AD 2008-12-16 Airworthiness Directives; M7 Aerospace LP SA226 and SA227 Series Airplanes

This AD applies to the following airplane models and serial numbers (S/N) that are certificated in any category: (1) Group 1: Model SA226-AT Airplanes, All S/N. (2) Group 2: Model SA226-T Airplanes, All S/N. (3) Group 3: Model SA226-TC Airplanes, All S/N. (4) Group 4: Model SA227-AC Airplanes, All S/N. (5) Group 5: Model SA227-AT Airplanes, All S/N. (6) Group 6: Model SA227-CC Airplanes, All S/N. (7) Group 7: Model SA227-DC Airplanes, All S/N.

To address this problem, you must do the following, unless already done: Table 1.—Actions, Compliance, and Procedures Actions Compliance Procedures (1) For Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3 Airplanes: (i) Inspect electrical wires/components, hydraulic and bleed air tube assemblies at left-hand (LH)/right-hand (RH) inboard wing leading edge/battery box areas, LH/RH wing stations 51.167 to 81.174, and at all feed-through locations into the LH/RH inboard keelson for any evidence of chafing/arcing. Clear, repair, and/or replace all chafed electrical wires and components, hydraulic, and bleed air tube assemblies, and all feed-through locations, as required. (ii) Reposition battery lead cables, protect the battery power cable, and cover four-gauge wires leaving battery box with firesleeving and secure with clamp. Within 250 hours time-in-service (TIS) after July 23, 2008 (the effective date of this AD). Repetitively thereafter inspect (paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this AD) at intervals not to exceed 12 months. Follow M7 Aerospace SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. 226-24-036, issued: September 19, 2007; Swearingen Aviation Corporation SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. SB 24-001, issued: May 18, 1971; revised: September 16, 1975; Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. SB 24-019, issued: June 2, 1982; revised: May 17, 1983; and Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. SB 24-020, issued: January 18, 1983; revised: February 15, 1984. (2) For Group 4 and Group 5 Airplanes: (i) Inspect electrical wires/components, hydraulic and bleed air tube assemblies at LH/RH inboard wing leading edge/battery box areas, LH/RH wing stations 51.167 to 81.174, and at all feed-through locations into the LH/RH inboard keelson for any evidence of chafing/arcing. Clear, repair, and/or replace all chafed electrical wires and components, hydraulic, and bleed air tube assemblies, and all feed-through locations, as required. (ii) Protect the battery power cable and cover four-gauge wires leaving battery box with firesleeving and secure with clamp. Within 250 hours TIS after July 23, 2008 (the effective date of this AD). Repetitively thereafter inspect (paragraph (e)(2)(i) of this AD) at intervals not to exceed 12 months. Follow M7 Aerospace SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. 227-24-019, issued: September 19, 2007; Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. SB24-001, issued: June 2, 1982; revised: May 17, 1983; and Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. SB24-002, issued: January 18, 1983; revised: February 15, 1984. (3) For Group 6 and Group 7 Airplanes: Inspect electrical wires/components, hydraulic and bleed air tube assemblies at LH/RH inboard wing leading edge/battery box areas, LH/RH wing stations 51.167 to 81.174, and at all feed-through locations into the LH/RH inboard keelson for any evidence of chafing/arcing. Clear, repair, and/or replace all chafed electrical wires and components, hydraulic, and bleed air tube assemblies, and all feed-through locations, as required Within 250 hours TIS after July 23, 2008 (the effective date of this AD). Repetitively thereafter inspect at intervals not to exceed 12 months. Follow M7 Aerospace SA227 Series Commuter Category Service Bulletin No. CC7-24-010, issued: September 19, 2007. Note: Although not a requirement of this AD, you may incorporate Swearingen Aviation Corporation SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. 57-010, Revised: December 5, 1975, on those airplanes that have not installed the access panel. Installation of the access panel will simplify the incorporation of the service bulletins referenced in this AD and future inspections of the areas of concern. Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (f) The Manager, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Werner Koch, Aerospace Engineer, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone: (817) 222-5133; fax: (817) 222-5960. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO. Material Incorporated by Reference (g) You must use the service information specified in TABLE 2— Material Incorporated by Reference of this AD to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact M7 Aerospace Repair Station, P.O. Box 790490, San Antonio, Texas 78279-0490; telephone: (210) 824-9421; fax: (210) 804-7789. (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html . Table 2.—Material Incorporated by Reference Service Bulletin No. Date (i) M7 Aerospace SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. 226-24-036 Issued: September 19, 2007. (ii) Swearingen Aviation Corporation SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. SB 24-001 Issued: May 18, 1971, Revised: September 16, 1975. (iii) Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. SB 24-019 Issued: June 2, 1982, Revised: May 17, 1983. (iv) Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. SB 24-020 Issued: January 18, 1983, Revised: February 15, 1984. (v) M7 Aerospace SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. 227-24-019 Issued: September 19, 2007. (vi) Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. SB24-001 Issued: June 2, 1982, Revised: May 17, 1983. (vii) Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. SB24-002 Issued: January 18, 1983, Revised: February 15, 1984. (viii) M7 Aerospace SA227 Series Commuter Category Service Bulletin No. CC7-24-010 Issued: September 19, 2007. Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 4, 2008. David R. Showers, Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. E8-13180 Filed 6-17-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD results from five reports of chafing between the bleed air tube and the electrical starter cables with one incident resulting in a fire. We are adopting this AD to detect and correct chafing/arcing of electrical wires, components, and bleed air lines. This condition could result in arcing of the exposed wires and burn a hole in the bleed air line or the nearby hydraulic line, and lead to a possible hydraulic fluid leak and fire in the engine nacelle compartment.