Airworthiness Directives; Fairchild Aircraft Inc. Models SA226- AT, SA226-TC, SA227-AC, and SA227-AT Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Fairchild Aircraft Inc. (Fairchild) Models SA226-AT, SA226- TC, SA227-AC, and SA227-AT airplanes. This action would require inspecting the cargo door lower belt frames at the cargo latch receptacles for cracks in the belt frames, repairing any cracks, and reinforcing the cargo door lower belt frames by installing doublers. The AD is the result of a decompression incident during flight caused by fatigue at the bottom of the cargo door on a Fairchild Model SA226- TC. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the failure of the cargo door in flight, which could cause decompression injuries to passengers and substantial structural damage to the airplane.