[Federal Register: November 27, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 227)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 66087-66089]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27no07-37]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-0248; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-084-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; British Aerospace Aircraft Group,
Scottish Division, Model Beagle B.121 Series 1, 2, 3 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 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:
The Type Certificate Holder (TCH) has received several reports
of failed Rudder torque tube assemblies. The torque tube assemblies
are subject to repetitive inspection in accordance Airworthiness
Directive 2060 PRE 80. The recent failures occurred in service after
the inspections required by AD 2060 PRE 80 had been performed. In
the event of such failures, loss of directional control through both
the Rudder and Nosewheel Steering may occur. The TCH has also
received reports of loose rivets attaching the inboard Anchor
Assembly to the Starboard Torque Tube.
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 December 27,
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.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
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 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: Taylor Martin, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4138; fax: (816) 329-4090.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments
[[Page 66088]]
to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No.
FAA-2007-****; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-084-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 because of 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 United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority, which is the aviation
authority for United Kingdom, has issued AD No: G-2005-0030, dated
October 12, 2005 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct
an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:
The Type Certificate Holder (TCH) has received several reports
of failed Rudder torque tube assemblies. The torque tube assemblies
are subject to repetitive inspection in accordance Airworthiness
Directive 2060 PRE 80. The recent failures occurred in service after
the inspections required by AD 2060 PRE 80 had been performed. In
the event of such failures, loss of directional control through both
the Rudder and Nosewheel Steering may occur. The TCH has also
received reports of loose rivets attaching the inboard Anchor
Assembly to the Starboard Torque Tube.
The MCAI requires the inspection of the rudder torque tube
assemblies and hubs for cracking and loose rivets with conditional
correction or replacement following de Havilland Support Limited
Service Bulletin B121/65, Issue 2, dated August 10, 2005.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.
Relevant Service Information
De Havilland Support Limited has issued Service Bulletin No. B121/
65, Issue 2, dated August 10, 2005. The actions described in this
service information are intended to correct the unsafe condition
identified in the MCAI.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the 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 this State of Design Authority, they
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and
service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because
we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition exists
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type
design.
Differences Between This Proposed 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 1 product of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it
would take about 1 work-hour per product to comply with the basic
requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $80 per
work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on
U.S. operators to be $80, or $80 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would
take about 12 work-hours and require parts costing $10,000 for a cost
of $10,960 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:
British Aerospace (Scotland): Docket No. FAA-2007-0248; Directorate
Identifier 2007-CE-084-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by December 27, 2007.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Beagle B.121 Series 1, 2, 3 airplanes,
all serial numbers, certificated in any category.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 27: Flight
Controls.
[[Page 66089]]
Reason
(e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
states:
The Type Certificate Holder (TCH) has received several reports
of failed Rudder torque tube assemblies. The torque tube assemblies
are subject to repetitive inspection in accordance Airworthiness
Directive 2060 PRE 80. The recent failures occurred in service after
the inspections required by AD 2060 PRE 80 had been performed. In
the event of such failures, loss of directional control through both
the Rudder and Nosewheel Steering may occur. The TCH has also
received reports of loose rivets attaching the inboard Anchor
Assembly to the Starboard Torque Tube.
The MCAI requires the inspection of the rudder torque tube
assemblies and hubs for cracking and loose rivets with conditional
correction or replacement in accordance with de Havilland Support
Limited Service Bulletin B121/65, Issue 2, dated August 10, 2005.
Actions and Compliance
(f) Unless already done, do the following actions:
(1) Within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective
date of this AD and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours
TIS, inspect the Rudder Torque Tube Assemblies following de
Havilland Support Limited Service Bulletin B121/65, Issue 2, dated
August 10, 2005.
(2) Before further flight, replace any cracked Rudder Torque
Tube Assemblies and correct any loose rivets in the Rudder Torque
Tube Assemblies that are found in the inspections required in
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, following de Havilland Support Limited
Service Bulletin B121/65, Issue 2, dated August 10, 2005.
(3) After the effective date of this AD, used rudder torque
assemblies held as spares for British Aerospace Aircraft Group,
Scottish Division, Model Beagle B.121 Series 1, 2, 3 airplanes must
be inspected following de Havilland Support Limited Service Bulletin
B121/65, Issue 2, dated August 10, 2005, and found free of cracks
prior to installation.
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,
Standards Office, 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: Taylor Martin, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4138; fax: (816) 329-4090. 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 (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), 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 United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority AD No:
G-2005-0030, dated October 12, 2005; and de Havilland Support
Limited Service Bulletin B121/65, Issue 2, dated August 10, 2005,
for related information.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 20, 2007.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-23025 Filed 11-26-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P