SAIB ACE-98-27

SPECIAL

AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION

BULLETIN

AIRCRAFT CERTIFICATION SERVICE 800 INDEPENDENCE AVENUE, S.W.

WASHINGTON, DC 20591

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration

No. ACE-98-27 April 23, 1998

Published by: FAA, AFS-610, P.O. Box 26460, Oklahoma City, OK 73125 This is issued for informational purposes only and any recommendation for corrective action is not mandatory.

Introduction The purpose of this Special Airworthiness Informa tion Bulletin is to advise owners/operators of SIAI Marchetti F-260 series aircraft of the need to assure the proper positioning of the fuel selector switch.

Background The Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Ce rtification Service, of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted a review of an FAA safety recommendation that would have required an Airworthiness Directive (AD) be issued against the SIAI Marchetti F-260 series aircraft to install a protective guard over the fuel selector switch. This would be to prevent an inadvertent movement of the switch.

Recommendation The information provided with this safety r ecommendation was not considered appropriate for AD action at this time, however, the FAA str ongly suggests that all owners/operators of SIAI Marchetti F-260 series aircraft review their operating procedures to be sure of the proper positioning of the fuel selector switch at all times.

For Further Information Contact:

Dave Keenan, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Project Support Branch (ACE-112), Small Airplane Directorate, 601 East 12 Street, Kansas C ity, Missouri, 64106; telephone: (816) 426-6934;

facsimile: (816) 426-2169.