{"id":"F2006B07174","name":"AD/SWSA226/34 - Fuselage Skin and Aft Belly Fairing - Inspection","slug":"ad-swsa226-34-fuselage-skin-and-aft-belly-fairing-inspection","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":49089,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006B07174-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"AD/SWSA226/34 - Fuselage Skin and Aft Belly Fairing - Inspection","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\nCOMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY\n\nSCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES\n\n \n\n![](image.001.png)  Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 Series Aeroplanes\n\n \n\n# AD/SWSA226/34 Fuselage Skin and Aft Belly Fairing - Inspection\n\nApplicability: All model SA226T with S/Nos. T201 to T275 and T277 to T291; All model\n\n# 9/81\n\nSA226AT with S/Nos. AT001 to AT074; All model SA226TC with S/Nos. TC201 to TC407.\n\n \n\nDocument: 1. Swearingen SB No. 53-006, and\n\n \n\n2. FAA AD 81-15-01 refers.\n\n \n\nCompliance: Unless already accomplished, within 250 hours time in service after 30 September 1981.\n\n \n\nBackground: Chafing may occur on the lower fuselage skin due to contact between the aft belly fairing stringers and the fuselage.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a discrete, single-issue safety directive focused on one specific structural inspection. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of addressing fuselage chafing in specific SA226 series aircraft."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document — approximately 150 words of substantive content","Only 4 defined elements: applicability (3 aircraft models with specific serial number ranges), 2 reference documents, 1 compliance deadline, and 1 background explanation","No nested conditional logic or exceptions — single straightforward requirement","No cross-references to other legislation or regulations beyond the two technical documents","Simple temporal trigger (date + flight hours) with single alternative (\"unless already accomplished\")"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** This is an **Airworthiness Directive (AD)** — a mandatory safety order issued by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Think of it as a recall notice for aircraft, but legally binding.\n\n**What it requires:** Owners and operators of specific **Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 series aeroplanes** must inspect the fuselage (main body) skin and the aft belly fairing (the rear underside covering) for damage caused by rubbing or chafing.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Specific aircraft models:** SA226T, SA226AT, and SA226TC\n- **Specific serial numbers only:** Not every plane of these models — only those with serial numbers listed in the directive (e.g., T201 to T275, T277 to T291, etc.)\n\n**Why it matters:** The metal skin of the fuselage can wear thin where the belly fairing's support beams rub against it. This \"chafing\" could weaken the aircraft structure, potentially leading to serious safety issues.\n\n**When to comply:** The inspection must be done within **250 flight hours** after 30 September 1981 — unless it was already completed.\n\n**Technical references:** The directive points to two documents for how to do the inspection:\n- Swearingen Service Bulletin No. 53-006 (from the manufacturer)\n- FAA AD 81-15-01 (the equivalent US safety order)"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The directive applies to the specific models and serial numbers listed and requires an inspection within a set flight-hours window; nothing in the text indicates an expansion or narrowing of that applicability beyond what is stated (Applicability; Compliance)."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow applicability limited to specified models and serial numbers (Applicability)","Mandatory compliance deadline expressed as flight hours after a calendar date, requiring tracking (Compliance)","Reliance on external technical documents (Swearingen SB No. 53-006 and FAA AD 81-15-01) for inspection procedures (Document)","AD specifies the action (inspect) but does not detail corrective procedures or costs (Document; Background)","Temporal qualification \"unless already accomplished\" requires operators to determine compliance history"],"plain_english_summary":"This AD requires operators of specified Swearingen/Fairchild turboprops to inspect the lower fuselage skin and aft belly fairing for chafing, following Swearingen Service Bulletin No. 53‑006 and FAA AD 81‑15‑01. Affected owners/operators must complete the inspection within 250 flight hours after 30 Sept 1981 if not already done. It matters because chafing can damage the fuselage; operators bear inspection and repair costs."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-34-fuselage-skin-and-aft-belly-fairing-inspection","history":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-34-fuselage-skin-and-aft-belly-fairing-inspection/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-34-fuselage-skin-and-aft-belly-fairing-inspection/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-34-fuselage-skin-and-aft-belly-fairing-inspection/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-34-fuselage-skin-and-aft-belly-fairing-inspection/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-34-fuselage-skin-and-aft-belly-fairing-inspection/documents"}}