AD 2007-11-03

Unless already done, do the following actions:

(1) For all airplanes, within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, visually inspect the affected fuselage frame 19 using the instructions in Dornier 228 RUAG Alert Service Bulletin No. ASB-228-266, dated December 1, 2006.

(2) If any crack is found during the inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further flight, contact RUAG Aerospace Services GmbH, Dornier 228 Customer Support, P.O. Box 1253, 82231 Wessling, Germany; telephone: +49-(0)8153-30-2280; fax: +49-(0)8153-30-3030; e-mail: customersupport.dornier228@ruag.com for FAA-approved repair instructions and incorporate the repair on the airplane.

Note 1: This is considered interim action. The State of Design and DORNIER LUFTFAHRT GmbH are looking at a possible repetitive inspection program and/or modification program to address this condition for the long-term. In the meantime, the FAA recommends that you incorporate the above inspection into your regular maintenance program.

Note 2: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows: (1) The MCAI requires different compliance times for airplanes operated in different conditions. The FAA is not able to enforce compliance times based on airplane operations since there is no way of determining the amount of operations in different conditions. To ensure the unsafe condition is addressed adequately and timely, we are requiring the inspection for all airplanes at 25 hours TIS. (2) The MCAI allows flight with known cracks provided they do not exceed a certain limit. FAA policy does not allow flight with cracks in primary structure. Since the fuselage is considered primary structure, we are mandating repair before further flight after any crack is found.