AD 2006-17-01 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: Table 1.—Applicability Type certificate Models Serial Nos. (1) A2PC MU-2B, MU-2B-10, MU-2B-15, MU-2B-20, MU-2B-25, and MU-2B-26 008 through 312, 314 through 320, and 322 through 347. (2) A2PC MU-2B-30, MU-2B-35, and MU-2B-36 501 through 651, 653 through 660, and 662 through 696. (3) A10SW MU-2B-25, MU-2B-26, MU-2B-26A, and MU-2B-40 313SA, 321SA, and 348SA through 459SA. (4) A10SW MU-2B-35, MU-2B-36, MU-2B-36A, and MU-2B-60 652SA, 661SA, and 697SA through 1569SA.

To address this problem, you must do the following: Table 2.—Actions/Compliance/Procedures Actions Compliance Procedures (1) Incorporate the following pages from the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) charts listed in TABLE 3.—AFM INSERTION PAGES, paragraph (f) of this AD, into the Limitations Section of the FAA-approved AFM Within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after September 22, 2006 (the effective date of this AD) 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 do the flight manual changes requirement 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). (2) Inspect the engine torque indication system and recalibrate the torque pressure transducers as required. This inspection requires the use of the power assurance charts referenced in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD and in TABLE 3, paragraph (f) of this AD Within 100 hours TIS after September 22, 2006 (the effective date of this AD) (i) For airplanes listed in Type Certificate No. A2PC follow Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) MV-2 Service Bulletin No. 233A, dated January 14, 1999. (ii) For airplanes listed Type Certificate No. A10SW follow MHI Service Bulletin No. MV-2 095/77-002, dated July 15, 1998. (f) Use the following power assurance charts when doing the ground check portion of the inspection required in paragraph (e)(2) of this AD. Table 3.—AFM Insertion Pages Model of airplane affected Date and version of AFM Page number from AFM (i) MU-2B AFM, Section 6, Revision 9, dated January 14, 1999 6-34. (ii) MU-2B-15 AFM, Section 6, Revision 9, dated January 14, 1999 6-19. (iii) MU-2B-20 AFM, Section 6, Revision 9, dated January 14, 1999 6-20. (iv) MU-2B-25 AFM, Section 6, Reissued March 25, 1986; and AFM, Section 6, Revision 9, dated January 14, 1999 6-18 and 6-19 6-19. (v) MU-2B-26 AFM, Section 6, Reissued March 25, 1986; and AFM, Section 6, Revision 9, dated January 14, 1999 6-17 and 6-18 6-19. (vi) MU-2B-26A AFM, Section 6, Reissued March 25, 1986 6-17 and 6-18. (vii) MU-2B-35 AFM, Section 6, Reissued March 25, 1986; and AFM, Section 6, Revision 9, dated January 14, 1999 6-18 and 6-19 6-19. (viii) MU-2B-36A AFM, Section 6, Reissued February 28, 1986 6-20 and 6-21. (ix) MU-2B-40 AFM, Section 6, Reissued March 25, 1986 6-17 and 6-18. (x) MU-2B-60 AFM, Section 6, Reissued September 24, 1985 6-19 and 6-20. (xi) MU-2B-10 AFM, Section 6, Revision 9, dated January 14, 1999 6-19. (xii) MU-2B-30 AFM, Section 6, Revision 10, dated January 14, 1999 6-19. (xiii) MU-2B-36 AFM, Section 6, Revision 9, dated January 14, 1999 6-20. Note: AFM, Section 6, Reissued March 25, 1986 (FAA-approved) TCDS A10SW. AFM, Section 6, Revision 9 and Revision 10, dated January 14, 1999 (JCAB-approved). Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (g) The Manager, Fort Worth Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, ATTN: Rao Edupuganti, Aerospace Engineer, ASW-150, Fort Worth ACO, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76193; 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. Related Information (h) Japan Civil Aviation Bureau Airworthiness Directive No. TCD 4889-98, dated November 5, 1998, also addresses the subject of this AD. Material Incorporated by Reference (i) You must do the actions required by this AD following the instructions in Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. MV-2 Service Bulletins No. 233A, dated January 14, 1999; and No. 095/77-002, dated July 15, 1998. 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 America, Inc., 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 20590-0001 or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov . The docket number is FAA-2006-23883; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-12-AD. Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 9, 2006. John R. Colomy, Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. E6-13441 Filed 8-17-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD is the result of 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 detect and correct torque transducers that are out of calibration. The above issue, if uncorrected, could result in degraded performance and poor handling qualities and lead to loss of control of the airplane in certain situations.