Airworthiness Directives; Fairchild Aircraft SA226 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 161 (Monday, August 21, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43359-43360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-20278]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-36-AD; Amendment 39-9336; AD 95-17-07]


Airworthiness Directives; Fairchild Aircraft SA226 Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to certain Fairchild Aircraft SA226 series airplanes. This 
action requires removing the main landing gear (MLG) stop bolts from 
the bracket assembly on the upper scissors for those airplanes with a 
MLG door stop installation, and servicing the MLG oleos for all 
affected airplanes. Incidents where two of the affected airplanes made 
an emergency gear-up landing prompted this action. The actions 
specified by this AD are intended to prevent the MLG doors from 
jamming, which could prevent the gear from extending and could result 
in an emergency gear-up landing.

DATES: Effective August 28, 1995.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before October 16, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-36-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained from 
Fairchild Aircraft, P.O. Box 790490, San Antonio, Texas 78279-0490; 
telephone (210) 824-9421. This information may also be examined at the 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the 
Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 95-CE-36-AD, Room 
1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Werner Koch, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Airplane Certification Office, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, 
Texas 76193-0150; telephone (817) 222-5133; facsimile (817) 222-5960.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has received reports of two 
incidents where a Fairchild Aircraft SA226 series airplane made an 
emergency main gear-up landing when the main landing gear (MLG) door 
stop bolts and striker plate hardware jammed and prevented the MLG from 
extending. Investigation revealed that misalignment of the bolts and 
striker caused this jamming. This misalignment occurred because the 
gear did not fully extend upon gear retraction after the previous take-
off, which was caused by low hydraulic fluid in the strut.
    The landing gear oleos on these airplanes can fail to fully extend 
on takeoff when the hydraulic fluid upper chamber is under-serviced. 
Hydraulic servicing of the struts is not part of the affected 
airplanes' regular maintenance program. The FAA has requested that 
Fairchild Aircraft include hydraulic servicing as part of the 
maintenance program in the future. In the meantime, the FAA has 
determined that the struts should be serviced within a certain period 
of time to ensure that a low hydraulic fluid level does not exist in 
the strut.
    In addition, Fairchild Aircraft Service Bulletin (SB) 226-32-043, 
Revised: September 6, 1983, specifies procedures for a MLG door stop 
installation. The FAA has determined that problems could occur on 
airplanes with this door stop installation. If the MLG oleo fails to 
fully extend upon gear retraction, the door stop bolts are positioned 
differently as they are attached to the upper torque links. This can 
force the stop bolts against the striker plate attach bolts, which can 
jam the doors and could prevent subsequent gear extension. Normally, 
the gear squat switch would prevent the gear from retracting if the 
``air'' position was not achieved; however, the tolerance of the 
position of the ``make-break'' point of the switch is such that 
retraction is initiated even if the oleo has not fully extended.
    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has 
determined that (1) the stop bolts on the bracket assembly upper 
scissors should be removed from those airplanes with a MLG door stop 
that has been installed in accordance with Fairchild Aircraft SB 226-
32-043, Revised: September 6, 1983; (2) the MLG oleos on the SA226 
series airplanes should be serviced within a certain period of time; 
and (3) AD action should be taken to mandate these actions in order to 
prevent the MLG doors from jamming, which could prevent the gear from 
extending and could result in an emergency gear-up landing.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Fairchild Aircraft SA226 series airplanes of 
the same type design, this AD requires removing the stop bolts from the 
bracket assembly on the upper scissors for those airplanes with a MLG 
door stop installation, and servicing the MLG oleos for all affected 
airplanes.
    Since a situation exists (possible emergency gear-up landing) that 
requires the immediate adoption of this regulation, it is found that 
notice and opportunity for public prior comment hereon are 
impracticable, and that good cause exists for making this amendment 
effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves 
requirements affecting immediate flight safety and, thus, was not 
preceded by notice and opportunity to comment, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. 
Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted 
in triplicate to the address specified 

[[Page 43360]]
above. All communications received on or before the closing date for 
comments will be considered, and this rule may be amended in light of 
the comments received. Factual information that supports the 
commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating 
the effectiveness of the AD action and determining whether additional 
rulemaking action would be needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might 
suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be 
available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the 
Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that 
summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this 
AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 95-CE-36-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.
    The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency 
regulation and that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe 
condition in aircraft, and is not a ``significant regulatory action'' 
under Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further that this 
action involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is determined 
that this emergency regulation otherwise would be significant under DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final regulatory evaluation will 
be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket (otherwise, an evaluation is 
not required). A copy of it, if filed, may be obtained from the Rules 
Docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 USC 106(g), 40101, 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
to read as follows:

95-17-07 Fairchild Aircraft: Amendment 39-9336; Docket No. 95-CE-36-
AD.

    Applicability: The following airplane models and serial numbers, 
certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Model                             Serial Nos.            
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SA226-T............................  T201 through T75 and T77 through   
                                      T291.                             
SA226-T(B).........................  T(B)276 and T(B)292 through        
                                      T(B)417.                          
SA226-AT...........................  AT001 through AT074.               
SA226-TC...........................  TC201 through TC419.               
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 use the authority 
provided in paragraph (d) of this AD to request approval from the 
FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current 
configuration eliminates the unsafe condition, or different actions 
necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such 
a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed 
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no 
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair 
remove any airplane from the applicability of this AD.

    Compliance: Required as indicated in the body of this AD.

    To prevent the main landing gear (MLG) doors from jamming, which 
could prevent the gear from extending and could result in an 
emergency gear-up landing, accomplish the following:
    (a) For airplanes with the MLG door stop that has been installed 
in accordance with Fairchild Aircraft SA226-32-043, Revised: 
September 6, 1983, within the next 50 hours time-in-service after 
the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished, remove 
the part number (P/N) 27K51001-007 bolts (4 each) or alternate P/N 
NAS 428-3-13 bolts and jam nuts, P/N NAS 509-3 (4 each), from the P/
N 27K51001-003 bracket assembly.
    (b) For all affected airplanes, within the next 50 hours TIS 
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished 
within the last 400 hours TIS, accomplish the ``Fluid Servicing--
Landing Gear'' instructions in SA226 Maintenance Manual 32-00-00, 
paragraph 1C.
    (c) 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.
    (d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Airplane Certification Office (ACO), FAA, 
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 
ACO.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Fort Worth ACO.

    (e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
Fairchild Aircraft Service Bulletin 226-32-043, Revised: September 
6, 1983, or page 1C of SA226 Maintenance Manual 32-00-00 upon 
request to Fairchild Aircraft, P.O. Box 790490, San Antonio, Texas 
78279-0490; or may examine this service bulletin at the FAA, Central 
Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
    (f) This amendment (39-9336) becomes effective on August 28, 
1995.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 10, 1995.
Gerald W. Pierce,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-20278 Filed 8-18-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U

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