Summary
This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to certain Fairchild Aircraft Incorporated (Fairchild) Models SA226-AT, SA226-TC, SA227-AC, and SA227-AT airplanes. The proposed action would require inspecting the cargo door lower belt frames at the cargo latch receptacles for cracks in the belt frames, repairing the cracks, and reinforcing the cargo door lower belt frames by installing doublers. A decompression incident during flight caused by fatigue at the bottom of the cargo door on a Fairchild Model SA226-TC prompted the proposed action. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent the failure of the cargo door in flight which could cause decompression injuries to passengers and substantial structural damage to the airplane.