Cessna 206 Forward Cargo Door Modification
Open Cargo Doors with Flaps Extended
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On February 18, 2019 the Transportation Safety Board of
Canada (TSB) issued Aviation Safety Advisory A18W0129-D1-A1 to Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) to bring
attention to a significant safety issue involving Cessna 206 series aircraft
that are fitted with double cargo doors. TCCA has investigated the issue and made the determination that an unsafe condition exists {with flaps extended} and has therefore established that corrective action in the form of an Airworthiness Directive (AD) is required to mitigate the safety risk. The proposed Airworthiness Directive will see a reduced passenger load for the aircraft. This reduced passenger capacity will have a direct impact to operating capability of this versatile aircraft. |
Passenger
safety being first priority in aviation, prompted North Wright Airways Ltd. to
explore alternate means of egress from the aircraft. They engaged the services
of Airworthiness Resources Corporation to assist in their mandate. After a few
meetings of general design methodologies, Airworthiness Resources Corporation
took to the design table to prototype a modified forward cargo door that will
allow both doors to fully open under normal operating procedure WITH FULL FLAP.
Our team is now in the final stages of certification for a Transport Canada
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) with FAA and EASA Approval to follow.
We are also in close discussions with Transport Canada to apply for an
Alternate Means of Compliance (AMOC) for their upcoming AD to allow full passenger
loads with this door modification kit installed.
Manufacturing processes are in the initial ramp up stage to make
the cargo door modifications kits available as soon as possible.
Airworthiness Resources Corporation is working with Dale Floyd, President,
Coast Dog Aviation Ltd. (TCCA AMO 87-10) to ensure that their expert sheet
metal technicians have all the fixtures and tooling available for the
installation of these kits.