AD 2022-13-08 Requires Doing An Inspection To Determine The Part Number And Serial Number Of The NWS Hydraulic Motor

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-401 and -402 airplanes.

This AD was prompted by reports of nose wheel steering (NWS) hydraulic motors jamming during pushback or towing. This AD requires doing an inspection to determine the part number and serial number of the NWS hydraulic motor, and re-identifying or replacing the NWS hydraulic motor if necessary. This AD also prohibits the installation of certain NWS hydraulic motors. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective August 10, 2022.

Supplementary InformaTION: Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation authority for Canada, has issued TCCA AD CF-2021-28, dated August 5, 2021 (also referred to after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-401 and -402 airplanes. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0394.  The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-401 and 402 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on April 6, 2022 (87 FR 19813). The NPRM was prompted by reports of NWS hydraulic motors jamming during pushback or towing. The NPRM proposed to require doing an inspection to determine the part number and serial number of the NWS hydraulic motor, and re-identifying or replacing the NWS hydraulic motor if necessary. The NPRM also proposed to prohibit the installation of certain NWS hydraulic motors. The FAA is issuing this AD to address a possible NWS hydraulic motor jam, which could lead to a runway excursion and loss of controllability of the airplane. See the MCAI for additional background information.

FMI: www.regulations.gov