CASA has issued a proposed airworthiness directive covering the replacement of tie rods for Tiger Moth aircraft manufactured by Australian company JR Engineering.
This follows the in-flight break-up of de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth VH-TSG off South Stradbroke Island during an aerobatic joy flight in December last year, which killed pilot Alex Rae and French tourist Taissia Umenc.
Notes the proposed AD: “given the criticality of the fuselage lateral tie rods, the ATSB believes that the identification of significant pre-existing fatigue cracking within the JRA-776-1 lateral tie rods on the accident aircraft, which were within the stipulated retirement life, coupled with the current lack of an effective inspection to detect such cracking, presents a safety issue that requires action.”
The incident highlighted risk associated with fatigue cracking leading to failure of lateral tie rods, CASA stated on Thursday.
Similar proposed Ads have been issued for the DH.60 Moth and DH.83 Fox Moth aircraft.
