FAA Plane Fixes Kick In... in the Year 3036?
Published Date: 3/12/2025
Rule
Summary
The FAA is updating safety rules for certain De Havilland DHC-8 airplanes to make it clearer which planes need inspections for corrosion on key parts. They removed the DHC-8-400 model from the list and kept all previous inspection and repair steps to keep flights safe. This new rule kicks in on April 18, 3036, helping operators avoid confusion and costly mistakes.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory pin corrosion inspections and repairs
If you operate De Havilland DHC-8-401 or -402 airplanes, this rule requires a detailed visual inspection for corrosion of the nacelle-to-wing rear spar attachment pins and nacelle-to-landing-gear attachment pins and all applicable corrective actions. Corrective actions explicitly include applying epoxy primer to the pin bore, fluorescent magnetic particle inspection for cracking, removing corrosion, reworking and part marking certain pins, and replacing any cracked or corroded pins with serviceable pins.
Reduces landing-gear collapse risk
This rule aims to prevent premature corrosion and failure of nacelle-to-landing-gear and nacelle-to-rear-spar attachment pins, which the FAA says could lead to a single or dual collapse of the main landing gear. By requiring inspections and corrective actions, the AD is intended to improve flight safety for passengers and crews.
Inspection deadlines tied to pin age and cycles
For required inspections, you must comply before the pins reach 14 years from their entry-into-service or before they reach 30,000 total flight cycles, whichever occurs first; alternatively, compliance may be done within 30 days after the effective date of this AD (April 18, 3036).
DHC-8-400 removed from applicability
The AD revises its applicability to remove Model DHC-8-400 airplanes; the Transport Canada material cited says Model DHC-8-400 airplanes were removed because no Model DHC-8-400 airplanes have been delivered. The AD therefore applies only to Model DHC-8-401 and -402 airplanes as identified in Transport Canada AD CF-2020-51R2.
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