The Metroliner Trim AD, In-Flight Failures on a Turboprop Workhorse, and What the FAA's New Inspection Order Means for Nearly Two Hundred Aircraft
The FAA has issued an airworthiness directive targeting the horizontal stabilizer trim system on SA-226 and SA-227 Metroliners, affecting nearly 200 U.S.-registered aircraft.
The FAA has issued a new airworthiness directive targeting the horizontal stabilizer trim system on the Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner series - the SA-226 and SA-227 - following documented in-flight failures of trim components. The directive reaches nearly 200 U.S.-registered aircraft, signaling a fleet-wide concern rather than an isolated incident.
What the AD Covers
The directive goes after the trim system that controls pitch attitude. On an airplane like the Metroliner, trim is not a convenience feature - it is actively holding the aircraft in balance throughout every phase of flight as fuel burns off and the center of gravity shifts. Failures here are not nuisance failures. They are the kind that make the airplane difficult or impossible to control.
The SA-226 first flew in 1969, and the broader SA-226/SA-227 family has been a staple of regional cargo and commuter operations since the 1970s. These are serious working airplanes - pressurized, narrow-fuselage twin turboprops with decades of cumulative flight cycles on many airframes.
Why This Matters for Pilots and Operators
When a single AD covers nearly 200 airframes, it means the FAA has pattern data. Multiple events, multiple operators, enough documentation across the fleet to treat this as a systemic issue.
The directive calls for inspections - and in AD language, that word carries specific weight. This is not a one-time logbook entry. Inspection ADs typically specify a required method, a compliance interval, and recurring checks. If discrepancies are found, the aircraft cannot return to service until corrective action is complete.
For operators flying the Metroliner under Part 135 cargo or charter certificates, this goes directly to your Director of Maintenance for compliance tracking. For Part 91 operators, the obligation is identical. Airworthiness directives are not optional under any operating certificate.
The Bigger Picture on Aging Turboprop Fleets
The SA-226’s original design and manufacturing tolerances were written for a service life that did not anticipate the fatigue cycles many of these airframes have now accumulated. The FAA’s role - and the operator’s role - is to identify degradation before it becomes an accident rather than an AD.
This directive is not a condemnation of the Metroliner. It is the safety reporting pipeline functioning as designed: an in-flight event was documented, the data moved through the system, and the agency acted.
What to Do Now
If you operate or maintain an SA-226 or SA-227, read the full directive on the FAA website under the rulemaking section. Do not rely on a summary. Cross-reference your aircraft serial number and confirm your compliance timeline directly with your A&P or Director of Maintenance.
Key Takeaways
- The FAA has issued an AD targeting the horizontal stabilizer trim system on the Fairchild Swearingen SA-226 and SA-227 Metroliner series
- The directive affects nearly 200 U.S.-registered aircraft, indicating pattern data across multiple operators - not a single incident
- In-flight trim failures on these aircraft affect pitch control, placing them in the category of fundamental flight safety concerns
- Compliance is mandatory for both Part 135 and Part 91 operators; there is no certificate-based exemption from AD requirements
- Operators should read the directive directly on the FAA website, verify serial number applicability, and establish a compliance timeline with their maintenance personnel
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