AD 81-04-11
Applicability
| Type | Manufacturer | Model | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| aircraft | Short Brothers PLC | SD3-30 | Airworthiness Directives; SHORT BROTHERS LIMITED Model SD3-30 Airplanes |
Unsafe Condition
Malfunction or collapse of the landing gear due to leaking hydraulic fluid and cracks in the nose landing gear cylinder (Menasco P/N 18103).
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Required Actions
Within 100 hours time in service or prior to 150 landings after the AD's effective date, inspect the nose landing gear assembly for hydraulic fluid leaks. If leaks are found, remove the nameplate and inspect the cylinder for cracks using dye penetrant or eddy current methods. Replace cracked cylinders before further flight. Additionally, within 500 hours after the effective date, and every 600 hours thereafter, disassemble, clean, grease, and test the nose and main landing gear mechanisms per specified service bulletins. Reworked components with grease fittings exempt from recurring inspections under paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2).
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Compliance Time
Within 100 hours time in service or prior to the accumulation of 150 landings after the effective date, whichever occurs later; and within 500 hours time in service after the effective date, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 600 hours time in service until paragraphs (d) and (e) are accomplished.
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Affected Aircraft
Short Brothers PLC SD3-30 airplanes with Menasco nose landing gear assembly P/N 18001 (serial numbers MMC-005, MMC-006, MMC-008, MMC-009, MMC-010, MMC-011, MMC-012, MMC-015, MMC-022, MMC-023, MMC-024, MMC-029, MMC-031 through MMC-051), Menasco nose landing gear down lock mechanism P/N 18003 (serial numbers MMC-003 through MMC-059), or Menasco main landing gear shock strut and link assembly P/N 17525 (serial numbers MMC-011 through MMC-130).
AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.
Source: Official FAA Source ↗
Retrieved: Apr 8, 2026
Rights: U.S. Government Public Domain
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