Ameriflight, LLC

Ameriflight, LLC, currently operates 44 SA-227 aircraft, the largest civilian fleet of that type in the U.S. We agree with the requirement that the initial inspection be completed by 14 February 2011. However, we do not agree with the compliance table listed in Table 1 – Repetitive Inspection Compliance Times. The timeframe for inspections is confusing, and could result in inspecting one side of the windshield at a 50 hour interval, and the other side every 150 hours – an invitation for records errors. We have conducted 88 inspections on these windshields, and have found no correlation between time in service and incidence of cracks. The highest-time windshields in our fleet – in the airplane since 1987 – passed with flying colors. We had an overall “fail” rate of approximately ten percent, with – again – no correlation between calendar time or accumulated flight hours, and failures. We therefore request that the wording of the AD applicable to repetitive inspections either be changed to the following, or permit the following as an option: Once the initial inspection is completed, the recurring inspections may be harmonized with the operator’s scheduled maintenance events, not to exceed the 150 hour limit between inspections listed in Table 1.