Summary
We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:
Incidents have been reported on Britten-Norman BN-2 aircraft, where cracks were found in the inner shell of the pitot/static pressure heads. The investigation concluded that these pitot tubes, supplied by Thales Optronics, could be operated outside their voltage specification. On December 15th, 2005, CAA [Civil Aviation Authority] United Kingdom issued AD G-2005-0034 (EASA approval number 2005-6447), later superseded by EASA AD 2006-0143, to require inspections and leak tests on Britten-Norman aircraft. Subsequently, it has been discovered that the same tubes are supplied to EADS-CASA for installation on C-212 aircraft, one for the pilot side and one for the co-pilot side. So far, EADS-CASA has not received any report of cracked pitot tubes from C-212 operators. This condition, if not corrected, could result in incorrect readings on the pressure instrumentation, e.g., altimeters, vertical speed indicators (rate of climb) and airspeed indicators, potentially leading to navigational errors.
The unsafe condition could reduce the ability of the flightcrew to maintain the safe flight and landing of the airplane. The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.