Aircraft
Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
NE-09-51
September 23, 2009
This is information only. Recommendations
aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin alerts you, owners,
operators, and certificated repair facilities of Avia Propeller Ltd.
V410, V500A, V503, V503A, V503AP, V503P, V506, and V520 propellers,
that Avia Propeller Ltd. has issued Service Bulletin (SB) Number 6,
Issue F, copy attached. This SB specifies inspection of the blades of
these propellers for fatigue cracks that may be initiated by an impact
on the blade surface. These propellers are known to be installed on,
but not limited to, Zlin Z-42M, Z-42MU, Z-142, Z-43, Z-50M, Let
Kunovice Ae 45, Ae-145, Z-37, Z-37A, L-200A, L-200D, and Orličan L-40
aircraft. At this time, the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe
condition that would warrant airworthiness directive (AD) action under
Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 39. At this
time, these propellers do not have a U.S. type certificate.
Background
A V500A propeller blade, while operating on an aircraft on the ground,
failed due to a fatigue crack initiated by a blade impact by an unknown
object. In response to this event, the European Aviation Safety Agency
issued AD 2009-0059, copy attached. That AD mandates a visual
inspection before further flight for cracks of Avia Propeller Ltd.
V410, V500A, V503, V503A, V503AP, V503P, V506, and V520 propeller
blades, using Avia SB Number 6. That AD also mandates repetitive visual
inspections of the propeller blades for cracks until the propeller is
overhauled.
Recommendations
Due to the potential consequences, we strongly recommend that you:
Initially inspect before
further flight all Avia Propeller Ltd. V410, V500A, V503, V503A,
V503AP, V503P, V506, and V520 propeller blades, using Avia Propeller
Ltd. SB Number 6, Issue F, unless already done within the last 10
flight hours; and
Repetitively inspect Avia
Propeller Ltd. V410, V500A, V503, V503A, V503AP, V503P, V506, and V520
propeller blades within every additional 10 flight hours or 6 months
from the last inspection, whichever occurs first, using Avia Propeller
Ltd. SB Number 6, Issue F, until the propeller is overhauled.
Replace any propeller blade found cracked, before further flight.
For Further Information Contact
Terry Fahr, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Boston Aircraft Certification
Office, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone:
781-238-7155; fax: 781-238-7170; e-mail: terry.fahr@faa.gov.