AD 2013-04-02 Airworthiness Directives; Reims Aviation S.A. Airplanes

This AD applies to Reims Aviation S.A. F406 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

Unless already done, do the following actions following the Accomplishment Instructions numbers 1 through 5 in Reims Aviation Industries Service Bulletin No. F406-74, dated September 26, 2012: (1) Within the next 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) after March 28, 2013 (the effective date of this AD) or within the next 30 days after March 28, 2013 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first, inspect the nose landing gear (NLG) attachment brackets, part number (P/N) 6013119-1, to verify if they are made of steel and not aluminum alloy. (2) If during the inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, you find that a NLG attachment bracket made of aluminum alloy is installed, before further flight, replace with an airworthy steel NLG attachment bracket, P/N 6013119-1. (3) As of March 28, 2013 (the effective date of this AD), do not install any NLG attachment bracket P/N 6013119-1 unless it is made of steel.

The following provisions also apply to this AD: (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Standards 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: Albert Mercado, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4119; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: albert.mercado@faa.gov . 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. (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service. (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in this AD, 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.

This AD was prompted by reports of improper material used in nose landing gear (NLG) attachment brackets that could lead to failure of the NLG bracket with consequent damage to the airplane while landing. We are issuing this AD to ensure the proper NLG attachment bracket is installed.

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