EASA AD CF-2022-02
Stabilizers — Horizontal Stabilizer Lower Centre Skin Panel — Corrosion Damage
Summary
Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-2022-02 addresses corrosion damage on the horizontal stabilizer lower centre skin panel of De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited model DHC-8-401 and -402 aeroplanes, serial numbers 4001 and 4003 through 4549. This directive mandates inspection and corrective actions to ensure structural integrity of the horizontal stabilizer. The directive references specific service bulletins for inspection and repair procedures.
What Changed
CF-2022-02 introduces mandatory inspections of the horizontal stabilizer lower centre skin panel for corrosion within 8000 flight hours or 48 months from the effective date. It requires rework or replacement of the panel if corrosion is found, based on allowable repair limits. The directive also approves previous service bulletin revisions and specific repair drawings as compliant methods.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for maintaining the structural integrity of the horizontal stabilizer, preventing potential safety risks due to corrosion-induced weakening. Operators and maintenance organizations must comply to avoid grounding aircraft and ensure continued airworthiness. Compliance helps avoid unexpected failures and costly repairs by addressing corrosion early.
What To Do
Operators of affected DHC-8-401 and -402 aircraft must inspect the horizontal stabilizer lower centre skin panel for corrosion within 8000 flight hours or 48 months from 2022-02-11. If corrosion is detected, they must perform rework or replace the panel following approved service bulletins or repair drawings before further flight. Contact De Havilland Aircraft of Canada for repair instructions if corrosion exceeds allowable limits.
Your fleet's weekly compliance brief
AI-summarized regulatory changes, compliance deadlines, and action items — filtered to your aircraft, every Monday.
AI-generated summary from official EASA source document. Always verify against the original.