Transport Transports 

Canada Canada

 TP 7245E

 

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

The following airworthiness directive (AD) may be applicable to an aircraft which our records indicate is registered in your name. ADs are issued pursuant to Canadian 

Aviation Regulation (CAR) 521 Division X. Pursuant to CAR 605.84 and the further details of CAR Standard 625, Appendix H, the continuing airworthiness of a Canadian registered aircraft is contingent upon compliance with all applicable ADs. Failure to comply with the requirements of an AD may invalidate the flight authorization of the aircraft. Alternative means of compliance shall be applied for in accordance with CAR 605.84 and the above-referenced Standard. 

This AD has been issued by the Continuing Airworthiness Division (AARDG), National Aircraft Certification Branch, Transport Canada, Ottawa, telephone 613 952-4357.

Pursuant to CAR 202.51 the registered owner of a Canadian aircraft shall, within seven days, notify the Minister in writing of any change of his or her name or address. 

To request a change of address, contact the Civil Aviation Communications Centre (AARC) at Place de Ville, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N8, or 1-800-305-2059, or www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/communications/centre/ address.asp 

24-0022 (01-2005)

1/3 No.

CF-2011-04

Issue Date 

 08 March 2011 

Number: CF- 2011-04 

Subject: Cracking of the Outer Wing Fuel Access Panel

Effective: 30 March 2011 

Applicability: Bombardier Inc. DHC-8 Aeroplanes, Models 400, 401 and 402, Serial Numbers 4001, 

and 4003 through 4106

Compliance: As indicated below unless already accomplished. 

Background: Airworthiness Directive (AD) CF-2005-37 was issued on 11 October 2005 to address 

cracking of the outer wing fuel access panel, Part Number (P/N) 85714230-001. Similar 

cracking on an outer wing fuel access panel, P/N 85714231-001, has been reported. 

Further investigation revealed that certain fuel access panels may have seal grooves 

manufactured with non-conforming fillet radii which could lead to cracking. Cracking of 

the fuel access panel, if not corrected, could result in arcing and ignition of fuel vapor in 

the outer wing fuel tank during a lightning strike. 

This directive mandates the inspection and replacement of the affected fuel access 

panels. 

Corrective 

Actions: 

A. Inspection and Replacement of the Outer Wing Fuel Access Panels, 

P/N 85714231-001 

1. Within 600 hours air time after the effective date of this directive, perform an 

external detailed visual inspection of the outer wing access panels and locate the 

rivets of the identification plate in accordance with paragraph 3.B.I, of 

Bombardier Service Bulletin (SB) 84-57-22, Revision A, dated 9 December 2010 

or Revision B dated 16 February 2011 or later revisions approved by the Chief, 

Continuing Airworthiness, Transport Canada. 

2. If the rivets of the identification plate are found, the fuel access panel is post-mod 

4-113502. No further action is required and compliance with Part A of this 

directive is complete. Proceed to Part B of this directive. 

3. If the rivets of the identification plate cannot be found, perform either paragraph 

3.a or 3.b below prior to further flight: 

a. Remove the access panels, P/N 85714231-001, in accordance with 

paragraph 3.B.I, Option 1, of the above-mentioned SB to verify if the 

identification plate is installed. 
No.

N° CF-2011-04 2/3 

i. If the identification plate is found, no further action is required and 

compliance with Part A of this directive is complete. Proceed to Part B of 

this directive. 

ii. If the identification plate cannot be found, and the job detail number 

stamped on the underside of the access panel does not match any of 

those listed in Table 1 of the above-mentioned SB, no further action is 

required and compliance with Part A of this directive is complete. 

Proceed to Part B of this directive. 

iii. If the identification plate cannot be found, and the job detail number 

stamped on the underside of the access panel matches any of those 

listed in Table 1 of the above-mentioned SB, replace the access panel 

with a new panel, P/N 85714231-003, in accordance with paragraph 

3.B.II of the above-mentioned SB. 

b. Perform an external detailed visual inspection on the access panels, 

P/N 85714231-001, for cracking in accordance with paragraph 3.B.I, 

Option 2, of the above-mentioned SB. 

i. Subsequently, at intervals not to exceed 600 hours air time, repeat the 

inspection specified in Part A, paragraph 3.b of this directive. 

ii. If the fuel access panel is found cracked during any required inspections, 

prior to further flight, replace the access panel with a new panel, 

P/N 85714231-003, in accordance with paragraph 3.B.II of the 

above-mentioned SB. 

iii. Within 6000 hours air time after the initial inspection required by Part A, 

paragraph 3.b of this directive, complete Part A, paragraph 3.a of this 

directive. 

4. If a fuel access panel is found cracked during any required inspections, prior to 

further flight, replace the access panel with a new panel, P/N 85714231-003, in 

accordance with paragraph 3.B.II of the above-mentioned SB. 

5. As of the effective date of this directive, it is not permitted to install a 

replacement/spare fuel access panels, P/N 85714231-001, with the job detail 

number listed in Table 1 of the above-mentioned SB. 

B. Inspection and Replacement of Outer Wing Fuel Access Panels, 

P/N 85714232-001 

1. Within 1200 hours air time after the effective date of this directive, perform an 

external detailed visual inspection of the outer wing fuel access panels and 

locate the rivets of the identification plate in accordance with paragraph 3.B.I, of 

Bombardier Service Bulletin (SB) 84-57-23, Revision A, dated 9 December 2010 

or Revision B, dated 16 February 2011 or later revisions approved by the Chief, 

Continuing Airworthiness, Transport Canada. 

2. If the rivets of the identification plate are found, the fuel access panel is post-mod 

4-113502. No further action is required and compliance with Part B of this 

directive is complete. 

3. If rivets of the identification plate cannot be found, perform either paragraph 3.a 

or 3.b below prior to further flight: 

a. Remove access panels, P/N 85714232-001, in accordance with paragraph 

3.B.I, Option 1, of the above-mentioned SB to verify if the identification plate 
No.

N° CF-2011-04 3/3 

is installed. 

i. If the identification plate is found, no further action is required and 

compliance with Part B of this directive is complete. 

ii. If the identification plate cannot be found, and the job detail number 

stamped on the underside of the access panel does not match any of 

those listed in Table 1 of the above-mentioned SB, no further action is 

required and compliance with Part B of this directive is complete. 

iii. If the identification plate cannot be found, and the job detail number 

stamped on the underside of the access panel matches any of those 

listed in Table 1 of the above-mentioned SB, replace the access panel 

with a new panel, P/N 85714232-003, in accordance with paragraph 

3.B.II of the above-mentioned SB. 

b. Perform an external detailed visual inspection on the access panels, 

P/N 85714232-001, for cracking in accordance with paragraph 3.B.I, 

Option 2, of the above-mentioned SB. 

i. Subsequently, at intervals not to exceed 1200 hours air time, repeat the 

inspection specified in Part B, paragraph 3.b of this directive. 

ii. If the fuel access panel is found cracked during any required inspections, 

prior to further flight, replace the access panel with a new panel, 

P/N 85714232-003, in accordance with paragraph 3.B.II of the 

above-mentioned SB. 

iii. Within 12 000 hours air time after the initial inspection required by Part B, 

paragraph 3.b of this directive, complete Part B, paragraph 3.a of this 

directive. 

4. If a fuel access panel is found cracked during any required inspections, prior to 

further flight, replace the access panel with a new panel, P/N 85714232-003, in 

accordance with paragraph 3.B.II of the above-mentioned SB. 

5. As of the effective date of this directive, it is not permitted to install a 

replacement/spare fuel access panel P/N 85714232-001 with the job detail 

number listed in Table 1 of the above-mentioned SB. 

Authorization: For the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities 

ORIGINAL SIGNED BY 

Derek Ferguson 

Chief, Continuing Airworthiness 

Contact: M. Anthony Wan, Continuing Airworthiness, Ottawa, telephone 613-952-4357, facsimile 

613-996-9178 or e-mail CAWWEBFeedback@tc.gc.ca or any Transport Canada Centre.