AD 2011-02-04 Airworthiness Directives; M7 Aerospace LP (Type Certificate Previously Held by Fairchild Aircraft Incorporated) Models SA26-AT, SA26-T, SA226-AT, SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-TC, SA227-AC (C-26A), SA227-AT, SA227-BC (C-26A), SA227-CC, SA227-DC (C-26B), and SA227-TT Airplanes

This AD applies to M7 Aerospace LP (type certificate previously held by Fairchild Aircraft Incorporated) Models SA26-AT, SA26-T, SA226-AT, SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-TC, SA227-AC (C-26A), SA227-AT, SA227-BC (C-26A), SA227-CC, SA227-DC (C-26B), and SA227-TT airplanes, all serial numbers, that are certificated in any category.

Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. Inspection (g) Within the next 21 days after January 24, 2011 (the effective date of this AD), inspect the cockpit heated windshields, part numbers 26-21126 and 27-19442, as applicable, for damage, e.g., delamination, glass shear, and interlayer cracking. Do the inspection following M7 Aerospace Service Bulletins 26-56-001, 226-56-011, 227-56-012, and CC7-56-009, all dated December 1, 2010, as applicable. (h) At the compliance times specified in table 1 of this AD, repetitively inspect the cockpit heated windshield for damage, e.g., delamination, glass shear, and interlayer cracking. Do the inspections following M7 Aerospace Service Bulletins 26-56-001, 226-56-011, 227-56-012, and CC7-56-009, all dated December 1, 2010, as applicable. Table 1—Repetitive Inspection Compliance Times Category If the installed cockpit heated windshield (new or repaired) has the following hours time-in-service (TIS) Then repetitively inspect at intervals not-to-exceed A Less than 1,100 Every 150 hours TIS until the windshield accumulates 1,100 hours TIS, at which time inspect according to Category B. B 1,100 to 5,000 Every 100 hours TIS until the windshield accumulates 5,001 hours TIS, at which time inspect according to Category C. C More than 5,000 Every 50 hours TIS. (i) Before further flight after each inspection required in paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD in which damage is found in the critical and semi-critical inspection areas, replace or repair the windshield as specified in M7 Aerospace Service Bulletins 26-56-001, 226-56-011, 227-56-012, and CC7-56-009, all dated December 1, 2010, as applicable. (j) Within 30 days after each inspection required in paragraph (g) and (h) of this AD in which damage is found, report the results of the inspection to the FAA. Use the form (figure 1 of this AD) and submit it to the address specified in paragraph (n) of this AD. Special Flight Permit (k) Flights are limited to two pilot operations only. No single pilot operation allowed. Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement (l) A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the collection of information. All responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.       AD 2011-02-04 Airplane Model Number/Serial Number: Time-in-Service (TIS) of on cockpit heated windshield: Inspection results: Corrective Action Taken: Any Additional Information (Optional): Name: Telephone and/or E-mail Address: Date: Send report to: Hung Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137-0150; phone: (817) 222-5155; fax: (817) 222-5960; e-mail: hung.v.nguyen@faa.gov. Figure 1 Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (m)(1) The Manager, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the attention of the person identified in the Related Information section of this AD. (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your Principal Maintenance Inspector or Principal Avionics Inspector, as appropriate, or lacking a principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office. Related Information (n) For more information about this AD, contact Hung Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137-0150; phone: (817) 222-5155; fax: (817) 222-5960; e-mail: hung.v.nguyen@faa.gov. Material Incorporated by Reference (o) You must use the service information contained in Table 2 of this AD to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. Table 2—All Material Incorporated by Reference Document Revision Date M7 Aerospace Service Bulletin 26-56-001 N/A December 1, 2010. M7 Aerospace Service Bulletin 226-56-011 N/A December 1, 2010. M7 Aerospace Service Bulletin 227-56-012 N/A December 1, 2010. M7 Aerospace Service Bulletin CC7-56-009 N/A December 1, 2010. (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of the service information contained in Table 2 of this AD under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact M7 Aerospace LP, 10823 NE Entrance Road, San Antonio, Texas 78216; telephone: (210) 824-9421; Internet: http://www.m7aerospace.com. (4) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust St., Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-2470. (5) You may also review copies of the service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at an NARA facility, 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 January 5, 2011. Earl Lawrence, Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2011-457 Filed 1-11-11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

This AD was prompted by reports from the windshield manufacturer of inner glass ply fracture. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct damage to the cockpit heated windshield, which could result in failure of the windshield with consequent rapid cabin decompression and loss of control of the airplane.