Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-22850 · Nose/tail landing gear
Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc. (Type Certificate Previously Held by Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH) Airplanes
This AD applies to Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc. (type certificate previously held by Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH) Model DA 40 and DA 40F airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2009-10-04 for certain Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH (type certificate now held by Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc.) Model DA 40 and DA 40 F airplanes. AD 2009-10-04 required repetitively inspecting the nose landing gear (NLG) leg for cracks and replacing the NLG leg if cracks are found. Since the FAA issued AD 2009-10-04, Transport Canada updated mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) to correct this unsafe condition on these products. This AD results from changes made to the part replacement options and the repetitive inspections. This AD requires doing repetitive detailed inspections of the NLG leg pivot axle for cracking and if cracking is found replacing that part with a serviceable part. This AD also requires eventually replacing all NLG legs having certain part numbers with serviceable parts, if not already done, and prohibits installing affected parts. Replacing affected parts with serviceable parts is terminating action for the repetitive inspections specified in this AD. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
For the purpose of this AD the definitions in paragraphs (g)(1) through (3) of this AD apply:
(1) An “affected part” is an NLG leg having either P/N D41-3223-10-00 or P/N D41-3223-10-00_1.
(2) A “serviceable part” is an NLG leg that is not an affected part. NLG legs having P/N D41-3223-10-00_2 or P/N D41-3223-10-00_3 are considered serviceable parts.
(3) The “applicable mandatory service bulletin (MSB) for your airplane” is:
(i) For Model DA 40 airplanes: Diamond Aircraft Industries Mandatory Service Bulletin MSB 40-091, Rev. 0, dated January 18, 2021, published with Diamond Aircraft Industries Work Instruction WI-MSB 40-091, Rev. 0, dated January 18, 2021 (issued as one document).
(ii) For Model DA 40 F airplanes: Diamond Aircraft Industries Mandatory Service Bulletin MSB F4-038, Rev. 0, dated January 18, 2021, published with Diamond Aircraft Industries Work Instruction WI-MSB F4-038, Rev. 0, dated January 18, 2021 (issued as one document).
For all airplanes with an affected part installed, do the applicable actions specified in paragraphs (h)(1) and (2) of this AD.
(1) Within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 30 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 110 hours TIS, perform the actions required by paragraphs (h)(1)(i) through (v) of this AD:
(i) Prepare the airplane for inspection of the pivot axle of the affected part in accordance with Section III, Paragraphs 1 through 4, of the Work Instruction of the applicable MSB for your airplane.
(ii) Clean the pivot axle of the affected part ensuring that any visible dye inspection residue is removed.
Note 1 to paragraph (h)(1)(ii): Paragraph 5-63, Cleaners and Applicators, of Chapter 5, Nondestructive Inspection (NDI), Section 5, Penetrant Inspection, of FAA Advisory Circular 43.13-1B, “Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices—Aircraft Inspection and Repair,” Change 1, dated September 8, 1998, provides guidance regarding an approved cleaning method.
(iii) Perform a detailed inspection of the pivot axle of the affected part using a bright light (minimum of 100 foot-candles) and 10X magnifying glass to detect cracking, paying special attention to the radius at the top of the pivot axle as shown in Figure 1 of the Work Instruction of the applicable MSB for your airplane, except where Figure 1 refers to a “dye penetrant inspection” this AD does not require that type of inspection.
(iv) If any cracking is found during any inspection required by paragraph (h)(1)(iii) of this AD, before further flight, replace the affected part with a serviceable part, and reinstall the nose wheel fork in accordance with Section III, Paragraphs 8 through 12 of the Work Instruction of the applicable MSB for your airplane.
(v) If no cracking is found during any inspection required by paragraph (h)(1)(iii) of this AD and the compliance time specified in paragraph (h)(2) of this AD has not been exceeded, the affected part can remain installed until the compliance time specified in paragraph (h)(2) of this AD is reached. Reinstall the nose wheel fork in accordance with Section III, Paragraphs 8 through 12, of the Work Instruction of the applicable MSB for your airplane.
(2) Within 2,500 hours TIS or 24 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, replace an affected part with a serviceable part. This part replacement is terminating action for the repetitive inspections required by paragraph (h)(1) of this AD.
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
