FAA Updates Safety Checks for De Havilland Airplane Corrosion Issues
Published Date: 3/12/2025
Rule
Summary
The FAA updated safety rules for certain De Havilland DHC-8-400 series airplanes to make it clearer which planes need specific inspections for corrosion on key parts. They removed the DHC-8-400 model from the list and kept all previous safety checks in place. Operators should act quickly to keep these planes safe, but no big new costs are expected.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
DHC-8-400 Removed From Inspection List
The rule removes Model DHC-8-400 airplanes from the list of airplanes subject to the corrosion inspections. If you operate DHC-8-400 aircraft, you are no longer required by this AD to perform the specified nacelle-to-wing rear spar and nacelle-to-landing-gear pin corrosion inspections that applied under the prior AD.
Inspections Continue for DHC-8-401/-402
The rule continues to require inspecting for corrosion of the nacelle-to-wing rear spar attachment pins and the nacelle-to-landing-gear attachment pins, and doing all applicable corrective actions, for the applicable DHC-8-401 and DHC-8-402 airplanes. If you operate those models, you must keep performing those inspections and fixes as required by the AD.
Clarified Which Planes Need Which Checks
The AD clarifies which specific airplanes are subject to each required action because some operators were unable to identify applicability under the previous AD. If you operate affected De Havilland airplanes, the clearer rules make it easier to know which inspections and corrective actions you must perform.
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