The CAA will issue a continuing airworthiness notice (CAN) to bring industry attention to an issue which does not necessarily meet the threshold of an ‘unsafe condition’ – which would warrant an airworthiness directive (AD). A CAN alerts, educates, recommends and guides, however compliance with the details of a CAN is not mandatory.

List of CANs on the CAA website as at 2 November 2022 [XLSX 40 KB]

If you have any questions or queries about CANs, email airworthinessdirectives@caa.govt.nz.

Latest continuing airworthiness notices

This Continuing Airworthiness Notice (CAN) at Revision 2 is revised to clarify the component maintenance requirements below and add a recommendation to replace parts which have reached the manufacturers recommended replacement interval, and inform aircraft operators and maintainers that Robinson Helicopters Corporation (RHC) have revised the component maintenance requirements in Chapter 1.102 of the R44 Series Maintenance Manual dated December 2021. Refer: https://robinsonheli.com/r44-maint-manual/ The revised component maintenance requirements: Electric Fuel Pump P/N D743-1, -2, -3 and -4 must be replaced with a new P/N D743-3 pump at 2200 hours TTIS; and Fuel Pressure Relief Valve P/N D321-1 must be replaced with a new or overhauled part at 12 years, or before 2200 hours TTIS.

CAN 27-025 Revision 1 revised to expand the applicability to include AS 355 series helicopters. The intent of this CAN is to raise awareness among operators and maintenance providers of the importance of thoroughly completing the necessary duplicate safety inspections, ensuring correct assembly and function. Where necessary, reference should be made to the relevant Instructions for Continued Airworthiness. Operators are also reminded of the value of assessing manufacturers service information and establishing the configuration of an aircraft when inducting it into their fleet.

The intent of this CAN is to raise awareness of these occurrences and draw attention to the possible early warning signs of engine failure. The CAA has received several reports from operators of Continental CD-135 and CD-155 engines experiencing power loss in flight with associated engine vibrations and a loss of oil pressure.

The CAA has received a report of an aircraft accident which resulted from an in-flight engine roll back to ground idle. The engine roll back appears to have been the result of a failed engine compressor discharge Pressure (Pc) Safety Valve. The intent of this CAN is to raise awareness of this event, and to draw attention to the requirements provided in the Aeronautical Accessories Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) and Aeronautical Accessories Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. AA-06107.

The CAA has received a report of an operator finding a cracked main rotor longitudinal pitch mixer bellcrank P/N 269A7519 on a Hughes 269C helicopter. A subsequent inspection by an engineer could not identify any indication of damage, or corrosion which may have initiated the crack. Operators are advised to pay particular attention to the flight control linkages when carrying out pre-flight inspections as required by the Pilot’s Flight Manual. Maintenance providers should thoroughly investigate any defects found during the scheduled inspection of helicopter flight control system/linkages.

This Continuing Airworthiness Notice (CAN) is revised to advise operators and maintainers that MDHI have released Service Letter SL369H-158, SL369D-142, SL369E-097, SL369F-088, SL500N-044, SL600N-038 (issued as a single document) and updated the relevant aircraft ICA and introduced an inspection for the pilots interconnecting cyclic pitch torque tube assembly. The inspection includes a freedom of movement check of the torque tube and bearings.

This Continuing Airworthiness Notice (CAN) is issued to draw attention to a safety concern which was recently reported to the CAA. An AS350 helicopter was found fitted with a non-functioning engine anti-ice system. The investigation revealed that an engine anti-ice valve was not installed on the affected helicopter.