[Federal Register: June 20, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 118)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 35398-35400]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20jn06-14]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-24710; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-29-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-802 and AT-
802A Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes. This
proposed AD would require you to repetitively inspect the attach angles
on the firewall mounted hopper rinse tank shelf for damage and/or
cracks and replace damaged and/or cracked attach angles. Replacing the
attach angles with steel attach angles would terminate the proposed
repetitive inspection requirement. Reports of an uncommanded change in
the engine power setting caused by separation of the hopper rinse tank
shelf from the firewall prompted this proposed AD. We are proposing
this AD to detect and correct damage and/or cracks in the attach angles
on the firewall mounted hopper rinse tank shelf, which could result in
failure of the attach angles. This failure could lead to shelf movement
under maneuver load and shifting of the engine power cables, which
could result in an uncommanded engine power setting change.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 18, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this
proposed AD:
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact Air
Tractor, Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374; telephone: (940) 564-
5616; facsimile: (940) 564-5612.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer,
ASW-150 (c/o MIDO-43), 10100 Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio,
Texas 78216; telephone: (210) 308-3365; facsimile: (210) 308-3370.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number, ``FAA-
2006-24710; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-29-AD'' at the beginning of
your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may
amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.
[[Page 35399]]
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive concerning this proposed AD.
Discussion
We received reports of cracks in the aluminum attach angles on the
firewall mounted hopper rinse tank shelf. The cracks caused the attach
angles to fail, allowing the shelf to move during in-flight
maneuvering.
Movement of the shelf during in-flight maneuvering caused the
engine power cables, which attach to the hopper rinse tank shelf by a
bracket, to shift and resulted in an uncommanded engine power setting
change.
This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the
attach angles. This failure could cause the hopper rinse tank shelf to
separate from the firewall, allowing the shelf to move under maneuver
load. This movement could cause the engine power cables to shift and
result in an uncommanded change to the engine power setting.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter 248,
dated August 31, 2005.
The service information describes procedures for:
Inspecting the hopper rinse tank shelf attach angles for
damage and/or cracks; and
Replacing all three attach angles with steel attach
angles, part number (P/N) 60568-3, if any damage and/or cracks are
found on any of the attach angles.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all information and
determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist
or develop on other products of the same type design. This proposed AD
would require you to repetitively inspect the attach angles on the
firewall mounted hopper rinse tank shelf for damage and/or cracks and
replace damaged and/or cracked attach angles. Replacing the attach
angles with steel attach angles, P/N 60568-3, would terminate the
proposed repetitive inspection requirement.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 219 airplanes in the
U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to do each proposed inspection:
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Total cost
Labor cost Parts cost for each Total cost on U.S. operators
airplane
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1 work-hour x $80 an hour = $80..... Not applicable......... $80 $80 x 219 = $17,520
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We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements
that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection.
We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need
this replacement:
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Total cost for each
Labor cost Parts cost airplane
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3 work-hours x $80 an hour = $105 $240 + $105 = $345
$240.
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Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs,
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
subtitle VII, part A, subpart III, section 44701, ``General
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this
rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not
have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship
between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed
regulation:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
3. Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket that contains the proposed AD, the
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information on
the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket
Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227)
is located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
[[Page 35400]]
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Air Tractor, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2006-24710; Directorate Identifier
2006-CE-29-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments on this proposed airworthiness
directive (AD) action by August 18, 2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD affects Models AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes, all
serial numbers beginning with 802/802A-0001 through 802/802A-0219,
that are certificated in any category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports of an uncommanded change in
engine power setting caused by separation of a hopper rinse tank
shelf from the firewall. We are proposing this AD to detect and
correct damage and/or cracks in the attach angles on the firewall
mounted hopper rinse tank shelf, which could result in failure of
the attach angles. This failure could lead to shelf movement under
maneuver load and shifting of the engine power cables, which could
result in an uncommanded engine power setting change.
Compliance
(e) To address this problem, you must do the following:
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Actions Compliance Procedures
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(1) Visually inspect the Initially inspect Follow Snow
three attach angles on the within the next 100 Engineering Co.
firewall mounted hopper hours time-in- Service Letter
rinse tank shelf for damage service (TIS) after 248, dated
and/or cracks. the effective date August 31, 2005.
of this AD.
Repetitively
inspect thereafter
at intervals not to
exceed 100 hours
TIS. Replacing all
three attach angles
with steel attach
angles, part number
(P/N) 60568-3 (or
FAA-approved
equivalent P/N),
terminates the
repetitive
inspection
requirement of this
AD.
(2) If you find any damage Before further Follow Snow
and/or cracks on any of the flight after the Engineering Co.
three attach angles during inspection in which Service Letter
any inspection required in damage and/or 248, dated
paragraph (e)(1) of this cracks are found. August 31, 2005.
AD, replace all three Replacing all three
attach angles with steel attach angles with
attach angles, P/N 60568-3 steel attach
(or FAA-approved equivalent angles, P/N 60568-3
P/N). (or FAA-approved
equivalent P/N),
terminates the
repetitive
inspection
requirement of
paragraph (e)(1) of
this AD.
(3) You may replace the As of the effective Follow Snow
aluminum attach angles on date of this AD. Engineering Co.
the firewall mounted hopper Service Letter
rinse tank shelf with steel 248, dated
attach angles, P/N 60568-3 August 31, 2005.
(or FAA-approved equivalent
P/N), at any time to
terminate the repetitive
inspections required in
paragraph (e)(1) of this AD.
(4) Do not install aluminum As of the effective Not applicable.
attach angles on the hopper date of this AD.
rinse tank shelf attach
angles.
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(f) 14 CFR 21.303 allows for replacement parts through parts
manufacturer approval (PMA). The phrase ``or FAA-approved equivalent
P/N'' in this AD is intended to allow for the installation of parts
approved through identicality to the design of the replacement
parts. Equivalent replacement parts to correct the unsafe condition
under PMA (other than identicality) may also be installed provided
they meet current airworthiness standards, which include those
actions cited in this AD.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(g) The Manager, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office, FAA,
ATTN: Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, ASW-150 (c/o MIDO-43),
10100 Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio, Texas 78216; telephone:
(210) 308-3365; facsimile: (210) 308-3370, has the authority to
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found
in 14 CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(h) To get copies of the documents referenced in this AD,
contact Air Tractor Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374;
telephone: (940) 564-5616; facsimile: (940) 564-5612. To view the AD
docket, go to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-
401, Washington, DC, or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The
docket number is Docket No. FAA-2006-24710; Directorate Identifier
2006-CE-29-AD.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 13, 2006.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-9639 Filed 6-19-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P