AD 97-26-15 Amendment 39-10258

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes (formerly referred to as Beech Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes). This AD requires lubricating the main landing gear actuator rod ends and eventually replacing these rod ends with Teflon-lined rod ends. The AD results from reports of in-flight separations of the rod end that attaches the actuator to the arm of the main landing gear drag brace assembly on two of the affected airplanes caused by excessive friction in the rod end bearing. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent actuator rod end failure caused by excessive friction in the rod end bearing, which could result in the inability to lower the main landing gear or result in landing gear collapse during landing.