AD 2006-14-08 Airworthiness Directives; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries MU-2B Series Airplanes

This AD affects the following airplane models and serial numbers that are certificated in any category:   Model Serial No. (1) MU-2B-26A and MU-2B-40 321SA, 348SA, 350SA through 419SA, 421SA, 422SA, and 423SA. (2) MU-2B-36A and MU-2B-60 661SA, 697SA through 747SA, 749SA through 757SA, and 759SA through 773SA.

To address this problem, you must do the following:   Actions Compliance Procedures Verify that the current flight idle blade angles are set at 12 degrees. If not already set to 12 degrees, set the flight idle blade angles to 12 degrees Within the next 100 hours time-in-service after August 21, 2006 (the effective date of this AD) Follow Mitsubishi Aircraft International, Inc. Service Bulletin No. SB016/61-001, dated March 18, 1980. Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (f) The Manager, Forth Worth Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, ATTN: Rao Edupuganti, Aerospace Engineer, Fort Worth ACO, ASW-150, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76137-4298; telephone: 817-222-5284; facsimile: 817-222-5960, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Material Incorporated by Reference (g) You must do the actions required by this AD following the instructions in Mitsubishi Aircraft International, Inc. Service Bulletin No. SB016/61-001, dated March 18, 1980. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service bulletin in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. To get a copy of this service information, contact Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., 4951 Airport Parkway, Suite 800, Addison, Texas 75001 telephone: 972-934-5480; facsimile: 972-934-5488. To review copies of this service information, go to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html or call (202) 741-6030. To view the AD docket, go to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-001 or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-2006-23644; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-03-AD. Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 5, 2006. Kim Smith, Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 06-6179 Filed 7-14-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD results from a recent safety evaluation that used a data-driven approach to analyze the design, operation, and maintenance of the MU-2B series airplanes in order to determine their safety and define what steps, if any, are necessary for their safe operation. Part of that evaluation was the identification of unsafe conditions that exist or could develop on the affected type design airplanes. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent incorrect flight idle blade angle settings. This unsafe condition, if not corrected, could lead to an asymmetric thrust situation in certain flight conditions, which could result in airplane controllability problems.