Airworthiness Directives; MORAVAN a.s. Model Z-242L Airplanes

This document supersedes Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2003-03- 13, which currently establishes a technical service life for MORAVAN a.s. (Moravan) Model Z-242L airplanes by restricting Acrobatic and Utility category operations and requiring replacement of the wings after a certain operational time. AD 2003-03-13 resulted from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for the Czech Republic. The restrictions required by AD 2003- 03-13 only take account for the aerobatic load spectrum and do not account for the aerobatic frequency. The restrictions also address the life limit of the wings when they should address the life limit of the entire airframe (life limit of the airplane). Although the aerobatic frequency will extend the operational times, it more importantly will ensure that all airplanes (even those that have not reached the operational limits) are not subject to fatigue cracking caused by exceeding the aerobatic frequency. This AD will maintain the restrictions of AD 2003-03-13, but will incorporate the aerobatic frequency and life limit the airplane instead of just the wings. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent structural failure of the wing due to fatigue cracking. Such failure could result in a wing separating from the airplane with consequent loss of airplane control.