SAIB CE-01-34

SPECIAL

AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION

BULLETIN Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration No. CE-01-34 August 3, 2001 We post SAIBs on the internet at "av-info.faa.gov" This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.

Introduction This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you, an owner or operator of AERMACCHI S.p.A. (SIAI Marchetti or Agusta S.p.A.) S205-18/R, S205-20/R, S205-22/R, S208 and S208A airplanes, that AERMACCHI S.p.A. issued mandatory alert service bulletin (SB) 205B-62 dated December 20, 2000. The SB requires inspecting the aluminum landing gear clevis rod end P/N S205-6-214-07 or P/N S205-6-214-15 for discrepancies and replacing with a new steel landing gear clevis rod end P/N S205-6- 214-09 as required.

Background The Italian Airworthiness Authority, Ente Nazionale per l’Aviazione Civile (ENAC-RAI), issued AD 2000-4 dated January 2, 2001, for all SIAI Marchetti S205-18/R, S205-20/R, S205-22/R, S208 and S208A airplanes. The RAI – AD requires inspecting the landing gear clevis rod within 10 flight hours after the effective date per the SB. If discrepancies are found, replace the clevis rod with a new steel clevis rod per SB 205B-62. If no discrepancies are found, repetitively inspect every 100 flight hours per SB 205B-62.

This service bulletin was issued due to a report of one fatigue failure on the clevis rod..

Recommendation The FAA Small Airplane Directorate accomplished a Risk Assessment for this RAI – AD and did not have enough justification to warrant an US Airworthiness Directive (AD). We recommend those owners or operators of this aircraft type accomplish this inspection and keep the FAA informed of their findings. If more findings indicate a fleet wide safety concern, the FAA will reevaluate and may issue an AD. We are recommending, but not requiring, that owners/operators AERMACCHI S.p.A. S205-18/R, S205- 20/R, S205-22/R, S208 and S208A airplanes inspect and correct as required per the SB 205B-62 as soon as possible and inform the FAA Small Airplane Directorate of any crack findings.

For Further Information Contact Doug Rudolph, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, ACE 112, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106, telephone (816) 329-4059, fax (816) 329-4090.

Copies of AERMACCHI service bulletin 205B-62 can be obtained from AERMACCHI S.p.A., 21040 Venegono Superiore – Via Ing. Paolo Foresio, 1 (Italy); telephone 39 0331 813 111; fax: 39 0331 827 595 or 39 0331 813 450.