[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:
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Model Serial Nos.
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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.
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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