{"id":"F2005L02417","name":"AD/CESSNA 400/102 Amdt 4 - Elevator Forward Spar","slug":"ad-cessna-400-102-amdt-4-elevator-forward-spar","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":36943,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2005L02417-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Cessna 400 Series Aeroplanes","sectionType":"division","heading":"Cessna 400 Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Cessna 400 Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/CESSNA 400/102 Amdt 4 | Elevator Forward Spar | 10/2005 |\n| ------------------------ | --------------------- | ------- |\n\n| Applicability: | Model 425, serial numbers 425-0002 through 425-0236; Model 441, serial numbers 441-0001 through 441-0362, and 441-698.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |\n| -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | 1. Inspect the elevator forward spar, near the outboard hinge bracket, in accordance with Cessna Service Bulletin (SB) CQB 93-1, Para. 1.2. Inspect the rivets which attach the outboard hinge bracket to the upper and lower elevator skin for evidence of shearing.3. Lubricate the elevator outboard hinge bearing in accordance with Cessna Service News Letter SNL86-28.Note: Rivets may be sheared even though the heads and tails of the rivets do not appear loose. Check by observing for rivet movement while gentle up and down loading is applied at tip of elevator.                                                                                                                                                                              |\n| Compliance:    | 1. Inspect in accordance with Requirement 1 within 50 hours time in service after 27 April 1995, or within 100 hours time in service since last inspected in accordance with this Directive or AD/CESSNA 400/99, whichever occurs later. Thereafter, inspect at intervals not to exceed 110 hours time in service.2. Initially inspect in accordance with Requirement 2 within 100 hours time in service after 27 April 1995. Re-inspect at intervals not to exceed 110 hours time in service.3. Lubricate the outboard elevator hinge in accordance with Requirement 3 at intervals not to exceed 610 hours time in service or 18 months, whichever occurs first.The compliance times of the previous issue of this Directive remain unchanged by this issue. |\n|                | This Amendment becomes effective on 29 September 2005.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |\n\n| Background: | Cracking has been found in the elevator forward spar in the area of the outboard hinge bracket. The condition may be aggravated by stiff elevator hinge bearings, however, cracks may otherwise still occur.Amendment 1 added the Reims/Cessna F406.Amendment 2 incorporated the repeat inspections of cancelled AD/CESSNA 400/99, at a reduced frequency, and extended the repeat inspections to cover models F406 and 425.Amendment 3 was issued as a result of the transfer of Model F406 aircraft to the Reims Aviation F406 Series.Amendment 4 is issued to facilitate scheduling of maintenance with the manufacturer’s schedule of maintenance.Amendment 3 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 1 November 2001.Amendment 2 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 27 April 1995.The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 30 June 1993. |\n| ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Villiers  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n8 August 2005","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/CESSNA 400/102 Amdt 4","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/CESSNA 400/102 Amdt 4","content":"## AD/CESSNA 400/102 Amdt 4","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Elevator Forward Spar","sectionType":"part","heading":"Elevator Forward Spar","content":"## Elevator Forward Spar","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"10/2005","sectionType":"part","heading":"10/2005","content":"## 10/2005","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original directive (1993) applied to a narrower set of aircraft. Amendment 1 expanded scope to include Reims/Cessna F406 aircraft. Amendment 2 further expanded to incorporate repeat inspections from a cancelled directive (AD/CESSNA 400/99) and extended coverage to models F406 and 425. Amendment 3 then removed F406 aircraft when they were transferred to a separate Reims Aviation F406 Series directive. Amendment 4 (current version) narrows scope again by removing F406 entirely and adjusting only maintenance scheduling for the remaining 425 and 441 models. The directive has oscillated in scope but currently focuses on the core safety issue for the original Cessna models."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple compliance timeframes based on aircraft history (50 hours vs 100 hours depending on prior inspections)","Cross-references to external documents (Cessna Service Bulletin CQB 93-1, Service News Letter SNL86-28, and previous AD/CESSNA 400/99)","Dual-interval maintenance requirements (flight hours OR calendar time for lubrication)","Technical aviation terminology requiring domain knowledge (elevator spar, hinge bracket, time in service)","Amendment history tracking (4 versions with changing applicability, including removal of F406 model)","Specific serial number ranges for applicability rather than blanket model coverage"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive requires owners/operators of specific Cessna 400-series aircraft (Models 425 and 441, listed serial ranges) to inspect and maintain the elevator forward spar and hinge area—including rivet integrity and periodic hinge lubrication—to detect and stop cracking that could cause loss of pitch control. It’s a mandatory safety action; the recent amendment only aligns inspection scheduling with the manufacturer’s maintenance program without changing the underlying safety requirements."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The directive’s scope has expanded since the original 1993 issue: subsequent amendments added additional models (including Reims/Cessna F406 and Model 425), incorporated repeat inspections from a cancelled AD and extended inspection coverage to more types. Amendment 4 itself primarily facilitates alignment with the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule but does not alter the substantive compliance intervals from the previous issue."},"complexity_factors":["Applicability limited to specific serial-number ranges across multiple models (425 and 441), increasing tracking burden","Multiple technical references to manufacturer documents (Cessna SB CQB 93-1 and SNL86-28) that operators must follow","Staggered and conditional compliance timings (e.g. within 50 hours after a specific past date, or within 100 hours since last inspected, then recurring intervals)","Different interval metrics (flight hours and calendar months) requiring dual scheduling systems","Amendment history that adds and reassigns models and inspection obligations (Amendments 1–4), complicating legacy compliance","A technical detection difficulty noted (rivets can be sheared without appearing loose), increasing inspection care and training needs","Explicit alignment with manufacturer maintenance scheduling (Amendment 4) introduces coordination with aftermarket/service schedules","Delegated regulatory issuance (CASA delegate) with discretionary procedural language in compliance timing"],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires operators of certain Cessna 425 and 441 aeroplanes (listed by serial number) to inspect the elevator forward spar near the outboard hinge bracket, check for sheared rivets, and lubricate the outboard hinge bearing, using Cessna service documents. It sets recurring inspection and lubrication intervals. Operators pay for the inspections and maintenance and must schedule work to meet the stated intervals (Requirements 1–3; Compliance). The stated aim is to prevent spar cracking that can be worsened by stiff hinge bearings."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-400-102-amdt-4-elevator-forward-spar","history":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-400-102-amdt-4-elevator-forward-spar/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-400-102-amdt-4-elevator-forward-spar/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-400-102-amdt-4-elevator-forward-spar/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-400-102-amdt-4-elevator-forward-spar/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-cessna-400-102-amdt-4-elevator-forward-spar/documents"}}