Transport Canada has issued a directive over the airworthiness of the new A220 aircraft. Previously known as the Bombardier C-Series, it appears the aircraft may have a chafing issue within its fuel feed system. Operators have been asked to inspect their A220 fuel feed tubes.
The issue was identified in a recent service bulletin, the tubes which feed fuel to the engines could become ‘chaffed’ by a clamp. In a serious situation, this could stop the flow of fuel completely.
In response, Transport Canada have issued an airworthiness directive instructing all operators and owners of A220s to check their aircraft for the issue. Presently only Transport Canada has issued a directive on 13 May, it is likely other regulators will follow suit.
They said that wear damage had occurred on ‘multiple aircraft’ in an area where a bonding clamp connects the fuel feed tubes. The regulator stated:
“In one incident, the wear damage ultimately led to hole in main engine feed tube located in the collector tank, resulting in fuel imbalance during flight. It is possible that such wear could cut fuel flow to engines.”
The directive issued covers all A220-100s and -300s within the series. Operators have been asked to perform checks every 1,800 hours.
