FAA, CASA Issue Airworthiness Directives For Columbia 400 Icing Systems | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.06.24

Airborne-NextGen-05.07.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.08.24 Airborne-FlightTraining-05.09.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.10.24

Tue, Dec 12, 2006

FAA, CASA Issue Airworthiness Directives For Columbia 400 Icing Systems

Thermawing System May Short-Circuit

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) have issued airworthiness directives calling for the immediate deactivation of anti-icing systems installed on some Lancair Columbia (shown below) and Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing 400-series aircraft.

The AD's state the Kelly Aerospace Thermal Systems Thermawing Deice System installed on those aircraft could short-circuit where the deice heater connects to the copper lightning protection mesh embedded in the aircraft's composite structure.

CASA states incidents have occurred in the field where such electrical shorts have caused burning of the wings and horizontal stabilizer. The agency says those burns could damage the structural integrity of those surfaces.

The short circuit is caused by insufficient removal of copper mesh when the deice heater connectors were installed.

Both directives call for the system to be deactivated, and a placard placed in the cockpit labeled "DEICE SYSTEM INOPERABLE" to discourage pilots from entering conditions where they would use the system.

Columbia markets the anti-icing system as E-Vade.

Aero-News has been in touch with Columbia Aircraft, who is working on the issue in concert with Kelly Aerospace, the vendor who builds the Therma Wing system. Columbia notes that they are referenced in the title of the AD only because the Therma Wing kits are not serialized as the FAA requires for tracking purposes and to date, they have only been installed on Columbia Aircraft (which thereby become the serialized tracking element). Columbia also notes that, "naturally we regret the inconvenience to our customers but we feel confident that Kelly Aerospace will have a solution published quickly."

ANN will update the progress of this matter as details develop.

FMI: Read The FAA AD, Read The CASA AD

Advertisement

More News

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (05.09.24)

"Fly-by-wire flight, coupled with additional capability that are being integrated into ALFA, provide a great foundation for Bell to expand on its autonomous capabilities. This airc>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.09.24): Hold Procedure

Hold Procedure A predetermined maneuver which keeps aircraft within a specified airspace while awaiting further clearance from air traffic control. Also used during ground operatio>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.09.24)

Aero Linx: B-21 Raider The B-21 Raider will be a dual-capable penetrating strike stealth bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. The B-21 will form th>[...]

Airborne 05.03.24: Advanced Powerplant Solutions, PRA Runway Woes, Drone Racing

Also: Virgin Galactic, B-29 Doc to Allentown, Erickson Fire-Fighters Bought, FAA Reauthorization After dealing with a big letdown after the unexpected decision by Skyreach to disco>[...]

Airborne-NextGen 05.07.24: AI-Piloted F-16, AgEagle, 1st 2 WorldView Sats

Also: Skydio Chief, Uncle Sam Sues, Dash 7 magniX, OR UAS Accelerator US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was given a turn around the patch in the 'X-62A Variable In-flight>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC