Service Bulletin No. 32-17M

Page 1 of 6

CAGE: K0654

Cheltenham Road, Gloucester, GL2 9QH, England

Telephone: +44 (0) 1452 712424 Fax: +44 (0) 1452 713821

SERVICE BULLETIN

Messier-Dowty Ltd

 ©MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY 2014 (AND SUBSEQUENT REVISION PAGE DATES)

This document and all information contained herein is the sole property of Messier-Bugatti-Dowty. No intellectual property rights are 

granted by the delivery of this document or the disclosure of its content. This document shall not be reproduced to a third party without the 

express written consent of Messier-Bugatti-Dowty.

Safran and Messier-Bugatti names are marks owned respectively by Safran and Messier-Bugatti-Dowty companies. The mark Dowty is 

used under licence.

LANDING GEAR - NOSE LANDING GEAR - INSPECTION OF SLIDING TUBE

1. Planning Information

A. Effectivity

Aircraft affected: Shorts Skyvan - All Marks

Unit Affected: Nose Landing Gear

Part/Type Nos.: EH1833, EH1839 and EH1887 (Nose Landing Gear)

which includes

200621619 and EH183345 (Sliding Tube)

NOTE: This Service Bulletin is applicable to NLG Sliding Tubes installed on aircraft 

and held as spares.

B. Concurrent Requirements

(1) None.

C. Reason

(1) A fracture of a Nose Landing Gear Sliding Tube has occurred due to fatigue cracking.

D. Description

(1) Messier-Dowty Limited tells you that this Service Bulletin includes details to do a one 

off visual inspection and a one off fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) for cracking of 

the Nose Landing Gear Sliding Tube.

E. Compliance

(1) It is expected that the contents of this Service Bulletin will be made MANDATORY by 

an EASA Airworthiness Directive.

(2) Messier-Dowty Limited recommends that you do the detailed visual inspection at or 

before 1 month from the issue date of this Service Bulletin.

(3) Messier-Dowty Limited recommends that you do the fluorescent penetrant inspection 

(FPI) at or before 3 months from the issue date of this Service Bulletin.

F. Approval

(1) The technical content of this Service Bulletin has been approved under the authority of 

the EASA Design Organisation Approval No. EASA.21J.068.

Nov 1/2014
Service Bulletin No. 32-17M

Page 2

SERVICE BULLETIN

Messier-Dowty Ltd

G. Manpower

(1) Messier-Dowty Limited make an estimate that it will take approximately 0.5 man-hours 

to do the detailed visual inspection and 4 man-hours to do the fluorescent penetrant 

inspection of this Service Bulletin. The elapsed time will be 0.5 hours for the detailed 

visual inspection and 4 hours for the fluorescent penetrant inspection. 

NOTE: It is assumed that the equipment has been placed in a maintenance 

state. The man-hour estimates do not include preparation, close out or 

administrative functions.

H. Weight and Balance

(1) None.

I. References

(1) Messier-Dowty Limited Component Maintenance Manual, 32-20-77.

(2) Messier-Dowty Standard Practices Manual, 20-00-10.

(3) Skyvan Maintenance Manual. 

(4) Shorts Service Bulletin 32-74.

J. Other Publications Affected

(1) None.

2. Material Information

A. Material - Price and Availability

(1) None.

B. Material Necessary for Each Unit

(1) Refer to Appendix A.

3. Accomplishment Instructions

A. Procedure for detailed visual inspection of the external diameter of the Sliding Tube:

(1) Make sure the aircraft is in a safe condition: refer to the Skyvan Maintenance Manual.

(2) If necessary to view the area of inspection on the Sliding Tube outside diameter (refer 

to Figure 1) raise the aircraft nose (to extend the Sliding Tube) using a suitable jack: 

refer to the Skyvan Maintenance Manual (Chapter 7, Para 2).

(3) Fully clean the area of inspection on the Sliding Tube outside diameter, remove all 

grease and dirt: refer to CLEANING in CMM 32-20-77.

(4) Perform a detailed visual inspection under 10 x magnification for cracking of the Sliding 

Tube outside diameter in the area of inspection shown in Figure 1.

(5) Report any inspection findings to MBD CSC (e-mail to:pse.glostec@safranmbd.com

and aogcsc@safranmbd.com) and wait to receive instruction before next flight.

(6) If necessary, lower the aircraft and remove the jacks: refer to the Skyvan Maintenance 

Manual.

B. Procedure for fluorescent penetrant inspection of the external diameter of the Sliding Tube:

(1) Make sure the aircraft is in a safe condition: refer to the Skyvan Maintenance Manual.

Nov 1/2014
Service Bulletin No. 32-17M

Page 3

SERVICE BULLETIN

Messier-Dowty Ltd

(2) If necessary to view the area of inspection on the Sliding Tube outside diameter (refer 

to Figure 1) raise the aircraft nose (to extend the Sliding Tube) using a suitable jack: 

refer to the Skyvan Maintenance Manual (Chapter 7, Para 2).

(3) Fully clean the area of inspection on the Sliding Tube outside diameter, remove all 

grease and dirt: refer to CLEANING in CMM 32-20-77.

(4) Perform the fluorescent penetrant inspection procedure in Appendix A for cracking of 

the Sliding Tube outside diameter in the area of inspection shown in Figure 1.

(5) Report any inspection findings to MBD CSC (e-mail to:pse.glostec@safranmbd.com

and aogcsc@safranmbd.com) and wait to receive instruction before next flight.

(6) If necessary, lower the aircraft and remove the jacks: refer to the Skyvan Maintenance 

Manual.

C. Identification

(1) After you have done the detailed visual inspection and the fluorescent penetrant 

inspection of this Service Bulletin:- write Service Bulletin number 32-17M in the 

applicable aircraft and nose landing gear records.

(2) After you have done the detailed visual inspection and the fluorescent penetrant 

inspection of this Service Bulletin: complete the Proforma (Appendix B) and send it to 

pse.glostec@safranmbd.com.

Nov 1/2014
Service Bulletin No. 32-17M

Page 4

SERVICE BULLETIN

Messier-Dowty Ltd

Area of Inspection

Figure 1

SKYVA7442-1

FORK SUB-ASSEMBLY

(1-140A or 1-145A)

LOCK WASHER (1-125)

WASHER (1-115)

BOLT (1-110)

LOCKING PLATE

(1-120)

BLEEDER

SCREW

STEERING

TUBE

SLIDING TUBE

GREASE

NIPPLE

INFLATION

VALVE

CASTORING

STOP

STEERING

BRACKET

AIRCRAFT

ATTACHMENT

BRACKET

TOGGLE

SUB-ASSEMBLY

INFLATION

VALVE

INSPECTION

AREA

ENLARGED VIEW OF INSPECTION AREA

[APPLICABLE AFTER SB 32-2M (AS SHOWN) AND BEFORE SB 32-2M]

PERFORM THE DETAILED VISUAL

INSPECTION AND FLUORESCENT

PENETRANT INSPECTION

IN THE SHADED AREA ALL

AROUND SLIDING

TUBE CIRCUMFERENCE

25mm (1in)

PAINTED AREA

DO NOT INSPECT

100mm (4in)

Nov 1/2014
Service Bulletin No. 32-17M

Page 5

SERVICE BULLETIN

Messier-Dowty Ltd

4. Messier-Bugatti-Dowty and Messier Services Contacts

A. Refer to the Messier-Bugatti-Dowty website (safranmbd.com) for the latest list of contact 

names, addresses and numbers.

Original Equipment Manufacturers

Messier-Dowty Inc.

574 Monarch Avenue

Ajax, Ontario

L1S 2G8 

CANADA

Tel: 905-683-3100

Fax: 905-683-6936

Messier-Dowty Limited

Cheltenham Road

Gloucester

GL2 9QH

ENGLAND

Tel: +44(0)1452 712424

Fax: +44(0)1452 713821

Messier-Bugatti-Dowty

Landing Gear & Systems

Integration Division

Inovel Parc Sud

BP 10

78140 Velizy - Villacoublay

FRANCE

Tel: +33 146 29 18 00

Fax: +33 146 29 87 70

Customer Support Centers (CSC)

For AOG (commercial and technical): aogcsc@safranmbd.com

For Europe - Africa - Middle East customers: eamecsc@safranmbd.com

Tel: +33 1 5521 2590

For Americas customers: americacsc@safranmbd.com

Tel: +1 404 305 2626

For Asia-Pacific customers: asiacsc@safranmbd.com

Tel: +65 6245 5688

Repair and Overhaul Facilities

Messier Services R&O Facility

574 Monarch Avenue

Ajax, Ontario

L1S 2G8

CANADA

Tel: 905-683-3100

Fax: 905-683-0378

Messier Services R&O Facility

Meteor Business Park

Cheltenham Road

Gloucester GL2 9QL

ENGLAND

Tel: +44(0)1452 713111

Fax: +44(0)1452 716500

Messier Services R&O Facility

3, rue Antoine de St Exupery, 

BP110

67124 Molsheim Cedex

France

Tel: (33) 38838 9200

Fax: (33) 38838 9399

Messier Services (Asia) Pte. Ltd. 

R&O Facility

21 Loyang Crescent, 

Loyang Industrial Estate

SINGAPORE 508985

Tel: (65) 6545 9455

Fax: (65) 6542 3936

Messier Services R&O Facility - 

Americas

Av. La Noria

Parque Industrial Querétaro

Carretera QRO-SLP, Km. 28.5

Querétaro, QRO 76220

MEXICO

Tel: +52 (442) 19 25 800

Fax:+52 (442) 19 25 801

HYDREP Aéroport de

Dinard-Pleurtuit-Saint-Malo

Bâtiment 20

BP90154

35801 DINARD Cedex

FRANCE

Tel: (33) 2 99 82 79 79

Fax: (33) 2 99 82 79 97

Nov 1/2014
INTENTIONALLY BLANK

Service Bulletin No. 32-17M

Page 6

SERVICE BULLETIN

Messier-Dowty Ltd
Service Bulletin No. 32-17M

Page 1 of 2

CAGE: K0654

Cheltenham Road, Gloucester, GL2 9QH, England

Telephone: +44 (0) 1452 712424 Fax: +44 (0) 1452 713821

SERVICE BULLETIN

Messier-Dowty Ltd

 ©MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY 2014 (AND SUBSEQUENT REVISION PAGE DATES)

This document and all information contained herein is the sole property of Messier-Bugatti-Dowty. No intellectual property rights are 

granted by the delivery of this document or the disclosure of its content. This document shall not be reproduced to a third party without the 

express written consent of Messier-Bugatti-Dowty.

Safran and Messier-Bugatti names are marks owned respectively by Safran and Messier-Bugatti-Dowty companies. The mark Dowty is 

used under licence.

APPENDIX - A

ON-WING NDT (FPI) PROCEDURE FOR NOSE LANDING GEAR SLIDING TUBE

1. INTRODUCTION

A. This procedure shall only be carried out by level 2 personnel qualified and certificated in 

accordance with EN 4179/NAS410 (or equivalent) in the Penetrant Testing method.

2. EQUIPMENT

A. A supply of cold degreasing fluid (e.g. Methelated Spirit, Acetone or similar).

B. A supply of lint free cloths and paper towels.

C. All penetrant materials shall be qualified to QPL AMS 2644.

D. Type 1 Fluorescent Penetrant, Level 3 sensitivity (mln), Solvent Removable. [Refer to 

ASTME1417 for classifications]

E. Method C solvent remover -Class 2 (non-halogenated).

F. Developer: form d. (Non aqueous wet).

G. UV-A inspection lamp with a minimum u/v intensity of 1,000 micro W/cm2 at the inspection 

surface.

H. A black out cover to aid ultraviolet inspection.

NOTE: The inspection must be carried out in a safe, clean, darkened, well-ventilated 

area suitable for ultraviolet inspection.

3. PROCEDURE

WARNING: THE VAPOURS FROM THE EVAPORATING, VOLATILE SOLVENT 

DEVELOPER CARRIER MAY BE HAZARDOUS. PROPER VENTILATION 

SHOULD BE PROVIDED IN ALL CASES BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN THE 

SURFACE TO BE EXAMINED IS INSIDE A CLOSED VOLUME. ENSURE 

GLOVES, SAFETY GLASSES AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING ARE USED AND 

OBSERVE ALL NECESSARY SITE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

A. Thoroughly clean the area to be examined with a lint free cloth and cold degreasing fluid. 

Make sure that no cleaning fluid stays in surrounding pockets or comes into contact with 

electrical items, gaskets, seals etc. Allow to dry.

B. Apply the penetrant to the area to be examined by brushing, spray or swabbing. Minimum 

contact time shall be 60 minutes. Maximum contact time shall be 120 minutes. However, 

make sure penetrant remains wet during the complete contact time.

APPENDIX - A

Nov 1/2014
Service Bulletin No. 32-17M

Page 2

SERVICE BULLETIN

Messier-Dowty Ltd

C. Initially remove the excess penetrant with lint free cloths or paper towels, and then remove 

the remainder of the surface penetrant residues with solvent lightly-moistened lint free cloths 

or paper towels.

NOTE: Do not flush the area with solvent or saturate the lint free cloths or paper 

towels used to remove excess penetrant.

D. Make sure the surface is completely dry and apply the non-aqueous wet developer, 

ensuring a uniform thin coating is applied to the entire surface to be examined.

NOTE: Heavy or thick coatings of developer may mask small indications. Inspect 

the area immediately, to help identify developing indications, and again after 

the minimum development time. The minimum development time shall be 

10 minutes. The maximum development time shall be 60 minutes.

E. Use the black out cover as necessary to reduce the white light level and inspect using the 

UV-A inspection light. Allow a dark adaptation time of at least 2 minutes prior to inspection. 

Identify and report all relevant indications.

F. Post clean to remove all traces of developer and penetrant materials from the examined 

area.

APPENDIX - A

Nov 1/2014
Service Bulletin No. 32-17M

Page 1 of 2

CAGE: K0654

Cheltenham Road, Gloucester, GL2 9QH, England

Telephone: +44 (0) 1452 712424 Fax: +44 (0) 1452 713821

SERVICE BULLETIN

Messier-Dowty Ltd

 ©MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY 2014 (AND SUBSEQUENT REVISION PAGE DATES)

This document and all information contained herein is the sole property of Messier-Bugatti-Dowty. No intellectual property rights are 

granted by the delivery of this document or the disclosure of its content. This document shall not be reproduced to a third party without the 

express written consent of Messier-Bugatti-Dowty.

Safran and Messier-Bugatti names are marks owned respectively by Safran and Messier-Bugatti-Dowty companies. The mark Dowty is 

used under licence.

APPENDIX - B

INSPECTION RESULTS PROFORMA FOR SB 32-17M

NOTE: Fill this profroma for every inspected Sliding Tube and send this form to 

pse.glostec@safranmbd.com.

AIRCRAFT SERIAL NO.:

(IF APPLICABLE)

TOTAL AIRFRAME HOURS AND 

CYCLES:

OPERATOR NAME AND CONTACT 

DETAILS:

NOSE LANDING 

GEAR DETAILS:

P/N

S/N

CSN

TSN

CSO

TSO

SLIDING TUBE 

DETAILS:

P/N

S/N

CSN

TSN

CSO

TSO

APPENDIX - B

Nov 1/2014
Service Bulletin No. 32-17M

Page 2

SERVICE BULLETIN

Messier-Dowty Ltd

DATE OF DETAILED VISUAL 

INSPECTION (dd/mm/yy):

FINDING OF DETAILED VISUAL 

INSPECTION:

(If there are no adverse findings, this should 

be stated. If there are adverse findings, 

please include the details of dimensions 

and exact locations also attach 

photographic evidence.)

DATE OF FLUORESCENT 

PENETRANT INSPECTION 

(dd/mm/yy):

FINDING OF FLUORESCENT 

PENETRANT INSPECTION:

(If there are no adverse findings, this should 

be stated. If there are adverse findings, 

please include the details of dimensions 

and exact locations also attach 

photographic evidence.)

Nov 1/2014