2018-11-02: Flight Controls

Adoption of the Amendment Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows: PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES 0 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. Sec. 39.13 [Amended] 0 2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD): 2018-11-02 Lockheed Martin Corporation/Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company and various other type certificate holders: Amendment 39- 19290; Docket No. FAA-2018-0447; Product Identifier 2018-NM-080-AD. (a) Effective Date This AD is effective May 23, 2018. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD applies to all Lockheed Martin Corporation/Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Model 188A and 188C airplanes; and Model P3A, P-3A, and P3B airplanes type certificated under various other type certificate holders; certificatedin any category. Note 1 to paragraph (c) of this AD: Certain variants of Model 188A and 188C airplanes are known as ``P-3'' series airplanes. P-3 series airplanes include but are not limited to Model CP-140, NP-3A, P3A, P-3A, P3B, P-3B, P-3C, P-3P, and WP-3D airplanes. (d) Subject Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 27, Flight controls. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by a report indicating that certain aileron control rod bodies, part number (P/N) 826999-3, were incorrectly machined so that they did not include the load-carrying threads in the bore [[Page 23791]] of the aileron control rod body. As a result, aileron control rod assemblies, P/N 826998-3, which contain the discrepant part, do not provide adequate load carrying capabilities. We are issuing this AD to address failure of the aileron control rod assembly, or loss or failure of the #10 (0.190-inch diameter) screw holding the left (or right) aileron control rod assembly together, which will result in loss of aileron authority, and could result in the jamming of both left and right ailerons, and loss of control of the airplane. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Inspection Within 3 days after the effective date of this AD, perform a borescope inspection of the aileron control rod assembly, P/N 826998-3, to determine if threads exist on the aileron control rod body, P/N 826999-3, in accordance with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Aircraft Maintenance Bulletin M0017R2, Revision 2, dated May 10, 2018. If the inspection indicates missing threads on the aileron control rod body, before further flight, replace the aileron control rod assembly with a serviceable part. A serviceable aileron control rod assembly is one that has been inspected in accordance with the requirements of this paragraph and found to have internal threads on the aileron control rod body.Note 2 to paragraph (g) of this AD: Guidance on replacing the aileron control rod assembly can be found in Lockheed Martin Aircraft Maintenance Manual Sections 27-2-2 AILERON PRIMARY CONTROL CABLES, Maintenance Practices, Rigging of Aileron Primary Control Cable System; 27-2-3 AILERON PUSH-PULL TUBES, BRACKETS AND BELLCRANKS, Maintenance Practices, Aileron Push-Pull Tubes, Brackets and Bellcranks, Remove/Replace/Adjust/Rig; and 27-2-4 AILERON, Maintenance Practices, Removal/Installation/Adjustment/Lubrication aileron. (h) Parts Installation Limitation As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install an aileron control rod assembly, P/N 826998-3, on any airplane, unless the aileron control rod assembly is serviceable as defined in paragraph (g) of this AD. (i) Reporting Provisions Although Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Aircraft Maintenance Bulletin M0017R2, Revision 2, dated May 10, 2018, recommends that inspection reports be submitted to Lockheed,this AD does not require that action. (j) Special Flight Permit Special flight permits, as described in Section 21.197 and Section 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199), are not allowed. (k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (1) The Manager, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the certification office, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (l) of this AD. (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office. (l) Related Information For more information about this AD, contact Hector Hernandez, Aerospace Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, FAA, Atlanta ACO Branch, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404- 474-5587; fax: 404-474-5606; email: [email protected]. (m) Material Incorporated by Reference (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (i) Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Aircraft Maintenance Bulletin M0017R2, Revision 2, dated May 10, 2018 (only the first page contains the date). (ii) Reserved. (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact Lockheed Martin Corporation/Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Customer Support Center, Dept. 3E1M, Zone 0591, 86 S Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA 30063; telephone 770-494-9131; email [email protected]; internet https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/business-areas/aeronautics/mmro/customer-support-center.html. (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.