The FAA has opened the comment period on a nose-gear airworthiness directive (AD) for the Tecnam P2006T piston twin that follows onto a mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) initiated under EASA in March 2019.
The proposed AD and MCAI address an unsafe condition driven by a manufacturing defect in the nose landing-gear (NLG) piston tube. It requires replacement of the defective tube. Tecnam issued a service bulletin to address the problem.
“Failures of NLG piston tubes P/N 26-8-1408-1 were reported during ground operations,” the MCAI stated. “Subsequent investigation determined a deficiency in the NLG piston tube manufacturing process. It was also determined that only a specific batch is affected by this defect.”
The condition could lead to a failure of the NLG tube, which may cause a loss of control on the ground, or during or after landing. Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A. Service Bulletin No. SB 288-CS-Ed 1, Revision 1, from December 22, 2017, provides information about installing NLG piston tube kit number SB 288-1.
The defect is projected to affect 59 aircraft, with a cost to rectify the condition at $1,540 per airplane.
The FAA asks that users and operators submit any comments by October 12, 2021.
