Summary
This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to all Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227 series airplanes. This proposal would require revising the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to specify procedures that would prohibit flight in freezing rain or freezing drizzle conditions (as determined by certain visual cues), limit or prohibit the use of various flight control devices, and provide the flight crew with recognition cues for, and procedures for exiting from, severe icing conditions. This proposal is prompted by results of a review of the requirements for certification of the airplane in icing conditions, new information on the icing environment, and icing data provided currently to the flight crews. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to minimize the potential hazards associated with operating the airplane in freezing rain or freezing drizzle conditions by providing more clearly defined procedures and limitations associated with such conditions.