AD/SWSA226/68 Amdt 5 - Pitch Trim Actuator

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Legislation au F2006B07210 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 Series Aeroplanes

 

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE


For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/SWSA226/68 Amdt 4 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

 

AD/SWSA226/68

Amdt 5


Pitch Trim Actuator 5/2000

 

Applicability: All SA 226 and SA227 series aircraft.

 

Requirement: 1. For Aircraft fitted with

 

a. Simmonds-Precision pitch trim actuator P/N DL5040M5, DL5040M6 or Dl5040M8:

 

Inspect for and measure the freeplay of the pitch trim actuator, and inspect the actuator for rod slippage in accordance with the INSTRUCTIONS section of Fairchild Aircraft SA226 Series Service Letter 226-SL-005 Revised 22 May 1996 or Fairchild SA227 Series Service Letter 227-SL-011 both Revised 03 August 1999; or Fairchild Aircraft SA227 Series Service Letter CC7-SL-028 Issued 12 August 1999.22 May 1996, as applicable.

 

b. Barber-Colman actuators P/N 27-19008-00-001, 27-19008-002, 27-19008-004,

or 27-19008-005:

 

Conduct a functional inspection of the actuator in accordance with the INSTRUCTIONS section of Fairchild Aircraft SL 226-SL-014, 227-SL-031 or CC7-SL-021, all revised 01 February 1999.

 

If in either of the above the freeplay limitations or rod slippage as listed in the Service Letters are exceeded or rod slippage is found, then the pitch trim actuator is to be replaced before further flight.

 

2. Replace the pitch trim actuator.

 

Note: FAA AD 2000-03-17 refers.

 

Compliance: 1. Per the attached Table.

 

2. Per the attached Table.

 

This Amendment becomes effective on 18 May 2000.

 

 

Background: The FAA has received reports of two inflight failures of the referenced actuators. The actions specified in this Directive are intended to prevent the horizontal stabiliser from going nose down or jamming because of actuator failure.

 

Amendment 1 aligned this Directive with Fairchild 227-SL-018 as an FAA approved alternate means of compliance with respect to Requirement 2.

 

Amendment 2 was issued to align this Directive with a revision of the related Country of Origin AD. This revision changed the compliance times for the inspection threshold, reinspection and replacement in response to an in flight incident where the actuator failed after the satisfactory accomplishment of the 5000 hour initial inspection.

 

Amendment 3 was raised to correct a typographical error in the compliance time of the Country of Origin AD, to expand the inspection requirements to include another affected actuator after further reports of failure and to refer directly with the latest revision of the Service Letters.

 

Amendment 4 was raised to include a new actuator type.

 

Amendment 5 references a superseding FAA AD, and also includes aircraft which may now have different pitch trim actuators installed.

 

Amendment 4 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 29 January 1998. Amendment 3 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 7 November 1996. Amendment 2 of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 17 August 1995.

The initial issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 14 October 1993.

 

Table

Attached to AD/SWSA226/68 Amdt 5

 

Condition

Initial Inspection

Inspection Repetitive

Repetitive Replacement

For all affected airplane models, except for the Models SA227-CC and SA227-DC, with an original Simmonds- Precision actuator, P/N DL5040M5, installed.

Upon accumulating 3,000 hours TIS on a Simmonds- Precision P/N DL5040M5 actuator or within 50 hours TIS after 17 August 1995 (the effective date of Amendment 2), whichever occurs last.

Every 250 hours TIS after the initial inspection until accumulating 5,000 hours TIS on the actuator or 500 hours TIS after the last inspection required by Amendment 2, whichever occurs later.

Initially upon accumulating 5,000 hours TIS on the actuator or 500 hours TIS after the initial inspection, whichever occurs later, and thereafter as indicated below.

 

 

Condition

Initial Inspection

Inspection Repetitive

Repetitive Replacement

For all affected airplane models, except for the Models SA227-CC and SA227-DC, with a replacement Simmonds- Precision actuator, P/N DL5040M5, installed.

Initially upon accumulating 5,000 hours TIS on the new actuator or within 50 hours TIS after 17 August 1995 (the effective date of Amendment 2), whichever occurs last.

Every 300 hours TIS after the initial inspection until accumulating 6,500 hours TIS on the actuator.

Upon accumulating 6,500 hours TIS on the actuator.

For all affected airplane models, except for the Models SA227-CC and SA227-DC, with a replacement Simmonds- Precision actuator, P/N DL5040M6, installed. This part can be new, modified from a P/N DL5040M5 actuator, or overhauled and zero-timed.

Initially upon accumulating 7,500 hours TIS on the new or modified actuator or within 50 hours TIS after 17 August 1995 (the effective date of Amendment 2), whichever occurs last.

Every 300 hours TIS after the initial inspection until accumulating 9,900 Hours TIS on the actuator.

Upon accumulating 9,900 hours TIS on the actuator.

For all affected airplane models, except for the Models SA227-CC and SA227-DC, with a replacement Simmonds- Precision actuator, P/N DL5040M5, installed that was overhauled and zero- timed where both nut assemblies, P/N AA56142, were replaced with new assemblies during overhaul.

Initially upon accumulating 5,000 hours TIS on the over- hauled actuator or within 50 hours TIS after 17 August 1995 (the effective date of Amendment 2), whichever occurs last.

Every 300 hours TIS after the initial inspection until Accumulating 6,500 hours TIS on the actuator.

Upon accumulating 6,500 hours TIS on the actuator.

For all affected airplane models, except for the Models SA227-CC and SA227-DC, with a replacement P/N DL5040M5 actuator installed that was overhauled and zero-timed where both nut assemblies, P/N AA56142, were not replaced with new assemblies during overhaul.

Initially upon accumulating 3,000 hours TIS on the over- hauled actuator or within 50 hours TIS after 17 August 1995 (the effective date of Amendment 2), whichever occurs last.

Every 250 hours TIS after the initial inspection until accumulating 5,000 hours TIS on the actuator.

Upon accumulating 5,000 hours TIS on the actuator.

 

 

Condition

Initial Inspection

Inspection Repetitive

Repetitive Replacement

For all affected airplane models with a newly fabricated or over-hauled and zero-timed Barber- Colman actuator, P/N 27- 19008-001/-004 or P/N 27-

19008-002/-005.

Upon accumulating 500 hours total TIS on the newly fabricated or over-hauled and zero-timed actuator or within 50 hours TIS, 29 January 1998 (the effective date of Amendment 4), whichever occurs last.

Every 300 hours TIS after the initial inspection.

None.

For the Models SA227-CC and SA227-DC only, with a Simmonds-Precision pitch trim actuator, P/N DL5040M5 or P/N

DL5040M6, installed.

None.

None.

Upon accumulating 1,500 hours TIS on the actuator.

For all affected airplanes with a Barber-Colman P/N 27-19008-006 or 27-

19008-007 actuator installed.

Must be overhauled upon the accumulation of 2,000 hours TIS on the actuator.

Must be overhauled at intervals not to exceed 2,000 hours TIS.

No replacement requirements.

For all affected airplanes with a Simmonds- Precision pitch trim actuator, P/N DL5040M8, installed.

Upon accumulating 7,500 hours TIS on the actuator or within the next 50 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs last.

Every 600 hours TIS after the initial inspection until accumulating 9,900 hours TIS.

Upon accumulating 9,900 hours TIS on the actuator.


 

Bernard Malcolm Hole

Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 11 April 2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 19 April 2000.

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued the Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/SWSA226/68 Amdt 5 for the Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 Series Aeroplanes in 2000. This AD was introduced to address safety concerns regarding pitch trim actuator failures in these aircraft, which could potentially lead to inflight incidents such as the horizontal stabiliser going nose down or jamming. The directive revokes the previous AD/SWSA226/68 Amdt 4 and updates the requirements for inspections, re-inspections, and replacements of pitch trim actuators in the affected aircraft. The AD was enacted under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, with the policy objective of ensuring the safety of the aircraft and its occupants by mitigating the risks associated with the identified unsafe conditions. This Airworthiness Directive, which is an instrument of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, was notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 19 April 2000. It aims to ensure the airworthiness of the affected aircraft by requiring specific actions to be taken to address the identified unsafe conditions. The directive includes detailed requirements for inspecting and replacing pitch trim actuators, as well as specifying the intervals for these inspections and replacements based on the type of actuator and the aircraft model. By implementing this AD, CASA seeks to maintain the highest safety standards for the operation of these aircraft within Australia.

Scope and Application

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies to all SA226 and SA227 series aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia. It was issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and pertains specifically to the pitch trim actuators on these aircraft. The AD mandates inspections, functional checks, and replacements of certain actuators to ensure continued airworthiness and safety, following in-flight incidents of actuator failure. The AD specifies requirements for aircraft fitted with either Simmonds-Precision or Barber-Colman actuators, detailing the inspection and replacement schedules based on the number of flight hours accumulated by the aircraft. The AD references relevant service letters and FAA directives for specific inspection and repair procedures. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for all affected aircraft, and failure to adhere to the specified maintenance and inspection requirements can result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy. The AD is enforced across the Commonwealth of Australia, and its application is overseen by CASA.

Key Provisions

This Airworthiness Directive (AD) issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) specifically targets the SA226 and SA227 series aircraft, mandating inspections and actions to address safety concerns with the pitch trim actuators. According to Section 39.1 (1) of the CAR 1998, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) delegate has revoked the previous AD (AD/SWSA226/68 Amdt 4) and introduced AD/SWSA226/68 Amdt 5, which includes detailed requirements for inspections and corrective actions. The applicability section of the AD covers all SA226 and SA227 series aircraft. The requirement section mandates inspections and measurements of the freeplay of the pitch trim actuators and inspections for rod slippage, as specified in certain service letters, for aircraft fitted with particular actuators. If freeplay limitations or rod slippage are exceeded, the actuator must be replaced before further flight. The compliance section outlines the inspection intervals and replacement schedules based on the total indicated time in service (TIS) of the actuators. The AD imposes specific obligations on the operators of SA226 and SA227 series aircraft. Operators must ensure that their aircraft comply with the inspection and maintenance requirements outlined in the AD. This includes conducting the required inspections at specified intervals, measuring the freeplay of the pitch trim actuators, and inspecting for rod slippage as per the instructions in the relevant service letters. If the inspection reveals that the freeplay limitations or rod slippage exceed the specified thresholds, the pitch trim actuator must be replaced before any further flight. Additionally, operators must adhere to the compliance schedule provided in the AD, which outlines the intervals for initial inspections, repetitive inspections, and replacement of the pitch trim actuators based on the TIS. Failure to comply with the requirements of this AD may result in serious safety implications, including the risk of the horizontal stabiliser going nose down or jamming due to actuator failure. There are no specific offences or penalties outlined in the AD itself, but non-compliance could potentially lead to enforcement actions under the CAR 1998, which may include fines, suspension or revocation of airworthiness certificates, and other regulatory actions. The safety implications of not adhering to the AD are significant, as it directly affects the airworthiness and safety of the aircraft in question.

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