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Rudder cable replacement requirement changed

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 3:53 am
by linzhiming
With the change of the DA40 type certificate holder to DAI in Canada, it seems that the rudder cable replacement requirement has changed (essentially reverted to the old requirement):

http://support.diamond-air.at/fileadmin ... dendum.pdf

The "on condition" requirement for the steel-based rudder cables has disappeared and there is now a general requirement to replace rudder cables every 5 years/3000 hours, which is not good news.

I wonder what the legal position now is. Based on this, would a strict interpretation of this mean that any aircraft that did not have any rudder cable replacement performed in the the last 5 years are now effectively immediately non-airworthy as the aircraft would no longer fulfil the airworthiness limitation of replacement of rudder cables every 5 years??

Wolfgang

Re: Rudder cable replacement requirement changed

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 2:36 pm
by smoss
I'm thinking this is merely an oversight in wording, and is referring to the non-stainless steel cables. Note that it also references section 5-10, which has not been changed, and still has "on condition" for the SS cables. Also, the addendum is only Transport Canada endorsed, not FAA endorsed.

Re: Rudder cable replacement requirement changed

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 8:15 pm
by Kyle
How would you know if you have stainless steel rudder cables or not? Was there a certain year that they started being used or was this a factory option?

Re: Rudder cable replacement requirement changed

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 10:20 pm
by Rich
Kyle wrote:How would you know if you have stainless steel rudder cables or not? Was there a certain year that they started being used or was this a factory option?
With a magnet?

Re: Rudder cable replacement requirement changed

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 2:02 pm
by CFIDave
For US N-registered aircraft, AMM Chapter 5 maintenance items are only recommended, whereas AMM Chapter 4 items must always be followed as "Airworthiness Limitations."

As a result of the Type Certificate moving to Canada, I don't think the Diamond Canada has changed any of the basic AMMs yet. The new AMM Addendum documents for different DA40 models only restate Chapter 4 Airworthiness Limitations.

Re: Rudder cable replacement requirement changed

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 5:03 pm
by Lance Murray
I just downloaded the latest manual. I did not see anything relating to rudder cables in Chapter 4 of the AMM. Could you tell us where you are reading this?

Re: Rudder cable replacement requirement changed

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 10:37 pm
by linzhiming
Lance Murray wrote:I just downloaded the latest manual. I did not see anything relating to rudder cables in Chapter 4 of the AMM. Could you tell us where you are reading this?
Hi Lance,

I was about to write that the link to the AWL list is in the link which I pasted in my first post above (http://support.diamond-air.at/fileadmin ... dendum.pdf) only to find out that the link seems to be broken now.

The link brought one to an addendum of the AMM which introduces a new AWL list (a chapter 4 list), which has many more items listed than the current AMM, including making the MSI structural inspection at 12 years an airworthiness limitation item whilst it was previously a chapter 5 item.

Let's see whether the link gets restored or whether a new addendum gets posted.

Wolfgang

Re: Rudder cable replacement requirement changed

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 10:39 pm
by linzhiming
CFIDave wrote:For US N-registered aircraft, AMM Chapter 5 maintenance items are only recommended, whereas AMM Chapter 4 items must always be followed as "Airworthiness Limitations."

As a result of the Type Certificate moving to Canada, I don't think the Diamond Canada has changed any of the basic AMMs yet. The new AMM Addendum documents for different DA40 models only restate Chapter 4 Airworthiness Limitations.
Agree on the first statement, however it was the Chapter 4 AWL list that was significantly expanded and also made the MSI structural inspection at 12 years an airworthiness limitation (chapter 4 item).

Based on that reading, they would be mandatory items for N-registered aircraft.

Wolfgang

Re: Rudder cable replacement requirement changed

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 10:41 pm
by linzhiming
smoss wrote:I'm thinking this is merely an oversight in wording, and is referring to the non-stainless steel cables. Note that it also references section 5-10, which has not been changed, and still has "on condition" for the SS cables. Also, the addendum is only Transport Canada endorsed, not FAA endorsed.
I am not sure an FAA endorsement is required. The DA40 AFM and AMM issued under EASA regulations didn't require/have an FAA endorsement as far as I know? Although the type certificate is now maintained under Canadian regulations, I assumed that the requirements would automatically apply to N-registered aircraft, similar to how new AFM and AMM documents issued under EASA regulations would apply?

Wolfgang

Re: Rudder cable replacement requirement changed

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 2:29 am
by blsewardjr
The current Chapter 4 states the following:

"THE AIRWORTHINESS LIMITATIONS SECTION IS FAA APPROVED AND SPECIFIES MAINTENANCE REQUIRED UNDER SECS. 43.16 AND 91.403 OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS UNLESS AN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM HAS BEEN FAA APPROVED."

I would think that whatever changes have been made as part of this addendum would also have to be approved for them to apply to N-registered aircraft.