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 has issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) for de Havilland DHC-3 Otters, citing potential tail assembly corrosion that could lead to structural failure and loss of aircraft control.
The timing of the FAA's AD is under scrutiny, as Transport Canada issued a similar directive over four years ago, and the FAA's action followed a recent fatal DHC-3 crash that killed 10 people.
The FAA stated it had coordinated with Transport Canada, proposed a rule earlier this year, and issued the emergency AD as an interim measure while a more permanent rule is processed.
The AD mandates repetitive visual inspections of the aircraft's left-hand elevator auxiliary spar for corrosion and cracks, requiring replacement if necessary.

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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.