Challenger operators should be aware of the Special Detailed Inspection of Horizontal Stabilizer Trim Actuator per Chapter 5 Inspection 27-42-01-110**. Operators with this inspection coming due should know time is running out to comply, and there is an increased expectation in the demand for the required parts and exchanges related to this issue.

What should you do?

West Star Aviation recommends that operators become familiar with Transport Canada’s CF-2024-16 as well as Bombardier’s Advisory Wire AW600-05-2649  and contact your local FSDO as soon as possible in order to plan for this inspection and to avoid getting caught in a potential parts shortage resulting in the potential grounding of your aircraft. An application for an AMOC has been filed, but currently no resolution has been issued to date

Per Bombardier’s AW:

Due to the CMR task 27-42-01-110** introduction there is an expected increase rate of HSTA removals and shipments to the supplier between 2022 and 2027, with an anticipated peak in late 2024 and early 2025.

While Bombardier worked with our supplier to build up a rotable pool, there is a limited quantity of HSTAs to support the restoration or to complete the special detailed inspection tasks.

TCCA AD CF-2024-16 (Ref 1.1) requires completion of the new or more restrictive Airworthiness Limitations within their thresholds and repeat intervals or discard time as published in the Part 2 AWL of the TLMC publications identified in Table 1 of the AD, and in the temporary revisions (TRs) identified in Table 2 of the AD.

Bombardier has been working with the HSTA supplier to investigate potential alleviations. Previous teardown findings have shown that CMR task 27-42-01-110** may be phased-in without affecting safety, therefore, Bombardier worked with TCCA to introduce Note 2 in the TCCA AD which contains a specific phase-in statement for CMR task 27-42-01-110**, which could give certain operators up to 12 years for the first completion of the task in lieu of the currently published 120 months (10 years).

The FAA has not yet adopted the TCCA AD, and the issuance of the FAA AD is not anticipated for a few more months since the required Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) process will take time to complete. Since the corresponding FAA AD has not yet been published, US-registered owners/operators cannot easily use the Note 2 in the TCCA AD.