EASA SIB SAIB-2026-14 — Rudder Control System / Brake

Summary

The Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin SAIB: 2026-14 is an FAA informational bulletin addressing the potential failure of the rudder pedal arm lower lug on Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc. Model SA26, SA226, SA227, and SA227 Commuter Category Series airplanes, commonly known as Merlin, Metro, and Metroliner aircraft. It informs owners, operators, and maintenance technicians about stress corrosion cracking issues discovered in these rudder pedal arms. The bulletin does not mandate regulatory action but provides safety recommendations.

What Changed

SAIB: 2026-14 introduces awareness of stress corrosion cracking in the rudder pedal arm lower lug of specified Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing aircraft models. It recommends inspections, replacement of affected rudder pedal arms per specific service bulletins, and reporting of any findings to the FAA. This bulletin is a new informational release rather than an amendment or supersedence of previous directives.

Why It Matters

This bulletin is important for aviation professionals because failure of the rudder pedal arm lower lug could cause jamming of the rudder control, wheel brake, and nose wheel steering systems, potentially leading to loss of directional control on the ground and runway excursions. Operators and maintenance personnel must be vigilant to detect and address corrosion-related damage to maintain safe aircraft operation and prevent incidents.

What To Do

Affected stakeholders should inspect rudder pedal arms and replace any cracked parts following the applicable Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing service bulletins dated November 7, 2025. They should report any cracked, corroded, or damaged rudder pedal arms to the FAA via the provided email, including aircraft details and photographs if possible. No explicit compliance deadline is stated, but timely action is implied to mitigate risk.