[Federal Register: October 25, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 206)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 60599-60600]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25oc07-25]
[[Page 60599]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-0082; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-219-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.
(EMBRAER) Model ERJ 170 and ERJ 190 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the
products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation
authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe
condition as:
It has been found that the implementation of the Inertial
Reference Units (IRU) on the ERJ-170 [and ERJ-190] may lead, in
certain degraded modes, to an erroneous Flight Path Angle (FPA)
indication on both Primary Flight Displays, with no alert to the
flight crew. On the ERJ-170 [and ERJ-190], FPA is considered as
important as pitch and bank angle for piloting purposes.
The unsafe condition is reduced ability of the flightcrew to
control the flight path of the airplane. The proposed AD would require
actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in
the MCAI.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 26,
2007.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this AD, contact Empresa
Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER), P.O. Box 343--CEP 12.225, Sao
Jose dos Campos--SP, Brazil.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
; or in person at the Docket Operations office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is
in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket
shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425)
227-1405; fax (425) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2007-0082;
Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-219-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD based on those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
The Ag[ecirc]ncia Nacional de Avia[ccedil][atilde]o Civil (ANAC),
which is the aviation authority for Brazil, has issued Brazilian
Airworthiness Directives 2007-08-03 and 2007-08-04, both effective
August 27, 2007 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an
unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI state:
It has been found that the implementation of the Inertial
Reference Units (IRU) on the ERJ-170 [and ERJ-190] may lead, in
certain degraded modes, to an erroneous Flight Path Angle (FPA)
indication on both Primary Flight Displays, with no alert to the
flight crew. On the ERJ-170 [and ERJ-190], FPA is considered as
important as pitch and bank angle for piloting purposes.
The unsafe condition is reduced ability of the flightcrew to
control the flight path of the airplane. The corrective action is
removal of certain wiring connections in the electrical connectors of
both IRUs. You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in
the AD docket.
Relevant Service Information
Embraer has issued Service Bulletins 170-34-0019 and 190-34-0009,
both dated February 26, 2007. The actions described in this service
information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in
the MCAI.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same
type design.
Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information
We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
We might also have proposed different actions in this AD from those
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are
highlighted in a NOTE within the proposed AD.
Costs of Compliance
Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD
would affect about 108 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that
it would take about 6 work-hours per product to comply with the basic
requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $80 per
work-hour. Required parts would cost about $62 per product. Where the
service information lists required parts costs that are covered under
warranty, we have assumed that there will be no charge for these costs.
As we do not control warranty coverage
[[Page 60600]]
for affected parties, some parties may incur costs higher than
estimated here. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the
proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $58,536, or $542 per product.
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 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 this 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.
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:
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:
EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE AERONAUTICA S.A. (EMBRAER): Docket No. FAA-
2007-0082; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-219-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by November 26, 2007.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to EMBRAER Model ERJ 170-100 LR, -100 STD, -
100 SE, -100 SU, -200 LR, -200 STD, and -200 SU airplanes,
certificated in any category, as identified in Embraer Service
Bulletin 170-34-0019, dated February 26, 2007; and Model ERJ 190-100
STD, -100 LR, -100 IGW, -200 STD, -200 LR, and -200 IGW airplanes;
certificated in any category, as identified in Embraer Service
Bulletin 190-34-0009, dated February 26, 2007.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 34:
Navigation.
Reason
(e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
states:
It has been found that the implementation of the Inertial
Reference Units (IRU) on the ERJ-170 [and ERJ-190] may lead, in
certain degraded modes, to an erroneous Flight Path Angle (FPA)
indication on both Primary Flight Displays, with no alert to the
flight crew. On the ERJ-170 [and ERJ-190], FPA is considered as
important as pitch and bank angle for piloting purposes.
The unsafe condition is reduced ability of the flightcrew to
control the flight path of the airplane. The corrective action is
removal of certain wiring connections in the electrical connectors
of both IRUs.
Actions and Compliance
(f) Within 18 months after the effective date of this AD, unless
already done, remove the wiring connections from pins 51 and 52 in
the electrical connectors of both IRUs, in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Embraer Service Bulletin 170-34-0019
or 190-34-0009, as applicable, both dated February 26, 2007.
FAA AD Differences
Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information
as follows: No differences.
Other FAA AD Provisions
(g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA,
has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using
the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN:
Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116,
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98057-3356; telephone (425) 227-1405; fax (425) 227-1149.
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local
FSDO.
(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
(3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information
collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-
0056.
Related Information
(h) Refer to MCAI Brazilian Airworthiness Directives 2007-08-03
and 2007-08-04, both effective August 27, 2007, and to Embraer
Service Bulletins 170-34-0019 and 190-34-0009, both dated February
26, 2007, for related information.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 12, 2007.
Stephen P. Boyd,
Assistant Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-21005 Filed 10-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P