FAA orders pitch trim actuator inspections on 198 US Metroliners and related Swearingen models
FAA final rule on Ontic (ex-Swearingen) SA226 and SA227 Metroliners after in-flight pitch trim actuator failures: repetitive inspections, sealing, travel-time c
The FAA has published a final airworthiness directive for a family of twin-turboprop airplanes built by Swearingen and now held by Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing. The rule follows reports of in-flight pitch trim actuator failures and affects 198 airplanes on the US registry.
Which airplanes are covered
The directive covers the SA226-T, SA226-AT, SA226-T(B), SA226-TC, SA227-AC (C-26A), SA227-AT, SA227-BC (C-26A), SA227-PC, SA227-CC, SA227-DC (C-26B) and SA227-TT (300). These are the Metroliner family, which is used for regional passenger, cargo and government work.
What operators must do
The rule requires operators to:
- Inspect the pitch trim actuator repeatedly for cracked, missing or compromised sealant.
- Replace and reseal the actuator if it is cracked, missing or compromised.
- Measure the actuator's travel time repeatedly, then replace the actuator depending on the results.
The inspections and measurements repeat at intervals, so the work is not a one-off check.
The rule and its comments
The rule takes effect on 1 December 2026. The FAA received comments from two commenters on the proposal, and the final text responds to them, including a request to add a missing row to a cost table. The FAA did not change the return-to-service procedure in response to one comment, according to the final rule.
What it means
The pitch trim actuator adjusts the aircraft's pitch, so failures are a flight-control concern. The directive is a maintenance requirement, and it does not ground the fleet. Operators with these aircraft will carry out the work during scheduled maintenance.
Sources
Featured image: Photo: Tomás Del Coro, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Fairchild SA227-AC Metro III N578AF. Source
.jpg){kind=link}