AD 2009-11-06 Airworthiness Directives; M7 Aerospace LP Models SA226-AT, SA226-T, SA226-TC, SA227-AC (C-26A), SA227-AT, SA227-BC (C-26A), SA227-CC, and SA227-DC (C-26B) Airplanes

This AD applies to Models SA226-AT, SA226-T, SA226-TC, SA227-AC (C-26A), SA227-AT, SA227-BC (C-26A), SA227-CC, and SA227-DC (C-26B) airplanes, all serial numbers, that are certificated in any category.

To address this problem, you must do the following, unless already done: Table 1—Actions, Compliance, and Procedures Actions Compliance Procedures (1) For the following model and serial number (S/N) airplanes, inspect the main battery leads running forward from the battery compartment for deterioration, cover the four-gauge wires leaving the battery box with firesleeving, and secure them with a clamp: (i) SA226-AT, S/N AT-001 through AT-419; (ii) SA226-T, S/N T-201 through T-248; (iii) SA226-TC, S/N TC-201 through TC-419; (iv) SA227-AC (C-26A), S/N AC-420 through AC-539, AC-541, AC-543, AC-544, AC-547 through AC-551; and (v) SA227-AT, S/N AT-423 through AT-551. Within 250 hours time-in-service (TIS) after July 23, 2008 (the effective date of AD 2008-12-16). Use the following service information as applicable: (A) For Models SA226-AT, SA226-T, and SA226-TC airplanes: Follow M7 Aerospace SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. 226-24-019, revised: November 21, 2008; or Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. SB 24-019, revised: May 17, 1983; or (B) For Models SA227-AC (C-26A) and SA227-AT airplanes: Follow M7 Aerospace SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. 227-24-001, revised: November 21, 2008; or Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. SB24-001, revised: May 17, 1983. (2) For the following model and S/N airplanes, reroute the hydraulic tube assemblies in the right wing leading edge, reroute the battery cables and 22-gauge wire bundle, and install a new access panel forward of the battery box: (i) SA226-AT, S/N AT-001 through AT-074; (ii) SA226-TC, S/N TC-201 through TC-419; (iii) SA227-AC (C-26A), S/N AC-420 through AC-539, AC-541, AC-543, AC-544, AC-547 through AC-550; and (iv) SA227-AT, S/N AT-423 through AT-551. Before further flight after the modification required in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD and you were not able to obtain a minimum 0.50-inch clearance between the bleed air line and the tubing on the battery cables. Use the following service information as applicable: (A) For Models SA226-AT, and SA226-TC airplanes: Follow M7 Aerospace SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. 226-24-020, revised: August 4, 2008; or Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. SB 24-020, revised: February 15, 1984; or (B) For Models SA227-AC (C-26A) and SA227-AT, airplanes: Follow M7 Aerospace SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. 227-24-002, revised: November 21, 2008; or Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. SB24-002, revised: February 15, 1984. (3) For model SA226-AT, SA226-T, SA226-TC, SA227-AC (C-26A), SA227-AT, SA227-CC, and SA227-DC (C-26B) airplanes, all S/N: Inspect electrical wires and components, hydraulic tube assemblies, and bleed air tube assemblies at the left hand and right hand (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 or arcing. Within 250 hours TIS after July 23, 2008 (the effective date of AD 2008-12-16). Repetitively thereafter inspect at intervals not to exceed 12 months. Use the following service information as applicable: (i) For Models SA226-AT, SA226-T, and SA226-TC airplanes: Follow M7 Aerospace SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. 226-24-036, revised November 21, 2008; or M7 Aerospace SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. 226-24-036, issued: September 19, 2007; (ii) For Models SA227-AC (C-26A) and SA227-AT, airplanes: Follow M7 Aerospace SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. 227-24-019, revised: November 21, 2008; or M7 Aerospace SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. 227-24-019, issued: September 19, 2007; or (iii) For Models SA227-CC and SA227-DC (C-26B) airplanes: Follow SA227 Series Commuter Category Service Bulletin No. CC7-24-010, revised November 21, 2008; or SA227 Series Commuter Category Service Bulletin No. CC7-24-010, issued September 19, 2007. (4) For model SA227-BC (C-26A) airplanes, all S/N: Inspect the main battery leads running forward from the battery compartment for any evidence of insulation deterioration. Within 250 hours TIS after July 2, 2009 (the effective date of this AD). Follow M7 Aerospace SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. 227-24-001, revised: November 21, 2008. (5) For model SA227-BC (C-26A) airplanes, all S/N: Inspect electrical wires and components, hydraulic tube assemblies, 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 insulation deterioration, chafing, or arcing. Within 250 hours TIS after July 2, 2009 (the effective date of this AD). Repetitively thereafter inspect at intervals not to exceed 12 months. Follow M7 Aerospace SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. 227-24-019, revised: November 21, 2008. (6) For all model and S/N airplanes: Clear, repair, and/or replace all electrical wires and components, hydraulic tube assemblies, and bleed air tube assemblies, in the inspection area and feed-through locations that show any sign of insulation deterioration, chafing, or arcing, as required. Before further flight after any inspection required in paragraphs (e)(1), (e)(3), (e)(4), and (e)(5) of this AD where any evidence of insulation deterioration, chafing, or arcing was found. Use the service information from paragraphs (e)(1), (e)(3), (e)(4), and (e)(5) of this AD, as applicable. 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, ASW-150, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office, 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 or Table 3 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 the service information listed in Table 2 of this AD under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Table 2—Material Incorporated by Reference Service Bulletin No. Date (i) M7 Aerospace SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. 226-24-019 Revised: November 21, 2008. (ii) M7 Aerospace SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. 226-24-020 Revised: August 4, 2008. (iii) M7 Aerospace SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. 226-24-036 Revised: November 21, 2008. (iv) M7 Aerospace SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. 227-24-001 Revised: November 21, 2008. (v) M7 Aerospace SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. 227-24-002 Revised: November 21, 2008. (vi) M7 Aerospace SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. 227-24-019 Revised: November 21, 2008. (vii) M7 Aerospace SA227 Series Commuter Category Service Bulletin No. CC7-24-010 Revised: November 21, 2008. (2) On July 23, 2008 (73 FR 34615, June 18, 2008), the Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of the service information listed in Table 3 of this AD. Table 3—Previous Material Incorporated by Reference Service Bulletin No. Date (i) Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. SB 24-019 Revised: May 17, 1983. (ii) Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. SB 24-020 Revised: February 15, 1984. (iii) M7 Aerospace SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. 226-24-036 Issued: September 19, 2007. (iv) Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. SB24-001 Revised: May 17, 1983. (v) Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. SB24-002 Revised: February 15, 1984. (vi) M7 Aerospace SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. 227-24-019 Issued: September 19, 2007. (vii) M7 Aerospace SA227 Series Commuter Category Service Bulletin No. CC7-24-010 Issued: September 19, 2007. (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact M7 Aerospace Repair Station, 10823 NE Entrance Road, San Antonio, Texas 78216; telephone: (210) 824-9421; fax: (210) 804-7766; Internet: http://www.m7aerospace.com . (4) You may review copies of the service information incorporated by reference for this AD at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the Central Region, call (816) 329-3768. (5) You may also review copies of the service information incorporated by reference for this AD 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html . Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 18, 2009. Kim Smith, Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. E9-11989 Filed 5-27-09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD results from five reports of chafing between the bleed air tube assembly and the electrical starter cables on M7 Aerospace LP SA226 and SA227 series airplanes with one incident resulting in a fire. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct chafing of electrical wires and components, hydraulic tube assemblies, and bleed air tube assemblies. This condition could result in arcing of the exposed wires with consequent burning of a hole in a hydraulic line or the bleed air line. This failure could lead to a possible hydraulic fluid leak and fire in the engine nacelle compartment.