AD 98-06-25 Airworthiness Directives; Fairchild Aircraft Inc. Models SA226- AT, SA226-TC, SA227-AC, and SA227-AT Airplanes

The following models and serial numbered airplanes, certificated in any category. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Models Serial numbers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SA226-AT.......................... AT001 through AT074. SA226-TC.......................... TC201 through TC419. [[Page 13493]] SA227-AC.......................... AC406, AC415, AC416, AC420 through AC456, AC458 through AC469, and AC471 through AC478. SA227-AT.......................... AT423 through AT469. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (e) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.

Required as indicated within the body of this AD, unless already accomplished. To prevent failure of the cargo door in flight, which, if not corrected, could cause decompression injuries to passengers and substantial structural damage to the airplane, accomplish the following: (a) Within the next 500 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, inspect the cargo door lower belt frames at the cargo latch receptacles for cracks in accordance with Part A of the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section in Fairchild Aircraft SA226 Series Service Bulletin (SB) No. 226-53-007, Issued: May 7, 1981; Revised: February 17, 1992, or Fairchild Aircraft SA227 Series SB No. 227-53-003, Issued: January 29, 1986; Revised: February 13, 1986, whichever is applicable. (b) If cracks are found during the inspection required in paragraph (a) of this AD, prior to further flight, accomplish the following: (1) For belt frames located at Fuselage Station (F.S.) 438.060 and F.S. 491.060, repair the belt frame by installing angle part number (P/N) 27-22206-009 or P/N 27-22206-010, in accordance with the Fairchild Aircraft SA226/227 Structural Repair Manual (SRM), Section 53-90-20, pages 2, 101, 102, 103, and 104; Initial Issue: March 1, 1983, Revision 24, dated August 27, 1997; or, Fairchild Aircraft Approved Repair Procedure (ARP) 53-30-9701, dated July 28, 1997. The reinforcement doublers (P/N 27-22206-007 and -008) are also needed together with this repair. (2) For belt frames located at F.S. 454.501, F.S. 455.726, F.S. 473.392, and F.S. 474.657, replace all four belt frames with new design frames, P/N 27-22207-008, 27-22208-005, 27-22208-005, and 27- 22207-007, respectively, in accordance with the Fairchild Aircraft SA226/227 SRM, Section 53-90-20, pages 2, 101, 102, 103, and 104; Initial Issue: March 1, 1983, Revision 24, dated August 27, 1997; or, Fairchild Aircraft ARP 53-30-9701, dated July 28, 1997. No reinforcement doublers are needed for these four new design belt frames. (c) If no cracks are found in all six belt frames during the inspection required by paragraph (a) of this AD, install reinforcement doublers in all six belt frames within 500 hours TIS from the initial inspection, in accordance with Part B of the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS of Fairchild Aircraft SA226 Series Service Bulletin (SB) No. 226-53-007, Issued: May 7, 1981; Revised: February 17, 1992, or Fairchild Aircraft SA227 Series SB No. 227-53- 003, Issued: January 29, 1986; Revised: February 13, 1986, whichever is applicable. (d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished. (e) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the initial or repetitive compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0150. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office. Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Manager, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office. (f) The inspections and modifications required by this AD shall be done in accordance with the following service information: Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SA227 Series Service Bulletin No. 227-53-003, Issued: January 29, 1986, Revised: February 13, 1986, Fairchild Aircraft Corporation SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. 226-53-007, Issued: May 7, 1981, Revised: February 17, 1992, Fairchild Aircraft SA226/SA227 Structural Repair Manual (SRM) section 53-90-20, Initial Issue: March 1, 1983, Revision 24, dated August 27, 1997, and pages 2, 101, 102, 103, and 104; Fairchild Aircraft Approved Repair Procedure (ARP) 53- 30-9701, dated July 28, 1997. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from Fairchild Aircraft, P. O. Box 790490, San Antonio, Texas 78279-0490, telephone (210) 824-9421. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC. (g) This amendment (39-10403) becomes effective on April 27, 1998. Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 9, 1998. Michael Gallagher, Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 98-6767 Filed 3-19-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P