AD 95-25-07

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Fairchild Aircraft SA226 series airplanes that are equipped with a part number 27-55001-229 actuator assembly. This action requires replacing the main landing gear door actuator tang and associated hardware with parts of improved design. Reports of the main landing gear doors hanging up and locking the landing gear links on the affected airplanes prompted this action. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the inability to extend the main landing gear because of the main landing gear door actuation roller contacting the lower edge of the tang and causing the linkage to lock over-center.

Final rule.

95-25-07 FAIRCHILD AIRCRAFT: Amendment 39-9452; Docket No. 95-CE-25-AD.

Applicability: The following airplane models and serial numbers that are equipped with a part number (P/N) 27-55001-229 actuator assembly, certificated in any category:

Model
Serial Numbers
SA226-T
T201 through T275 and T277 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 request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) 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.

Compliance: Required within the next 1,000 hours time-in-service after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent the inability to extend the main landing gear because of the main landing gear door actuation roller contacting the lower edge of the tang and causing the linkage to lock over-center, accomplish the following:

(a) Replace the main landing gear door actuator tangs and associated hardware, part numbers 27-55001-249 and 27-55001-250, with new tangs and hardware of improved design, part numbers 27-55001-299 and 27-55001-301. Accomplish this replacement in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Fairchild Aircraft Service Bulletin 226-32-059, Issued: February 14, 1991.

(b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance withsections 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.

(c) 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.

(d) The replacement required by this AD shall be done in accordance with Fairchild Aircraft Service Bulletin 226-32-059, Issued: February 14, 1991. 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. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., 7th Floor, suite 700, Washington, DC.

(e) This amendment becomes effective on January 17, 1996.

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to certain Fairchild Aircraft SA226 series airplanes that are equipped with a part number 27-5500-229 actuator assembly was published in the Federal Register on August 7, 1995 (60 FR 40118). The action proposed to require replacing the main landing gear door tangs and associated hardware with parts of improved design. Accomplishment of the proposed action would be in accordance with Fairchild Aircraft Service Bulletin 226-32-059, Issued: February 14, 1991.

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

In preparing the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the FAA inadvertently referenced part number (P/N) 27-55001-229 as P/N 27-5500-229 in the preamble and Applicability section ofthe proposed AD. The FAA is changing the AD to reflect the correct P/N.

After careful review of all available information related to the subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for the correction noted above and minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.

The FAA estimates that 307 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 4 workhours per airplane to accomplish the required action, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost approximately $114 (two main landing gear door actuator tang kits per airplanes at $57 each) per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $108,678.

Fairchild Aircraft has informed the FAA that enough main landing gear door actuator tang kits have been distributed to equip 11 of the affected airplanes (22 kits). Assuming that each of these kits is installed on an affected airplane, the cost impact upon U.S. operators of the affected airplanes would be reduced $3,894 from $108,678 to $104,784.

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.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a "significant rule" under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. A copy of the final evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption "ADDRESSES".

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, 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.

Section 39.13 - [AMENDED]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive (AD) to read as follows: