Airworthiness Directives; Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227 Series Airplanes

This amendment revises Airworthiness Directive (AD) 93-15-02, which requires the following on Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227 series airplanes that are equipped with a certain Simmonds-Precision pitch trim actuator: repetitively measuring the freeplay of the pitch trim actuator and repetitively inspecting the actuator for rod slippage; immediately replacing any actuator if certain freeplay limitations are not met or rod slippage is evident; and eventually replacing the actuator regardless of the inspection results. This action maintains these requirements, but reduces the hours time-in- service (TIS) before the initial inspection is required, and shortens both the time period between repetitive inspections and the actuator replacement compliance time (unless the replacement actuator is new or if the nut tube assemblies have been replaced during overhaul). An in- flight incident where the referenced actuator on one of the affected airplanes failed after accomplishment of the 5,000-hour initial inspection (with satisfactory results) prompted this action. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the horizontal stabilizer from going nose-down or jamming because of pitch trim actuator failure, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.