The FAA has issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) for owners and operators of de Havilland Canada DHC–3 Otters in response to multiple recent reports of cracks in the left-hand elevator auxiliary spar.
The emergency AD affects turbine de Havilland DHC-3 Otters. (Not the accident aircraft.) [Courtesy: Julie Boatman]
Key Takeaways:
The FAA has issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) for de Havilland Canada DHC–3 Otters due to multiple recent reports of cracks in the left-hand elevator auxiliary spar.
The AD mandates repetitive detailed visual inspections for cracks, corrosion, and previous repairs on the left-hand elevator auxiliary spar, and replacement of the spar assembly if necessary.
This immediate action is deemed necessary to prevent potential elevator flutter and failure, which could lead to a loss of aircraft control.
The emergency AD was issued approximately one month after a fatal DHC-3 Turbine Otter crash that killed 10 people, providing critical context for the urgency of the directive.
The FAA has issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) for owners and operators of de Havilland Canada DHC–3 Otters in response to multiple recent reports of cracks in the left-hand elevator auxiliary spar.
According to the AD, the FAA analysis of the reports indicates immediate AD action is warranted.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
