Federal Register #FAA-2026-7216

FAA Airworthiness Directive: Diamond Aircraft DA 42 Series – NLG Actuator Rod End Inspections and Replacements

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), under the Department of Transportation, has issued an airworthiness directive (AD) for all Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH DA 42 series airplanes due to safety concerns with the nose landing gear (NLG) hydraulic actuator rod ends. - Government Buyer: - Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - Office: Aircraft Certification Service, Compliance & Airworthiness Division - OEM Highlight: - Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH is the primary OEM affected by this directive - Products/Parts Involved: - NLG hydraulic actuator rod ends, part numbers X110006SMRCD10IRMR.7403 and X110006GARSW10RR - Applies to all DA 42, DA 42 NG, and DA 42 M-NG aircraft - Requirements: - Revise the airplane flight manual (AFM) to include updated operating limitations - Perform repetitive inspections of the specified NLG actuator rod ends for cracks, deformation, corrosion, damage, and free movement of the spherical bearing - Replace any affected rod ends as necessary - Prohibit installation of non-serviceable or affected rod ends unless specific safety conditions are met - Inspection Schedule: - Initial inspection timing is based on total time-in-service (TTIS): - Within 5 flight cycles for aircraft with over 4,000 TTIS - Within 50 flight cycles for 1,000–4,000 TTIS - Within 2,000 flight cycles for 1,000 or less TTIS - Subsequent inspections required every 4,000 flight cycles - Estimated inspection cost is $340 per cycle - No specific quantities are provided, as the directive applies to all affected aircraft and requires action based on inspection results

Description

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Model DA 42, DA 42 NG, and DA 42 M-NG airplanes. This AD addresses uncommanded rudder deflection caused by a cracked nose landing gear (NLG) hydraulic actuator rod end, which could lead to failure of the NLG actuator and interference with the rudder control system. The directive requires revising the airplane flight manual to provide revised operating limitations, repetitive inspections of certain NLG hydraulic actuator rod ends for cracks, deformation, corrosion, damage, and free movement of the spherical bearing, and replacement of affected parts as necessary. It also prohibits installation of affected parts unless certain conditions are met to ensure safety.

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