FAA Under Scrutiny for Timing of DHC-3 AD

Transport Canada issued a similar airworthiness directive more than four years ago.

Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 03:52 PM ET

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The FAA released the emergency AD for de Havilland Canada DHC–3 Otters last week, four year after Transport Canada issued a similar AD. [Courtesy: Stephen Yeates]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) for de Havilland DHC-3 Otters to address potential tail assembly corrosion, mandating inspections and possible replacement of elevator auxiliary spars to prevent structural failure and loss of control.
The timing of the FAA's emergency AD is under scrutiny, as it was released four years after Transport Canada issued a similar directive and followed a recent fatal crash of a DHC-3 Otter in Mutiny Bay, Washington, which killed all 10 on board.
The FAA defended its timing by stating it had coordinated with Transport Canada, had proposed a rule earlier in the year, and issued the emergency AD as an interim action.

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The timing of the FAA’s emergency airworthiness directive (AD) addressing possible corrosion in tail assemblies of de Havilland Canada DHC–3 Otters is under scrutiny from industry leaders.

The FAA released the emergency AD last week. Transport Canada issued a similar AD more than four years ago. AD CF-2018-04 was issued by Transport Canada on January 19, 2018, in response to corrosion found on DHC-3 tail assemblies. The AD established a requirement for inspecting the aircraft’s elevators for corrosion, which can lead to structural failure and result in an uncommanded nose-down pitch moment.