{"id":"F2009L01010","name":"AD/SWSA226/86 Amdt 3 - Wing Spar Centre Web Cutout","slug":"ad-swsa226-86-amdt-3-wing-spar-centre-web-cutout","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":78670,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2009L01010-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 S","sectionType":"division","heading":"Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 Series Aeroplanes","content":"### Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 Series Aeroplanes\n\n```html\n

AD/SWSA226/86 Amdt 3

Wing Spar Centre Web Cutout

4/2009

Applicability:

SA226-AT

AT001 through AT074

SA226-TC

TC201 through TC419

SA226-T

T201 through T291

SA226-T(B)

T(B)276 and T(B)292 through T(B)417

SA227-TT

TT421 through TT541

SA227-TT(300)

TT(300)447, TT(300)465, TT(300)471, TT(300)483, TT(300)512, TT(300)518, TT(300)521, TT(300)527, TT(300)529, and TT(300)536.

SA227-AC

AC406, AC415, AC416, and AC420 through AC785

SA227-AT

AT423 through AT631 and AT695

SA227-BC

BC762, BC764, BC766, and BC770 through BC789

SA227-CC/DC

CC/DC784 and CC/DC790 through CC/DC896

Requirement:

1. Inspect each wing spar centre web cutout for cracks between Wing Station (WS) 8 and WS 17.5. Accomplish this inspection in accordance with one of the following:

a. For Models SA227-TT, SA227-AT, SA227-AC, and SA227-BC aircraft: In accordance with Fairchild Airframe Airworthiness Limitations Manual
ST-UN-M001, Revision C-10, dated 27 October 2008; or Fairchild Airframe Airworthiness Limitations Manual ST-UN-M001, SA227 Series, Reissue C dated 18 January 1991, at the revision levels stated on page iii, iv and v, dated 16 August 1995, 8 March 2004 and 27 October, respectively.

\n```\n\n| | b. For Models SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-AT, and SA226-TC aircraft: In accordance with Fairchild Airframe Inspection Manual ST-UN-M002, Revision A-11, dated 27 October 2008; or Fairchild Airframe Inspection Manual ST-UN-M002, Reissue A, SA226 Series, dated 9 December 1986, at the revision levels stated on page iii, iv and v, dated 7 April 1998,5 October 2005 and 27 October 2008, respectively.c. For Models SA227-CC and SA227-DC aircraft: In accordance with Fairchild Airframe Airworthiness Limitations Manual ST-UN-M003, Revision 8, dated 5 October 2005; or Fairchild Airframe Airworthiness Limitations Manual ST-UN-M003, SA227 Commuter Category, Initial issue dated 6 December 1991, at the revision levels stated on page iii and page iv, dated 29 July 2003 and 5 October 2005, respectively.2. If any crack(s) is/are found during the above required inspection, repair the crack(s) in accordance with one of the following, as applicable. This repair eliminates the repetitive inspections (2,000 hours time in service intervals) specified in Requirement 1 of this Directive for that particular wing spar.a. For Models SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-AT, SA226-TC, SA227-TT,SA-227-AT, SA227-AC, and SA-227-BC aircraft: In accordance with Fairchild SA226/227 Series Structural Repair Manual, part number (P/N)27-10054-079, pages 77 through 89; Initial Issue: 1 March 1983; Revision 38, dated 30 April 2008.b. For Models SA227-CC and SA227-DC aircraft: In accordance with Fairchild SA227 Series Structural Repair Manual, P/N 27-10054-127, pages 47 through 60; Initial Issue: 1 December 1991; Revision 17, dated30 April 2008.The repetitive inspections required by Requirement 1 of this Directive may be terminated if the wing spar centre web repair specified in Requirement 2 of this Directive has been accomplished on both the left and right wing spar. If one wing spar centre web has been repaired, then repetitive inspections are still required on the other one if the repair has not been incorporated.Note: FAA AD 2005-06-13 Amdt 39-14023 refers. |\n| ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Compliance: | 1. Upon accumulating 6,500 hours time in service on each wing spar; within the next 2,000 hours time in service after the last inspection accomplished per the applicable Airworthiness Limitations Manual; or within the next 500 hours time in service after 7 July 2005, whichever occurs later, unless already accomplished; and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 2,000 hours time in service.2. Before further flight. |\n\n| | The compliance times remain unchanged by this issue. |\n| ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| | This Amendment becomes effective on 9 April 2009. |\n| Background: | The FAA received reports of cracks in the wing spar centre web cutout of affected aircraft. The cracks were caused by fatigue, due to aircraft manoeuvring and wing gusts, and if not detected and corrected, could result in structural failure of the wing spar with consequent loss of control of the aircraft.Amendment 1 aligned this Directive with the latest FAA AD, with no change to technical content.Amendment 2 was issued to update the Requirement documents revision status.Amendment 3 is issued to update the Requirement documents revision status. |\n\n![](image.001.png) \nDavid Punshon \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n6 February 2009","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/SWSA226/86 Amdt 3","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/SWSA226/86 Amdt 3","content":"## AD/SWSA226/86 Amdt 3","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Wing Spar Centre Web Cutout","sectionType":"part","heading":"Wing Spar Centre Web Cutout","content":"## Wing Spar Centre Web Cutout","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4/2009","sectionType":"part","heading":"4/2009","content":"## 4/2009","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Amendment 3 updates the referenced manual revision statuses only; it does not change the Directive's technical requirements or compliance times. Earlier amendments likewise aligned document revisions or matched the FAA AD without altering technical content (Background)."},"complexity_factors":["Applicability covers many variants and specific serial‑number ranges, so operators must check aircraft-by-aircraft (Applicability table).","Different inspection and repair documents are required depending on model (multiple Fairchild manuals and exact revision levels referenced) (Requirement 1(a)–(c); Requirement 2(a)–(b)).","Repetitive inspection regime with a conditional termination rule: inspections occur every 2,000 hours but stop only after repairs are done on both wings (Requirement 1 and 2).","Compliance timing uses multiple triggers (upon 6,500 hours on each wing spar; within next 2,000 hours after last applicable manual inspection; or within 500 hours after 7 July 2005), creating scheduling complexity (Compliance).","Detection of cracks imposes an urgent repair obligation before further flight, raising immediate operational and cost implications (Compliance 2).","Cross‑references to FAA AD and multiple prior amendments increase recordkeeping and version‑control overhead (Background; Note)."],"plain_english_summary":"Requires owners/operators of affected Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226/SA227 aeroplanes to inspect the wing-spar centre web cutout between Wing Station 8 and 17.5 at specified intervals and to repair any detected cracks using the manufacturer repair manuals; repairing both left and right wing spars removes the need for the 2,000‑hour repetitive inspections. The amendment updates the referenced manual revision levels but leaves the technical requirements and compliance times unchanged; the stated safety concern is fatigue cracks that could cause wing‑spar failure."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is Amendment 3 of an existing Airworthiness Directive originally issued in 1986 (AD/SWSA226/86). The amendments have maintained the original scope — addressing fatigue cracks in wing spar centre web cutouts — with only technical updates to referenced document revision levels. The Background explicitly states Amendments 1, 2, and 3 were issued to align with FAA directives and update document revision status, with no change to technical content or scope."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple aircraft models with different serial number ranges (10 distinct model variants listed)","Three different manufacturer manuals referenced depending on aircraft model, with specific revision dates and page references","Complex compliance timing calculation with three alternative triggers (6,500 hours TIS, 2,000 hours since last inspection, or 500 hours post-7 July 2005) using 'whichever occurs later' logic","Conditional termination of inspection requirements based on repair status of both left and right wing spars (asymmetric repair status creates ongoing obligation)","Cross-reference to FAA AD 2005-06-13 for additional context","Amendment history tracking (Amendments 1, 2, and 3) with specific technical changes documented"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive mandates owners/operators of specified Fairchild (Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 series aircraft inspect the wing spar centre web cutout for fatigue cracks and repair any defects before further flight. It sets initial and repetitive inspection timing and stops repeat checks only after both wings are properly repaired. The rule prevents catastrophic wing‑spar failure and loss of control."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-86-amdt-3-wing-spar-centre-web-cutout","history":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-86-amdt-3-wing-spar-centre-web-cutout/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-86-amdt-3-wing-spar-centre-web-cutout/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-86-amdt-3-wing-spar-centre-web-cutout/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-86-amdt-3-wing-spar-centre-web-cutout/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-swsa226-86-amdt-3-wing-spar-centre-web-cutout/documents"}}