Spoiler pad measurement to avoid defueling and jacking requirements for Global 5000/6000 aircraft
Effectivity: Global Express/XRS/Global 5000/Global 6000/Global 5500/Global 6500
ATA: 27-60
By: Michel Kennedy The Global Advisory committee have raised a technical issue regarding the AMM requirement to defuel and jack the aircraft when installing a spoiler surface Teflon shim pad (Figure 1).
This article is meant to advise operators on the release of a Reference Information Letter (RIL) # GX-0748, which provides instructions on how to measure and record the Ground Spoiler (GS) and Multi-Function Spoiler (MFS) pad thickness to avoid having to defuel and jack the aircraft should one go missing.
Figure 1
The Global 5/6 GS and MFS surfaces steps and gaps are adjusted at the factory by adding different Teflon shim pad thicknesses. The adjustments are done with the aircraft defueled and on jacks. The GS and MFS surfaces steps and gaps are measured with the upper surface of the flaps, therefore wing flex has an impact on this measurement and adjustment.
At the factory, once the pads are installed, the MFS thicknesses are written on labels which are installed forward of the pads and identify the exact thicknesses at each location (Figure 2). The Teflon pads can be procured per IPC REF: 57-71-00 and 57-72-00 and come in thicknesses of 0.020, 0.040 and 0.080 inches.
Figure 2
We have identified cases on older aircraft in-service where the pad thickness labels are no longer legible or are missing. When a pad is found missing with no thickness value available, the spoiler adjustment must be done with the aircraft defueled and on jacks. This can quickly turn a 30-minute task into an eight-hour task, involving hangar space, a defueling truck, aircraft jacks, etc.
RIL #GX-0748 has been released to identify and record, in the Technical Logbook, the spoiler pad thicknesses in each location to avoid having to defuel and jack the aircraft if one or more pads are found missing.
We do not recommend performing this procedure 24 hours prior to a scheduled flight and without the proper equipment readily available (defuel truck, hangar space and aircraft jacks). This equipment will be required if a spoiler pad is found missing and the original thickness cannot be determined.
To reduce maintenance costs and downtime, RIL #GX-0748 is recommended to be performed during the 60-month TLMC Task interval 57-ZL-00-205/206/211/212/215/216 or during a scheduled downtime with proper equipment readily available. You can find RIL #GX-0748 in the Bombardier CIC Portal.