Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace Model HP.137 Jetstream Mk.1, Jetstream Series 200, and Jetstream Series 3101 Airplanes

This amendment supersedes Airworthiness Directive (AD) 98-13- 03, which currently requires repetitive inspections of the main landing gear (MLG) hinge fittings, support angles, and attachment bolts on British Aerospace Model HP.137 Jetstream Mk.1, Jetstream Series 200, and Jetstream Series 3101 airplanes. AD 98-13-03 also requires eventual installation of improved design MLG hinge fittings as terminating action for the repetitive inspections of the hinge fittings and attachment bolts. AD 98-13-03 specifies repetitive inspections of the support angles for those airplanes with the improved design MLG hinge fittings installed and exempts from the applicability those airplanes with the improved design MLG hinge fittings installed. This AD retains the requirements of AD 98-13-03 and removes the applicability exemption of those Model HP.137 Jetstream Mk.1 and Jetstream Series 200 airplanes with the improved design MLG hinge fittings installed. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect, correct, and prevent future fatigue cracking of the MLG, which could result in structural failure of the MLG and consequent loss of airplane control during takeoff, landing, or taxi operations.