The global fleet of about 60 operational Xi’an MA-60 regional turboprops has been grounded following the issuance of an airworthiness directive by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
The AD relates to the MA-60’s nose undercarriage and gear annunciation systems on aircraft that have logged more than 6,400 cycles. But Xi’an has self-extended the AD to cover all MA-60s in service so all can be inspected and have their undercarriages overhauled.
MA-60s are in service in small numbers with regional airlines in south-east Asia, Africa and South America. According to AIN Online, MA-60s have been involved in 16 accidents since 2009.
The MA-60 is a stretched derivative of the Y-7 which itself was developed from the Antonov An-26 military transport, and carries up to 60 passengers.
