How AD works

[FenderManDan]

Airworthiness directives issued by the manufacturer, I mean?

I am confused with these. Aren't they suppose to be type of a recall like in the car industry?
If you have a new aircraft warranty let say Cessna, are you covered for AD costs in parts and labour?

[iflyforpie]

Airworthiness Directives are issued by the governing body--by the FAA in the US and Transport Canada in Canada for example. They are to correct known defects that present a significant danger to the flying public if left uncorrected. Aircraft must have these ADs carried out or their C of A isn't in force. There are no tolerances for ADs either, unless you can get an exemption from the governing body or an Alternate Method of Compliance (AMOC).

What you are thinking of are Service Bulletins, which are issued by the manufacturer to correct defects they are aware of in their own aircraft. Sometimes, a Service Bulletin will be an item of enough importance to become an AD. Many times (and much to the chagrin of AMEs) the AD simply incorporates the Service Bulletin by reference... requiring you until recently to purchase the bulletins or subscriptions to get the necessary information.

Sometimes Service Bulletins include credits for labour and parts--particularly on new aircraft. But for older aircraft it is up to the owner to shoulder the costs.

[The Weasel]

iflyforpie covered it mostly. Here's what CARs says (in part):

Standard 625 Appendix H - Airworthiness Directives
Content last revised: 2002/03/01

(1) Responsibilities

Pursuant to CAR 605.84, persons having legal custody and control of aircraft are responsible for ensuring that their aircraft (except for aircraft with Special Certificates of Airworthiness in the Amateur Built or Owner Maintained classifications) are not flown unless they meet the requirements of any Airworthiness Directive (AD) applicable to the aircraft or their components. Owners and lessees must ensure that:
(amended 2002/03/01; previous version)

(a) details of the scheduling provisions of any applicable airworthiness directives relating to the airframe, engine(s), propeller(s), component(s), or any parts thereof, are entered into the applicable technical record; and
(amended 2002/03/01; previous version)

(b) the requirements of all such ADs are complied with and, where applicable, entries relating to the compliance are made in the aircraft technical records.
(amended 2002/03/01; previous version)

Sometimes Service Bulletins include credits for labour and parts--particularly on new aircraft. But for older aircraft it is up to the owner to shoulder the costs.

I don't know if it's so much an old/new A/C thing. I think it's more of a manufacturer thing, because I've seen AD/SBs come out for older A/C that were still payed for by the manufacturer. I don't know how it's determined. Maybe when they feel a part was improperly manufactured? It may also vary between manufacturers.

[Taiser]

Most I've done in the past the owners had to eat the costs, not all but most...and some of those costs can be insane! Not sure what the criteria is either, I'm guessing part defect or crappy design as well then the manufacturer will eat it. One lawsuit would probably cover the cost of the AD so it's just makes better business sense to say you did everything you could to fix a problem with an AD than get sued.

[CID]

The regulators work closely with the OEM to address airworthiness issues. A great deal of effort goes in to capturing all of the aircraft affected.

Sometimes, if an OEM can show the regulator that all of the operators have been contacted and the issue rectified, no AD is issued.

OEMs sometimes distinguish between service bulletins that are a suggested or recommended product improvement and MANDATORY service bulletins which must be performed to maintain the prescribed level of safety. Those are the SBs that are called up in ADs.

[Colonel Sanders]

CID knows more about this stuff than I do but ...

Not all MSB's have a backing AD.

An MSB without an AD is not applicable to private operators.

[avyonx]

Just to confuse the matter. When a Manufacturer issues a Mandatory SB it is still not Mandatory. Only AD's are mandatory. It is up to the owner of an Aircraft to comply with AD's. This may be accomplished in many ways. A MSB is just the Manufacturers suggestion on compliance.

I should also add that unless the Authority has written in the AD that the only way to show compliance is IAW with the SB then that kind of makes it Mandatory.......I guess.

[Colonel Sanders]

As a rule of thumb, commercial operators will have to follow
MSB's without backing AD's, but private operators do not
have to.