AD 2003-26-14 Airworthiness Directives; Kidde Aerospace Part Number (P/N) 898052 Hand-Held Halon Fire Extinguishers

(c) This AD affects aircraft that are certificated in any category and incorporate hand-held halon fire extinguishers with the following: (1) Part number (P/N) 898052; and (2) A serial number in the range of V-432001 through W-389653 inclusive that were manufactured sometime from 1995-2002. (i) Serial numbers are identified by the Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) number printed on the label and are listed in succession. (ii) Other variants of the UL number with prefixes other than “V” or “W” are not affected by this AD.

(e) To address this problem, you must accomplish the following:   Actions Compliance Procedures (1) Remove from service any P/N 898052 hand-held halon fire extinguisher that has a serial number of V-432001 through W-389653 inclusive and was manufactured sometime from 1995-2002. You may not operate any aircraft without the applicable fire extinguishing equipment per FAA regulation (i) Serial numbers are identified by the Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) number printed on the label and are listed in succession. (ii) Other variants of the UL number with prefixes other than “V” or “W” are not affected by this AD. Within the next 12 months after February 20, 2004 (the effective date of this AD) Kidde Aerospace Service Bulletin 898052-26-449, dated October 7, 2002, specifies procedures for identifying the affected fire extinguishers. Use the procedures in this service bulletin for the returned fire extinguishers. Specifically, do not discharge them or ship them to Kidde Aerospace since a special collection point has already been established. Ensure that you follow all Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations (49 CFR) in the transport of fire extinguishing equipment. The regulations identify fire extinguishers containing compressed or liquefied gas as hazardous. (2) The owner/operator holding at least a private pilot certificate as authorized by section 43.7 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7) may remove the fire extinguisher specified in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD. Make an entry into the aircraft records showing compliance with this portion of the AD in accordance with section 43.9 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.9) Within the next 12 months after February 20, 2004 (the effective date of this AD) Not Applicable. (3) Do not install, on any aircraft, a Kidde Aerospace P/N 898052 handheld halon fire extinguisher V-432001 through W-389653 inclusive that was manufactured sometime from 1995-2002 As of February 20, 2004 (the effective date of this AD) Not Applicable.

(d) This AD is the result of information that shows that the discharge time of the affected fire extinguishers exceeds the maximum allowable discharge time. The problem is due to incomplete crimping of the siphon tube. We are issuing this AD to remove from service fire extinguishers that have this incomplete crimping of the siphon tube. If not removed from service, these fire extinguishers could function at diminished levels and compromise the level of safety in an emergency situation.

(b) None.