AD 97-06-05 62 FR 11763

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Avions Pierre Robin Model R2160 airplanes. This action requires repetitively inspecting the weld area between the strut and the lower plate of the nose landing gear leg for cracks, and replacing the strut when cracks are found. The AD is the result of several reports of cracks in the weld securing the nose wheel steering bottom bracket to the nose landing gear leg on the affected airplanes. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent nose landing gear failure caused by cracks in the weld area between the strut and the lower plate of the nose landing gear leg, which could result in loss of control of the airplane during landing operations.