Mon, Aug 27, 2007
Cessna Directive Affects Planes With Over 22,500
Hours
Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) announced
Monday operators of Cessna 441 Conquest turboprops have been
directed to follow a new manufacturer's life limit on the aircraft
type.
Cessna has announced there is an unconditional life limit of
22,500 flying hours on the Cessna Conquest. The manufacturer says
it cannot assure the continued safety of the aircraft after the
limit is reached.
The potential defect is reportedly in the rear pressure dome,
and could lead to inflight structural failure near the
empennage.
"It's unfortunate and not something we wanted to do, but in the
interest of the safety of people flying on these aircraft we
thought we didn't have any choice," CASA Spokesman Peter Gibson
told The Age.
CASA's direction means that all Australian Conquests that have
reached 22,500 hours must be grounded. Aircraft with less than
22,500 flying hours may continue to operate normally.
Cessna imposed the life
limit after reviewing its structural maintenance program for the
aircraft and determining that structural problems are likely to
develop if the aircraft continues to operate.
A structural maintenance program is in place to manage the
safety of the aircraft up to the 22,500 life limit.
CASA's direction to ground the aircraft will be place for one
year. During this time avenues will be explored that could extend
the safe operation of the Conquest beyond the current life
limit.
The direction to ground Conquests with more than 22,500 flying
hours came into effect August 24.
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