Airworthiness Directives; Fairchild Aircraft, Inc. SA226 and SA227 Series Airplanes

This amendment revises Airworthiness Directive (AD) 98-19-15, which currently requires incorporating information into the Limitations Section of the airplane flight manual (AFM) that imposes a speed restriction and a minimum pilot requirement for Fairchild Aircraft, Inc. (Fairchild) SA226 and SA227 series airplanes equipped with Barber- Colman pitch trim actuators, part number (P/N) 27-19008-001/-004 or P/N 27-19008-002/-005. Since AD 98-19-15 became effective, improved design pitch trim actuators have been developed that, when installed, will eliminate the speed restriction and minimum pilot requirements of the current AD. This AD requires incorporating these installations as a method of complying with the current AD. The actions specified by this AD are intended to lessen the possibility of airplane pitch up caused by mechanical failure of the pitch trim actuator, which could result in a pitch upset and structural failure of the airplane.