Service Bulletin MSB 42NG-059/2, dated September 9, 2016, as applicable.
Note 1 to paragraph (f)(1) of this AD: The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2016-0190, dated September 26, 2016, and the DAI service bulletins referenced in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD allow the compliance time for the initial inspection of each autopilot bridle cable clamp to be extended from within the 25 hours time-in-service or within the next 3 months, whichever occurs first, to 200 hours TIS or 12 months, whichever occurs first, as long as the autopilot is deactivated. This AD does not allow for this extension.
(2) If a crack is found in either autopilot bridle cable clamp during any inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further flight, replace both autopilot bridle cable clamps with improved design autopilot bridle cable clamps, P/Ns D41-2213-10-53_01 (or higher) and P/N D41-2213-10-54_01 (or higher). Do the replacements following the INSTRUCTIONS section of DAI Work Instruction WI-MSB 40NG-048, Revision 1, dated September 9, 2016, as specified in the Accomplishments/Instructions paragraph of DAI Mandatory Service Bulletin MSB 40NG-048/1, dated September 9, 2016, and the INSTRUCTIONS section of DAI Work Instruction WI-MSB 42NG-059, Revision 2, dated September 9, 2016, as specified in the Accomplishments/Instructions paragraph of DAI Mandatory Service Bulletin MSB 42NG- 059/2, dated September 9, 2016, as applicable.
(3) Installing improved design autopilot bridle cable clamps, P/N D41-2213-10-53_01 (or higher) and P/N D41-2213-10-54_01 (or higher) terminates the repetitive inspections required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD.
(4) As of November 16, 2016 (the effective date of this AD), do not install autopilot bridle cable clamps, P/Ns D41-2213-10-53 and D41-2213-10-54.
This AD allows credit for doing only the initial inspection action required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD if done before November 16, 2016 (the effective date of this AD), following DAI Recommended Service Bulletin RSB 40NG-048, dated August 24, 2016, and DAI Recommended Service Bulletin RSB 42NG-059, dated June 30, 2016, or DAI Recommended Service Bulletin RSB 42NG-059, Revision 1, dated August 24, 2016, as applicable.
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.
