Issues Emergency AD Following Power Loss
In response to a customer notification and subsequent
recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board, the
FAA issued Emergency Airworthiness Directive 2008-13-51 late
Thursday evening, requiring pilots of the Eclipse 500 to test their
aircrafts' throttle operation before taking flight again in
the very-light-jet.
As ANN reported, N612KB (s/n
026) encountered windshear on short final to land at Chicago's
Midway Airport on June 5. The plane's pilot applied full power,
using enough force against the forward stops to exceed the design
throttle position signal maximum range. The associated fault mode
with the plane's FADEC held the engine thrust settings at the last
known throttle position -- full power.
Following the balked landing, the pilot elected to shutdown one
engine in order to reduce thrust. After spooling down the right
engine, however, the left-side turbofan reduced thrust to idle...
and failed to respond to subsequent throttle inputs. Fortunately,
the pilot was able to perform a safe emergency landing at MDW, with
two blown maingear tires the only damage to plane and crew.
Concerned that exceeding the throttle position signal maximum
range could cause loss of left and right engine control, the FAA
ordered Eclipse pilots to inspect their aircraft's throttle
assemblies, and also insert temporary revisions in the Aircraft
Flight Manual (AFM) dealing with procedures on how to handle dual
engine failure.
"After careful review of all available information related to
the subject presented above, we have identified an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on other products of this same
type design. For this reason, the FAA has determined that AD action
should be taken to reduce the likelihood of the throttle position
signal exceeding its maximum range, which could cause loss of left
and right engine control. The FAA has also determined that AD
action should be taken to provide an airplane flight manual (AFM)
procedure for responding to dual engine control failures. This
condition could result in the inability to maintain desired
airspeed and/or altitude with consequent loss of control."
The AD applies to the entire Eclipse 500 fleet, which currently
numbers 207 flying aircraft according to the FAA.
Full details of the Emergency AD, including compliance
instructions, are available at the FMI link below.