Summary
This document proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 77-25-03, which currently requires repetitively inspecting the landing gear actuator rod ends that are equipped with grease fittings for cracks on Fairchild Aircraft, Inc. (Fairchild Aircraft) Models SA226-T, SA226-AT, and SA226-TC airplanes. AD 77-25-03 also requires replacing the landing gear actuator rod ends with an improved part either immediately or at a certain time period depending on the results of the inspections. Replacement of all six rod ends terminates the repetitive inspection requirements of AD 77-25-03. The AD proposed in this document is the result of failures of the landing gear rod ends on airplanes where the rod ends were replaced in accordance with AD 77-25- 03. Fairchild has re-designed the landing gear rod ends as a result of these failures. The proposed AD would require replacing all landing gear rod ends with these improved design parts on all SA226 series airplanes, including those manufactured since AD 77-25-03 was issued (i.e., the Model SA226-T(B) airplanes). The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of the landing gear actuator caused by cracks in the rod ends, which could result in the inability to lower the landing gear during a landing with consequent possible loss of control of the airplane.