AD 2015-04-01 Airworthiness Directives; Short Brothers & Harland Ltd. Airplanes

Models named: SC-7 Series 3. Read the applicability below — it usually turns on serial or part numbers too.

This AD applies to Short Brothers & Harland Ltd. Model SC-7 Series 3 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

Unless already done, comply with this AD within the compliance times specified in paragraphs (f)(1) through (f)(5) of this AD. (1) Within 30 days after March 30, 2015 (the effective date of this AD), accomplish a visual inspection of the NLG sliding tube following the instructions of paragraph 3.A of SAFRAN Messier-Buggatti-Dowty Service Bulletin No. 32-17M, dated November 1, 2014. Note 1 to paragraphs (f)(1), (f)(2), (f)(4), and (f)(5) of this AD: Instructions provided by SAFRAN Messier-Buggatti-Dowty Service Bulletin No. 32-17M, dated November 1, 2014, are referenced in Shorts Service Bulletin Number 32-74, dated November 1, 2014. (2) Within 90 days after March 30, 2015 (the effective date of this AD), do a fluorescent penetrant inspection of the sliding tube following the instructions of paragraph 3.B of SAFRAN Messier-Buggatti-Dowty Service Bulletin No. 32-17M, dated November 1, 2014. (3) If any crack is detected during the inspection required by paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD, before further flight, obtain FAA-approved repair instructions approved specifically for compliance with this AD by reporting the findings to Short Brothers & Harland Ltd. and incorporating those instructions. You can find contact information for Short Brothers & Harland Ltd. in paragraph (h) of this AD. (4) Within 30 days after any inspection required by paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD or within 30 days after March 30, 2015 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later, report the inspection results to Short Brothers & Harland Ltd. by completing the Inspection Results Proforma following the instructions of paragraph 3.C.(2) of SAFRAN Messier-Buggatti-Dowty Service Bulletin No. 32-17M, dated November 1, 2014. You can find contact information for Short Brothers & Harland Ltd. in paragraph (h) of this AD. (5) From March 30, 2015 (the effective date of this AD), you may install a sliding tube on an NLG provided that, before next flight after installation, the NLG sliding tube passes the inspections in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD following the instructions of paragraph 3 of SAFRAN Messier-Buggatti-Dowty Service Bulletin No. 32-17M, dated November 1, 2014.

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: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: doug.rudolph@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 mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as fatigue cracking which could lead to structural failure of the nose landing gear (NLG). We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking which, if not detected and corrected, could lead to structural failure of the NLG, possibly resulting in loss of control of the airplane during take-off or landing.

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