2009-10-04: Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 32: Landing gear.

2009-10-04 Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH: Amendment 39-15899; Docket No. FAA-2009-0240; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-015-AD. Effective Date (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective June 17, 2009. Affected ADs (b) This AD supersedes AD 2007-17-06, Amendment 39-15164. Applicability (c) This AD applies to the following airplanes that: (1) are certificated in any category; and (2) are not equipped with a nose landing gear (NLG) leg part number (P/N) D41-3223-10-00--1 or higher (--2, --3, etc.). Model Serial Nos. (S/N) DA 40 All S/Ns beginning with 40.006. DA 40F All S/Ns beginning with 40.F001. All S/Ns beginning with 40.FC001. Subject (d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 32: Landing gear. Reason (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) states: A case was reported where the NLG leg of a DA 40 aircraft failed in the area of the nose gear leg pivot axle. The affected airplane was mostly operated on grass runways and used for training operations. The investigation showed that the failure was due to a fatigue crack that had developed in the pivot axle. Subsequent material inspections determined that these cracks may also develop on other aircraft, depending on the type of operation. This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to further cases of NLG failure, possibly causing damage to the aircraft and injuries to occupants. To address and correct this unsafe condition, ACG issued AD A-2005-005 to require repetitive inspections of the NLG leg and, in case cracks are found, replacement of the NLG leg with a serviceable unit. Since that AD was issued, Diamond Aircraft Industries developed a redesigned NLG leg which is not affected by the cracking phenomenon addressed by AD A-2005-005. For the reasons described above, this EASA AD retains the requirements of ACG AD A-2005-005, which is superseded, and excludes aircraft from the applicability that have the improved NLG leg installed. Actions and Compliance (f) Unless already done, do the following actions: (1) Inspect the nose landing gear (NLG) leg for cracks within the next 12 months after September 25, 2007 (the effective date retained from AD 2007-17-06), or within the next 200 hours time-in- service (TIS) after September 25, 2007 (the effective date retained from AD 2007-17-06), whichever occurs later. Do the inspection following Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB40-046/1, No. MSBD4-046/1, dated April 25, 2007, or Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB40-046/3, No. MSBD4-046/3, dated November 17, 2008. (2) If any cracks are found during the inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of the AD or during any inspection required in paragraph (f)(2)(ii) or (f)(3) of this AD, replace the NLG leg before further flight. Do the replacement following Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB40-046/1, No. MSBD4-046/1, dated April 25, 2007; or Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB40-046/3, No. MSBD4-046/3, dated November 17, 2008. (i) Replacing a NLG leg with a part number (P/N) D41-3223-10- 00--1 or higher (--2, --3, etc.) terminates the repetitive inspections required in this AD. (ii) Replacing a NLG leg with a P/N D41-3223-10-00 requires repetitive inspections as specified in paragraph (f)(3) of this AD until a P/N D41-3223-10-00--1 or higher (--2, --3, etc.) is installed. (3) If no cracks are found during the inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD or a cracked NLG leg is replaced with a P/N D41-3223-10-00 NLG leg, repetitively inspect thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 months or 200 hours TIS, whichever occurs later, until a P/N D41-3223-10-00--1 or higher (--2, --3, etc.) is installed. Do these repetitive inspections following Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB40-046/3, No. MSBD4-046/3, dated November 17, 2008. (i) If a repetitive inspection occurs before June 17, 2009 (the effective date of this AD), then you may use Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB40-046/1, No. MSBD4-046/1, dated April 25, 2007. (ii) All inspections that occur after June 17, 2009 (the effective date of this AD), must be done following Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB40-046/3, No. MSBD4-046/3, dated November 17, 2008. (4) After installing a P/N D41-3223-10-00--1 or higher (--2, -- 3, etc.) as a replacement part, installing a NLG leg P/N D41-3223- 10-00 is no longer allowed. FAA AD Differences Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows: No differences. Other FAA AD Provisions (g) The following provisions also apply to this AD: (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs forthis AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Sarjapur Nagarajan, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4145; fax: (816) 329-4090. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO. (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service. (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 etseq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056. Related Information (h) Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2009-0016, dated January 22, 2009; Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB40-046/1, No. MSBD4-046/1, dated April 25, 2007; and Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB40-046/3, No. MSBD4-046/3, dated November 17, 2008, for related information. Material Incorporated by Reference (i) You must use Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB40-046/1, No. MSBD4-046/1, dated April 25, 2007; and Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB40-046/3, No. MSBD4-046/3, dated November 17, 2008, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB40-046/3, No. MSBD4-046/3, dated November 17, 2008, under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) On September 25, 2007 (72 FR 46549, August 21, 2007), the Director of the Federal Register previously approved the incorporation by reference of Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB40-046/1, No. MSBD4-046/1, dated April 25, 2007. (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH, N.A. Otto-Strabe 5, A-2700 Wiener Neustadt; fax: 43-2622-26620; or e-mail: support@diamond-air.at. (4) You may review copies of the service information incorporated by reference for this AD at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the Central Region, call (816) 329-3768. (5) You may also review copies of the service information incorporated by reference for this AD at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http:// www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ ibr_locations.html.