GAF Nomad N22 / N24

Airworthiness Directives; AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd Models N22B, N22S, and N24A Airplanes

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

Airworthiness Directives; AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd Models N22B, N22S, and N24A Airplanes

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

Airworthiness Directives; AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. Models N22B, N22S, and N24A Airplanes

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede AD 2003-22-13, which applies to all AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. (ASTA) Models N22B and N24A airplanes. AD 2003-22-13 currently requires you to visually inspect the ailerons for damage and replace if necessary; adjust the engine power levers aural warning microswitches; set flap extension and flap down operation limitations; and fabricate and install cockpit flap extension and flap down operation restriction placards. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Australia. The FAA inadvertently omitted Model N22S airplanes from the applicability of AD 2003-22-13. Therefore, this AD retains the actions exactly as required in AD 2003-22-13 and adds Model N22S airplanes to the Applicability section. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the aileron due to undetected pre-existing aileron damage and airplane operation outside of the approved limits. Aileron failure could lead to reduced or loss of control of the airplane.

Airworthiness Directives; AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. Models N22B, N22S, and N24A Airplanes

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede AD 2003-14-20, which applies to all AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. (ASTA) Models N22B and N24A airplanes. AD 2003-14-20 requires you to repetitively inspect, using either dye penetrant or magnetic particle methods, the rudder control lever shafts for cracks; inspect (one-time) all lever shaft side plates by measuring the thickness; and if cracks or discrepancies in thickness are found, replace unserviceable parts with new or serviceable parts. Since AD 2003-14-20 was issued, we determined that the AD should also affect Model N22S airplanes. The manufacturer has also revised the service information to include a rudder control lever shaft part number (P/N) that was not part of AD 2003-14-20. Consequently, this AD retains the actions of AD 2003-14-20, adds Model N22S airplanes to the applicability, and adds rudder control lever shaft P/N 1/N-45-1102 to the inspection requirements. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the rudder control lever torque shafts and discrepancies in the thickness of the lever shaft side plates, which could result in failure of the rudder control lever torque shaft. Such failure could lead to reduced controllability of the airplane.

Airworthiness Directives; AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd Airplanes

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd Model N22B, N22S, and N24A airplanes. This AD requires you to inspect the forward and aft face of the rear fuselage frame for cracks and to repair or modify accordingly. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Australia. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the rear fuselage frame, which could result in failure of the fuselage rear bulkhead and consequent loss of structural integrity.

Airworthiness Directives; AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. Models N22B, N22S, and N24A Airplanes

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. (ASTA) Models N22B, N22S, and N24A airplanes. This AD requires you to repetitively inspect wing fittings for fatigue defects, replace or correct defective wing fittings, and replace the stub wing front spar assembly and wing fitting when fatigue life limits are reached. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Australia. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct defects in the wing strut upper end fittings, wing strut lower end fittings, stub wing strut pick up fittings, and the stub wing front spar assembly. These defects could result in failure of the fittings or spar assembly and lead to reduced structural capability or reduced controllability of the airplane.

Airworthiness Directives; AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. Models N22B and N24A Airplanes

This document adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. (AeroSpace Technologies) Models N22B and N24A airplanes. This AD requires you to revise the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to include requirements for activating the airframe pneumatic deicing boots. This AD is the result of reports of in-flight incidents and an accident that occurred in icing conditions where the airframe pneumatic deicing boots were not activated. The actions specified by this AD are intended to assure that flightcrews have the information necessary to activate the pneumatic wing and tail deicing boots at the first signs of ice accumulation. Without this information, flightcrews could experience reduced controllability of the aircraft due to adverse aerodynamic effects of ice adhering to the airplane prior to the first deicing cycle.

Airworthiness Directives; AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. Models N22B and N24A Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain AeroSpace Technologies of Australia (ASTA) Models N22B and N24A airplanes. This action requires revising the FAA-approved airplane flight manual (AFM) to specify procedures that will prohibit flight in severe icing conditions (as determined by certain visual cues), limit or prohibit the use of various flight control devices while in severe icing conditions, and provide the flight crew with recognition cues for, and procedures for exiting from, severe icing conditions. This AD is prompted by results of a review of the requirements for certification of these airplanes in icing conditions, new information on the icing environment, and icing data provided currently to the flight crew. The actions specified by this AD are intended to minimize the potential hazards associated with operating these airplanes in severe icing conditions by providing more clearly defined procedures and limitations associated with such conditions.

Airworthiness Directives; Aerospace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. (Formerly Government Aircraft Factory) Models N22B, N22S, and N24A Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Aerospace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. (ASTA) Models N22B, N22S, and N24A airplanes. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the aft wing break connectors for arcing damage, deposits between contacts, and looseness of contacts; and removing deposits between contacts, tightening any loose contacts, and replacing any aft wing break connectors with arcing damage. This AD results from several reports of uncommanded flap extensions and displays of incorrect stall warning indications on the affected airplanes. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent contamination in the aft wing break connectors, which could result in uncommanded flap extensions and incorrect stall warning indications with consequent loss of airplane control.

Airworthiness Directives; Aerospace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. (Formerly Government Aircraft Factory) Models N22B, N22S, and N24A Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Aerospace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. (ASTA) Models N22B, N22S, and N24A airplanes. This action requires repetitively inspecting the horizontal stabilizer upper and lower skin, intercostal angles, and the horizontal stabilizer trailing edge channel for cracks; and repairing any crack or replacing any cracked parts, as applicable. This AD results from numerous reports of cracking in these horizontal stabilizer areas on the affected airplanes. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent structural failure of the horizontal stabilizer caused by fatigue cracks, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

Airworthiness Directives; Aerospace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. (Formerly Government Aircraft Factory) Models N22B, N22S, and N24A Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Aerospace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. (ASTA) Models N22B, N22S, and N24A airplanes. This action requires repetitively inspecting the stub wing upper front spar cap flanges for cracks, and repairing any cracked part. This AD results from fatigue tests that show that the stub wing upper front spar cap flanges could fail over time because of fatigue. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent structural failure of the front spar caused by cracks in the stub wing upper front spar cap flanges, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

Airworthiness Directives; Aerospace Technologies of Australia, Nomad N22 and N24 Series Airplanes

This amendment supersedes AirworthinessDirective AD 85-21-06 which applies to all AerospaceTechnologies of Australia (ASTA) Nomad N22 and N24 series airplanes and currently requires replacing the attachment fittings of the upper fin rear spar and the fin/horizontal stabilizer. This action requires removing the upper fin to stub fin forward attachment bolts, inspecting the attachment fittings for cracks, and, if no cracks are found, replacing the attachment bolts with bolts of improved design until the life limit of the attachment fittings is reached, at which time the attachment fittings would be replaced with improved attachment fittings. If cracks are found, this AD requires replacing the attachment bolts and attachment fittings. Cracks found in the underhead radius and at the base of the thread of the bolt prompted this action. The actions specified by thisAD are intended to prevent cracking in the upper fin and horizontal stabilizer attachment fittings, which if not corrected, could result in loss of control of the airplane.

Airworthiness Directives; AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Limited (Formerly Government Aircraft Factories), Nomad Models N22S, N22B, and N24A Airplanes

This amendment supersedes Airworthiness Directive AD 82-25-09 which currently requires repetitively inspecting the pilot and co-pilot control wheel sub-assemblies for cracks, and if cracked, modifying the cracked part on the AeroSpace Technologies of Australia, Limited (ASTA), formerly Government Aircraft Factories (GAF) Nomad Models N22S, N22B, and N24A airplanes. This action would retain the repetitive inspection of the pilot and co-pilot control wheel sub-assemblies for cracks, but would include a modification that would terminate the repetitive inspections by replacing or re-working the control wheel sub-assembly with a part of improved design. This superseding action is prompted by cracking in the control wheel sub-assemblies and the manufacture of an improved part that would terminate the repetitive inspection. The actions specified by this Ad are intended to prevent failure of the pilot's and co-pilot's control wheels, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in loss of control of the airplane.

Airworthiness Directives; Aerospace Technologies of Australia Nomad Models N22B, N22S, and N24A Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Aerospace Technologies of Australia (ASTA) Nomad Models N22B, N22S, and N24A airplanes. This action requires inspecting the flap and aileron control rod fork ends for water accumulation and corrosion inside the internally drilled holes, and replacing the control rod fork ends if there is visible corrosion, or sealing the hole if no corrosion is found. Reports of water entering the internal holes of the flap and aileron control rod fork ends, causing corrosion, prompted this AD action. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent corrosion and water accumulation in the flap and aileron control rod fork ends, which, if not detected and corrected, could cause loss of control of the flaps and aileron and possible loss of control of the airplane.

Airworthiness Directives; Aerospace Technologies of Australia, Nomad Models N22B, N22S, and N24A Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Aerospace Technologies of Australia (ASTA) Nomad Models N22B, N22S, and N24A airplanes. This action requires repetitively inspecting the tailplane stabilizer center section and repairing any cracked tailplane structure. This AD also provides an optional modification as a terminating action, after an inspection in which no cracks are found. A tailplane failure on one of the affected airplanes prompted this action. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent cracking in the stabilizer center section, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in tailplane failure and loss of control of the airplane.

Airworthiness Directives; Aerospace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. (Formerly Government Aircraft Factory) Models N22B, N24A, and N22S Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Aerospace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. (ASTA) Models N22B, N24A, and N22S airplanes that are not equipped with a part number (P/N) 1E/N-12-57 fuselage stub fin plate (MOD N759). This action requires replacing the existing fuselage stub fin plate with one of improved design, P/N 1E/N-12-57. This action results from several reports of cracks along the forward flange of the fuselage stub fin plate in the area of Rib Water Line (WL) 138.87. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent structural failure of the fuselage area caused by a cracked stub fin plate, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.