[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 6, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62321-62323]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29669]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-25-AD; Amendment 39-9452; AD 95-25-07]


Airworthiness Directives; Fairchild Aircraft SA226 Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: 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.

DATES: Effective January 17, 1996.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of January 17, 1996.

ADDRESSES: 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-25-AD, Room 
1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or 

[[Page 62322]]
at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street NW., 
suite 700, Washington, DC.

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: 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 of the 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 airplane 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.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

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

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 Nos.          
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 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.
    (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, 

[[Page 62323]]
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 (39-9452) becomes effective on January 17, 
1996.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 28, 1995.
Dwight A. Young,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-29669 Filed 12-5-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U