Stabilizers - Elevator Torque Tube Attach Fasteners - Inspection / Replacement
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AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Affected operators must perform an initial inspection of the elevator torque tube attach fasteners before the airplane accumulates 800 flight hours time-in-service or within 200 hours after the AD's effective date, whichever is later. If any fasteners are found loose or incorrectly installed, all 48 fasteners must be replaced. Inspection results must be reported to the FAA. Optional terminating actions are available to end the repetitive inspection requirement. The AD became effective on April 12, 2021.
Summary
Airworthiness Directive 2021-04-10 is a final rule issued by the FAA addressing certain Textron Aviation Inc. Model 208 and 208B airplanes. It requires repetitive inspections of the inboard and outboard elevator torque tube attach fasteners for looseness or incorrect installation, with mandatory replacement of all fasteners if any issues are found. The directive aims to prevent potential failure of elevator torque tube fasteners that could lead to loss of elevator control.
What changed
This new Airworthiness Directive introduces mandatory repetitive inspections of elevator torque tube attach fasteners on specified Textron Model 208 and 208B airplanes. It requires replacement of all 48 fasteners if any loose or incorrectly installed fasteners are detected, and includes optional terminating actions to end repetitive inspections. It also mandates reporting inspection results to the FAA and sets specific inspection intervals and thresholds based on aircraft time-in-service.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because loose or improperly installed elevator torque tube fasteners can compromise elevator control, risking flight safety. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to prevent potential in-flight control failures. Compliance teams need to track inspection schedules and reporting requirements to meet FAA mandates and maintain airworthiness.
Get the next one by email
New ADs and bulletins for Textron Aviation 208 (Caravan I), Aviation 208 and Aviation 208B, summarized like this page, every Monday.