SAIB ACE-98-39 —

No. ACE-98-39 July 6, 1998

Published by: FAA, AFS-610, P.O. Box 26460, Oklahoma City, OK 73125 This is issued for informational purposes only and any recommendation for corrective action is not mandatory.

Introduction The purpose of this Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) is to inform registered owners/operators of deHavilland DH 82A and DH 83 Moth aircraft of a failure of the aft lateral fuselage tie rod.

Background British Aerospace reports that during routine maintenance on a DH 82 aircraft, it was discovered the aft lateral fuselage tie rod had sheared at the spar attachment fitting. The failure was found to be the result of fatigue cracking at the threaded root of the rod. The same inspection found the forward lateral tie rod had been distorted. The distorted tie rod had been fabricated from material of an incorrect specification which had a lower tensile strength and may have contributed to the failure of the aft tie rod.

Recommendation The FAA is recommending, but not requiring, that owners/operators of deHavilland DH 82A and DH 83 Moth airplanes replace the lateral tie rods and inspect the spar joint fittings as detailed by Item 1 of the Accomplishment Instructions of British Aerospace Technical News Sheet CT (Moth) No. 29. Item 2 of the Accomplishment Instructions provides the inspection procedure that should be followed during an annual inspection or after a heavy landing.

Copies of Technical News Sheet CT (Moth) No. 29 Issue 1 can be obtained from British Aerospace Military Aircraft and Aerostructures, Ltd., Chadderton Site, Greengate, Middleton, Manchester, M24 1SA, England.

For Further Information Contact:

Mr. Roger P. Chudy, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, ACE-112, 1201 Walnut, Suite 900, Kansas City, MO 64106, telephone: (816) 426-6934, fax: (816) 426-2169