Airworthiness Directive to mandate retirement of primary flight control cable assemblies

[horsefeathers]

http://www.casa.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WCMS:STANDARD::pc=PC_102364

 

Background

 

On 7 February 2014, CASA published NPRM 1303MS - Proposed Airworthiness Directive to Mandate Inspection or Retirement of Control Cable Assemblies with Terminals Manufactured from SAE-AISI 303 Se Stainless Steel. The purpose of this NFRM is to set out CASA's disposition of comments received to the NPRM, which invited public comment on proposed changes to control cable terminal inspections and control cable terminal service life.

 

.....

 

....

 

Please note that although the original proposed AD and NPRM only referred to SAE-AISI 303 Se terminals, the AD and NFRM now apply to both SAE-AISI 303 Se and SAE-AISI 304 stainless steel terminals on primary flight controls.

 

 

[DWF]

From ANNEX A Summary of responses to NPRM 1303MS - Proposed Airworthiness Directive to mandate inspection or retirement of control cable assemblies with terminals manufactured from SAE-AISI 303 Se stainless steel.

 

"RA-Aus have issued SB-002-15-08-2012 requiring aircraft with control cable assemblies constructed of SAE-AISI 303 Se stainless steel, that have total time in service of more than 15 years, to be replaced before next flight."

 

 

[AVOCET]

Are they the push pull type ?

 

 

[SDQDI]

Are they the push pull type ?

I don't think so Avocet. I know there was some notices for the Bowden style push pull cables but this reads like they mean wire cable with stainless crimps

 

 

[jetjr]

Not related to new AWB but Jabiru says in relation to the old AWB and their push pull Bowden cables

 

"CASA have released Airworthiness Bulletin AWB 27-001 Issue 3 regarding the inspection and replacement of certain stainless steel fittings used in aircraft control systems. Jabiru Aircraft do not use the exact fittings mentioned in this bulletin, however we use the same materials in a similar manner. The content of this bulletin is therefore applicable to Jabiru Aircraft and operators must comply with its requirements.

 

RA-Aus Safety Bulletin "SB-002-15-08-2012-All-Aircraft-Control-Cables" has also been released on the same subject, however the official RA-Aus position is that the RA-Aus Bulletin is NOT applicable to Jabiru Aircraft.

 

The RA-Aus Bulletin has different compliance and implementation requirements to the CASA Bulletin."

 

What to do?

 

 

[Yenn]

They are not Bowden cables, they are cables with connectors of Stainless Steel, usually fork or eye and often connected to turnbuckles. I don't know why RAAus say replace before next flight. CASA are saying if over 15 years, replace before Jan 1 2018. Otherwise replace before they are 15 years in service. I would imagine that a lot of the factory built aircraft could have that type of connectors and also homebuilt to aircraft like my Corby Starlet, which will have to be done in a couple of years time.

 

 

[pylon500]

This AD was probably brought about by this report;

 

http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2005/aair/aair200501905.aspx

 

Which includes this photo;

 

 

So the text is referring to swaged terminals, and possibly any of the 'thin' looking terminals typical to control systems.

 

 

or,

 

 

And so on......