Commonwealth legislation

AD/CESSNA 400/94 - Aileron Hinge Assembly

RepealedCTH

This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Collection

legislative instrument

Plain English Summary

1/10 complexity

What this directive does

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is a legally binding safety order requiring owners of specific Cessna aircraft to modify the aileron hinge assembly — the mechanical pivot that allows the wing control surfaces to move.

Who it affects

Owners and operators of Cessna 404 aircraft with serial numbers 404-0001 through 404-0859.

What must be done

The aileron hinge assembly must be modified according to the manufacturer's technical instructions (Cessna Service Bulletin MEB 85-8 and Service Information Letter ME 83-25). The original compliance deadline was 31 December 1988.

Why it matters

The original hinge design made it difficult to install the pivot bolt correctly without overtightening it. This overstress caused the hinge brackets to crack and fail prematurely. In one incident, an aileron jammed inside the wing structure, nearly causing the aircraft to crash. The modification prevents this potentially catastrophic mechanical failure.

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Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in AD/CESSNA 400/94 - Aileron Hinge Assembly.

AD/CESSNA 400/94 - Aileron Hinge Assembly

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COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY

SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

View image in the official source Cessna 400 Series Aeroplanes

AD/CESSNA 400/94 Aileron Hinge Assembly 7/88

Applicability: Cessna 404 with S/Nos 404-0001 to 404-0859 inclusive. Requirement: Modify in accordance with Cessna SB MEB 85-8 and SIL ME 83-25. Compliance: Not later than 31 December 1988.

Background: The original aileron hinge assembly design made it difficult to correctly install and secure the pivot bolt without overtorqueing. The resultant overstressing of the hinge brackets has led to their premature failure in a number of cases, and in one instance the aileron jammed in the wing structure, nearly causing loss of the aircraft. The manufacturer has redesigned the hinge assembly to help prevent further problems.

Source text

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.