SAIB CE-03-26 —

1 SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration No. CE-03-26 February 28, 2003 We post SAIBs on the internet at "av-info.faa.gov" This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory. Introduction This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you, a registered owner or operator of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) manufactured aircraft MU-2B-30/-35/-36 (S/N 501 through 696, except S/N 652, 661), and MU-2B-35/-36A-60 (S/N 652A, 661SA and 697SA through 1569SA), of the release of MHIA Service Bulletin Number 209, dated April 19, 1999, and Service Bulletin Number 073/53-002B, dated April 27, 1999. These Service Bulletins address Fuselage Frame Inspection and Repair. Background MHI issued Service Bulletins 073/53-002 and 209 due to the discovery of stress corrosion cracks around the screw holes on the inboard flange of the lower fuselage frame at stations 4610, 4850 and 5605 on the long body MU-2B airplanes only. The gap between the inboard flange of the lower fuselage frame and the upper splice flange were filled with shims. These frames may have been preloaded during alignment with the upper fuselage frames during the assembly process. The Service Bulletins provide instructions for the inspection and repair of the cracks in the lower fuselage frames and corrective repair to avoid future cracks. In addition, MHI has required an inspection every 2,000 hours for the long body MU-2Bs to ensure the cracks are detected. Recommendation The Service Bulletins identified in this document are not considered appropriate for AD action at this time. However, we strongly recommend all owners and operators of the Mitsubishi MU-2B series aircraft listed above review their compliance with the following applicable Service Bulletins: Mitsubishi Airplane Series Service Bulletin Number/Date Model/Serial Number Title 209 Rev. B/April 19, 1999 MU-2B-30/-35/-36 S/N 501 thru 696 (except A/N 652, 661) Fuselage Frame Inspection and Repair 073/53-002 Rev. B/April 27, 1999 MU-2B-35/-36A/-60 S/N 652SA, 661SA and S/N 697SA thru 1569SA Fuselage Frame Inspection and Repair

2 This Service Bulletin Can Be Obtained From Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc., Aircraft Product Support Division, 4951 Airport Parkway, Ste. 800, Addison, Texas 75001; phone (972) 934-5480; fax: (972) 934-5488. For Further Information, Contact For airplanes covered under Service Bulletin 209: Mr. Carl Fountain, Aerospace Engineer, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California, 90712; phone: (562) 627-5222; fax: (562) 627-5210; email: [email protected] For airplanes covered under Service Bulletin 073/53-002: Mr. Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Airplane Certification Office, ASW-150, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0150; phone: (817) 222-5156; fax: (817) 222-5960; email: [email protected]