AD 96-10-10 Amendment 39-9617

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Jetstream Model 4101 airplanes, that requires inspections of the handrail assembly at the main entrance door to detect loose or missing rivets, abnormal movement between the handrail pivot-tube and the spigot that attaches to the bearing assembly, and cracks on the handrail pivot-tube. It also requires repair or replacement of the assembly, if necessary, and provides for two optional terminating actions. This amendment is prompted by a report indicating that fatigue cracks and loose rivets were found on the handrail assembly of the main passenger entrance door on an in-service airplane. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent these conditions, which can lead to the failure of the door handrail assembly; such failure could allow the door to fall free and subsequently cause injury to people on the airplane or on the ground.