The FAA has issued an Emergency AD, (AD) 2003-19-51, for the attention of all owners and operators of certain Bombardier Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700 & 701) and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) series airplanes.

Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the airworthiness authority for Canada, recently notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on certain Bombardier Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700 & 701) and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) series airplanes. The lower panel of the door of the right-hand main landing gear (MLG) of a Model CL-600-2C10 series airplane departed the airplane during landing. The airplane was able to land safely, though the departed panel damaged the trailing edge flap and punctured the rear fuselage near the floor level, below the engine pylon.

Investigation revealed cracking of the hinge lug of the door panel, which led to detachment of adjacent fasteners and increased loading on the remaining fasteners. This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the lower panel of the MLG door, the lower panel’s departure from the airplane, and consequent damage to airplane structure, which could adversely affect the airplane’s continued safe flight and landing.

The left- and right-hand MLG doors on certain Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700 & 701) and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) series airplanes are identical to the affected right-hand MLG door on the affected Model CL-600-2C10 series airplane. Therefore, the MLG doors on all of these airplanes may be subject to the same unsafe condition.

TCAA has issued Canadian airworthiness directive CF-2003-23R1, dated September 16, 2003, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Canada.

FMI: www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAD.nsf/NewEmergencyAD?OpenView