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

This amendment supersedes Airworthiness Directive (AD) 93-15- 02 R2, which currently requires the following on Fairchild Aircraft, Inc. (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 exceeded or rod slippage is evident; and, eventually replacing the actuator regardless of the inspection results. This action retains the repetitive inspections and replacement requirements, adds the repetitive inspections after the installation of certain Barber-Coleman pitch time actuators, and removes the terminating action. This action is the result of failure of the no-backs on a Barber-Colman pitch time actuator installed on a Fairchild Aircraft SA227 series airplane. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the pitch trim actuator, which could cause loss of control of the airplane.