SAIB CE-1515: Empennage – Horizontal &
Vertical Stabilizer Structure
Issued: April 20, 2015
Compliance: It has been determined that the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that would warrant Airworthiness Directive (AD) action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 39 at this time. This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.
Effectivity: King Air Model F90 and King Air 200, B200, 300 and B300 series aircraft.
Background: The FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), has received reports from the Beechcraft Repair Design Office (RDO) of approximately100 repairs in the past decade to address structural corrosion of the empennage. Typically, the RDO is consulted when corrosion levels exceed repair limits governed by the standard repair manual (SRM). In the cases, Beechcraft cited that the most extreme corrosion was experienced on the rear spar cap (or chord) of both the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. However, corrosion damage was not limited to those areas and was also discovered inside the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. Although the horizontal and vertical stabilizers were originally designed with access panels, Beechcraft has designed kits for the installation of additional access panels in order to facilitate more thorough inspections of these areas.
Beechcraft has also revised the Airworthiness Limitations Manual (ALM) of the Instructions for Continuing Airworthiness (ICA) for the affected models. The respective ALM’s refer to inspections defined in the SRM for each model.
Recommendations: We recommend that the latest revision of the airworthiness limitations be incorporated for the affected airplanes. Doing so will ensure corrosion inspections for both the horizontal and vertical stabilizers are included in the maintenance program. The respective Airworthiness Limitations are included in the following documents:
1. Airworthiness Limitations Section of King Air F90 Series Maintenance Manual Part
No. 109-590010-19 Revision B7, May 2014;
2. Airworthiness Limitations Manual King Air 200 Series Part No. 101-590010-453 Revision E, February 2015;
3. Airworthiness Limitations Manual King Air 300/300LW Part No. 101-590097-161 Initial Revision, May 2011;
4. Airworthiness Limitations Manual King Air B300/B300C Part No. 130-590031-211 Revision D, February 2015;
For Further Information Contact:
Paul Chapman, Aerospace Engineer
FAA Wichita ACO
1801 Airport Road
Room 100, Wichita, KS 67209
telephone: (316) 946-4152
fax: (316) 946-4129
e-mail: paul.chapman@faa.gov.
The above information is abbreviated for space purposes. For the entire communication,
go to www.beechcraft.com.
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