EASA SIB CASA-2020-08
De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. DHC-8-400 Series Aeroplanes - Forward Cowl Door Departure from the Aircraft on Take-Off
Summary
The Transport Canada Civil Aviation Safety Alert CASA 2020-08 addresses the issue of forward cowl door departures on De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. DHC-8-400 Series (Q400) aeroplanes during take-off. This alert highlights maintenance-related causes leading to the loss of the forward cowl door, which has resulted in damage to the aircraft's wing leading edge, wing skin, and vertical tail structure. The document targets owners, operators, and maintainers of the Dash 8-400 series to prevent such occurrences.
What Changed
CASA 2020-08 introduces new maintenance instructions via De Havilland's All Operator Message No. 870, including a new Aircraft Maintenance Manual task for proper cowl door closing, a Service Bulletin 84-11-46, placards illustrating correct cowl door closure, and rework modifications to improve latch engagement. These measures aim to ensure the forward cowl door is securely latched and prevent it from departing during take-off.
Why It Matters
This alert is critical for aviation professionals as unsecured forward cowl doors can cause significant structural damage and safety risks during take-off. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams must understand and implement the updated procedures to maintain aircraft airworthiness and avoid costly repairs or safety incidents. Proper latch engagement is essential to ensure flight safety and regulatory compliance.
What To Do
Owners, operators, and maintainers of Dash 8-400 aeroplanes should review and implement the actions outlined in De Havilland's All Operator Message No. 870, including following the updated maintenance manual tasks, applying the new placards, and performing the latch mechanism rework. They should also stay in contact with Transport Canada Civil Aviation for further guidance and ensure all maintenance personnel are trained on the new procedures. No specific compliance deadline is stated in the document.