Pilot DAR
21st Feb 2020, 20:21
For those who are involved with C 210’s, know that FAA AD 2020-03-16 comes into effect on March 09, and affects most 210s.
US2020_03_16_pdf (https://www.euroga.org/system/1/user_files/files/000/044/291/44291/366abcd13/original/US2020-03-16.pdf)
This addresses a serious concern, not new, but recently enhanced in importance. I have been involved with three 210’s so far, each affected by this defect, and it certainly justifies the required inspection.
Upon seeing the condition of one 210’s spar, I asked that the wings be removed, and they were the same day, pending rectification. The corrosion I observed on that plane was much worse than the damage found on the Australian 210 which lost a wing last spring, inciting this AD. That spar has since been replaced with a used spar, which I inspected, then went for the required visual and eddy current inspection, which it passed no defect, no problem. That replacement spar has been installed in that 210, with a process I am approving. It is a complex task, but we have found an excellent solution. Another airplane I know was removed from service as unrepairable (so far – no replacement spar available), and a third plane, I did an approval of a varied repair, though that was a P210, which is not listed on the AD – I don’t know why, it also had corrosion on the spar.
Australian report here:
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2019/aair/ao-2019-026/
In my opinion, this is a don’t overlook AD, there is zero alternate load path, should there be a crack in the spar flange – and we know that there has been at least one crack…
US2020_03_16_pdf (https://www.euroga.org/system/1/user_files/files/000/044/291/44291/366abcd13/original/US2020-03-16.pdf)
This addresses a serious concern, not new, but recently enhanced in importance. I have been involved with three 210’s so far, each affected by this defect, and it certainly justifies the required inspection.
Upon seeing the condition of one 210’s spar, I asked that the wings be removed, and they were the same day, pending rectification. The corrosion I observed on that plane was much worse than the damage found on the Australian 210 which lost a wing last spring, inciting this AD. That spar has since been replaced with a used spar, which I inspected, then went for the required visual and eddy current inspection, which it passed no defect, no problem. That replacement spar has been installed in that 210, with a process I am approving. It is a complex task, but we have found an excellent solution. Another airplane I know was removed from service as unrepairable (so far – no replacement spar available), and a third plane, I did an approval of a varied repair, though that was a P210, which is not listed on the AD – I don’t know why, it also had corrosion on the spar.
Australian report here:
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2019/aair/ao-2019-026/
In my opinion, this is a don’t overlook AD, there is zero alternate load path, should there be a crack in the spar flange – and we know that there has been at least one crack…