2003-17-05: Life limited items

2003-17-05 Short Brothers and Harland Ltd.: Amendment 39-13279; Docket No. 2000-CE-17-AD. (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects Models SC-7 Series 2 and SC-7 Series 3 airplanes, all serial numbers, that are certificated in any category. (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate any of the airplanes identified in paragraph (a) of this AD must comply with this AD. (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of critical structure of the aircraft caused by fatigue. (d) What must I do to comply with this AD? Do not operate the airplane upon accumulating the applicable life limit or within the next 90 days after September 29, 2003 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later. The following table presents the life limits: Serial number Life limit (1) SH1845 and SH1883 (2) SH1847 (3) SH1889 (4) SH1943 (5) SH1960 (6) All airplanes that do not have serial number SH1845, SH1883, SH1847, SH1889, SH1943, or SH1960. 10,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) 15,200 hours TIS 13,805 flights 11,306 flights 4,142 flights 20,000 flights Note 1: For owners/operators that do not have a record of the number of flights on the aircraft, assume the number of flights on the basis of two per operating hour. (e) What must I do to extend the life limits for airplanes with serial number SH1845, SH1847, SH1883, SH1889, SH1943, or SH1960? To extend the life limit on one of these airplanes, you must accomplish the actions of Shorts Service Bulletin No. 51-52, Original Issue: September 1, 1981 (latest version at Revision No.: 4, dated: July 16, 2002), and Shorts Skyvan Maintenance Program 1, not dated. The following table presents the extended life limit: Serial number Extended life limit (1) SH1845: (2) SH1847: (3) SH1883: (4) SH1889: (5) SH1943: (6) SH1960: 13,456 hours TIS. 20,200 hours TIS. 15,000 hours TIS. 20,094 flights. 17,325 flights. 8,449 flights. (f) What must I do to extend the life limit for my airplanes that do not have serial number SH1845, SH1883, SH1847, SH1889, SH1943, or SH1960? You can extend the life limit to 27,000 flights by accomplishing the actions of Shorts Service Bulletin No. 51-51, Original Issue: June 6, 1978 (latest version at Revision No.: 6, dated: March 14, 1983), and Shorts Skyvan Maintenance Program 1, not dated. Note 2: These life limits described in paragraph (e) are the final life limits of each aircraft unless the owner/operator works with Shorts Brothers PLC to develop a life extension program. Submit a plan to the FAA (address specified in paragraph (g) of this AD) for the proposed life extension program. Accomplishment of Shorts Service Bulletin No. 51-51, Original Issue: June 6, 1978 (latest version at Revision No.: 6, dated: March 14, 1983), does not extend the service life beyond the life limits described in paragraph (e). (g) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? You may use an alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time if: (1) Your alternative method of compliance provides an equivalent level of safety; and (2) The Standards Office Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, approves your alternative. Submit your request through an FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Standards Office Manager. Note 3: This AD applies to each airplane identified in paragraph (a) of this AD, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/ operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (g) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if you have not eliminated the unsafe condition, specific actions you propose to address it. (h) Where can I get information about any already-approved alternative methods of compliance? Contact Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; facsimile: (816) 329- 4090. (i) What if I need to fly the airplane to another location to comply with this AD? The FAA can issue a special flight permit under sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate your airplane to a location where you can accomplish the requirements of this AD. (j) Are any service bulletins incorporated into this AD by reference? Actions required by this AD must be done in accordance with Shorts Service Bulletin No. 51-51, Revision No.: 6, dated: March 14, 1983; and Shorts ServiceBulletin No. 51-52, Revision No.: 4, dated: July 16, 2002). The Director of the Federal Register approved this incorporation by reference under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may get copies from Short Brothers PLC, P.O. Box 241, Airport Road, Belfast BT3 9DZ Northern Ireland; telephone: +44 (0) 28 9045 8444; facsimile: +44 (0) 28 9073 3396. You may view copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC. Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in British AD Number 019-09-81, not dated. (i) When does this amendment become effective? This amendment becomes effective on September 29, 2003.