{"id":"F2006L01064","name":"AD/CONVAIR/18 - Nose Landing Gear Retract Fork","slug":"ad-convair-18-nose-landing-gear-retract-fork","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":58372,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006L01064-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Kelowna Flightcraft (General Dynamics/Co","sectionType":"division","heading":"Kelowna Flightcraft (General Dynamics/Convair) Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Kelowna Flightcraft (General Dynamics/Convair) Series Aeroplanes\n\n| AD/CONVAIR/18 | Nose Landing Gear Retract Fork | 5/2006 |\n| ------------- | ------------------------------ | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | Model 240, 340, and 440 series aircraft and all such model aircraft converted to turbopropeller power; with Menasco part number 523526 R/L nose landing gear (NLG) retract fork installed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |\n| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| Requirement:   | Inspect NLG retract forks, Menasco part number 523526 R/L, for cracks in the 0.190 (+0, -.030)-inch radius at the upper end of the fork shank diameter using dye penetrant method or magnetic particle method; and dimensionally inspect for a 0.190 (+0, -.030)-inch radius. Any fork having less than 0.160-inch minimum radius is required to have the radius hand reworked to a 0.190 (+0, -.030)-inch radius (Care should be taken that the adjacent 1.2500/1.2495-inch diameter is not undercut). Refinish the reworked area in accordance with Convair Service Airgram No.179, dated 18 June 1956.If cracks are detected in either half of the fork assembly, remove and replace the complete fork assembly with a new fork assembly before further flight.The repetitive inspections required by this Directive may be terminated when the fork assembly has been reworked to the 0.190 (+0, -.030)-inch radius, and has been shot peened and refinished in accordance with Convair Service Airgram No.179.Note: FAA AD 64-18-04 Amdt 778 Part 507 refers. |\n| Compliance:    | Unless the initial inspection is already accomplished; inspect within 800 hours time in service after 11 May 2006, unless accomplished within the last 200 hours time in service. Inspect thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1,000 hours time in service.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |\n|                | This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 11 May 2006.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |\n| Background:    | The FAA requires certain actions to detect cracking and possible failure of the nose landing gear retract fork.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nDavid Villiers  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n31 March 2006","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/CONVAIR/18","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/CONVAIR/18","content":"## AD/CONVAIR/18","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Nose Landing Gear Retract Fork","sectionType":"part","heading":"Nose Landing Gear Retract Fork","content":"## Nose Landing Gear Retract Fork","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"5/2006","sectionType":"part","heading":"5/2006","content":"## 5/2006","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":false,"description":"This is a standard, targeted Airworthiness Directive addressing a specific safety-critical component failure mode. The scope remains precisely limited to the identified defect in the specified aircraft fleet, consistent with the original purpose of preventing nose landing gear failure."},"complexity_factors":["Technical aviation terminology throughout (e.g., \"dye penetrant method\", \"magnetic particle method\", \"shot peened\")","Precise dimensional tolerances requiring interpretation (0.190 (+0, -.030)-inch radius, 1.2500/1.2495-inch diameter)","Conditional compliance structure with multiple time-based triggers (800 hours after effective date, 200 hours lookback, 1,000 hour intervals)","Cross-reference to external technical document (Convair Service Airgram No.179) and foreign regulatory action (FAA AD 64-18-04)","Specific part number applicability requiring technical verification (Menasco P/N 523526 R/L)","Termination condition for repetitive inspections contingent on specific rework and surface treatment"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires operators of Convair 240/340/440 series aircraft (and turboprop conversions) fitted with Menasco nose landing gear fork P/N 523526 R/L to inspect and measure the fork radius for cracks and undersized dimensions, repeat inspections every 1,000 flight hours until rework and shot‑peening are completed, and replace any cracked assemblies. It addresses the risk of nose‑gear failure or collapse during landing or taxi."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive applies only to Convair 240/340/440 series aircraft (including turboprop conversions) fitted with Menasco part number 523526 R/L and implements the FAA’s prescribed actions to detect and remediate fork cracking. The text confines requirements to that part/model set and to the inspection/rework/replacement and finishing sequence referenced; it does not expand applicability beyond the FAA-referenced measures."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability tied to specific aircraft models and a single part number (Menasco P/N 523526 R/L), requiring operators to check configuration before compliance.","Precise dimensional tolerances and acceptance criteria (0.190 (+0, -.030)-inch radius; <0.160-inch triggers rework) increase measurement and judgement demands.","Multiple approved non‑destructive inspection methods (dye penetrant or magnetic particle) introduce variability in detection and equipment/operator skill requirements.","Rework instructions include hand reworking while avoiding undercutting an adjacent 1.2500/1.2495‑inch diameter, plus shot peening and refinishing per an external Convair Service Airgram (No.179), creating interdependent procedural steps and reliance on an older external document.","Clear pass/fail action (replace assembly if cracks are found) creates immediate material cost and downtime risk for operators.","Staged compliance timing: initial inspection window (within 800 hours unless done within prior 200 hours) and recurrent 1,000‑hour intervals add scheduling and tracking burden.","Termination condition for repetitive inspections requires completion of a specific rework plus shot peening and refinishing sequence, linking ongoing compliance to a one‑off (but nontrivial) corrective action.","Cross‑reference to FAA AD 64‑18‑04 and dependency on manufacturer service material increases regulatory linkage and potential for interpretation differences."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires regular inspection and, where necessary, hand rework, shot‑peening, refinishing or replacement of the nose landing gear retract fork (Menasco P/N 523526 R/L) on Convair/General Dynamics Model 240, 340 and 440 series aircraft to specified dimensional and finish standards to detect and fix cracking. It affects owners/operators of those aircraft; they must arrange and pay for inspections and any corrective work, and must meet the regulator’s prescribed compliance intervals."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-convair-18-nose-landing-gear-retract-fork","history":"/api/acts/ad-convair-18-nose-landing-gear-retract-fork/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-convair-18-nose-landing-gear-retract-fork/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-convair-18-nose-landing-gear-retract-fork/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-convair-18-nose-landing-gear-retract-fork/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-convair-18-nose-landing-gear-retract-fork/documents"}}