AD 97-03-08 Amendment 39-9914

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Jetstream Model 4101 airplanes, that requires repetitive inspections to detect cracking of the offset lightening hole on the drag brace of the left and right main landing gear (MLG); and replacement of these braces with braces having a centralized lightening hole. This replacement terminates the repetitive inspections This amendment is prompted by a report indicating that fatigue cracking was detected on the upper link of a drag brace. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent fatigue cracking of the drag braces of the MLG, which, if not corrected, could cause the MLG to fail and, consequently, result in reduced controllability of the airplane during takeoff, landing, and taxiing.