[Federal Register: December 14, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 240)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 71086-71089]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14de07-13]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-0258; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-090-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Inc. AT-400, AT-500, AT-
600, and AT-800 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); Extension of
the comment period.
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SUMMARY: We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive
(AD) that applies to certain Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor) AT-400,
AT-500, AT-600, and AT-800 series airplanes. The earlier NPRM proposed
to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2007-13-17, which applies to
certain Air Tractor Models AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A airplanes. AD
2007-13-17 currently requires you to repetitively inspect the engine
mount for any cracks, repair or replace any cracked engine mount, and
report any cracks found to the FAA. The earlier NPRM proposed to retain
the inspection actions of AD 2007-13-17 for Models AT-602, AT-802, and
AT-802A airplanes, including the compliance times and effective dates;
[[Page 71087]]
establish new inspection actions for the AT-400 and AT-500 series
airplanes; incorporate a mandatory terminating action for all
airplanes; and terminate the reporting requirement of AD 2007-13-17.
The earlier NPRM resulted from a Model AT-502B with a crack located
where the lower engine mount tube is welded to the engine mount ring,
and the manufacturer developing gussets that, when installed according
to their service letter, terminate the repetitive inspection
requirement. Since issuance of the NPRM, the manufacturer revised the
service information and the FAA has determined that it is necessary to
address the unsafe condition. Therefore, we are incorporating the
service letter revision into the proposed AD, and we are extending the
comment period to allow the public additional time to comment.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 29,
2008 (an additional 30 days after the comment close date for the NPRM,
which was January 30, 2008).
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this
proposed AD:
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 proposed AD, contact Air
Tractor Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374; telephone: (940) 564-
5616; fax: (940) 564-5612.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andy McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer,
10100 Reunion Pl., San Antonio, Texas 78216; telephone: (210) 308-3365;
fax: (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-
2007-0258; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-090-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.
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 concerning this proposed AD.
Discussion
On November 23, 2007, we issued a proposal to amend part 39 of the
Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that
would apply to all Air Tractor AT-400, AT-500, AT-600, and AT-800
series airplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal Register
as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on November 30, 2007 (72 FR
67687). The NPRM proposed to supersede AD 2007-13-17 with a new AD that
would retain the inspection actions of AD 2007-13-17 for Models AT-602,
AT-802, and AT-802A airplanes, including the compliance times and
effective dates; establish new inspection actions for the AT-400 and
AT-500 series airplanes; incorporate a mandatory terminating action for
all airplanes; and terminate the reporting requirement of AD 2007-13-
17. That proposed AD would have required you to use Snow Engineering
Co. Service Letter 253 Rev. A, dated October 16, 2007.
Since issuance of the NPRM, Snow Engineering Company revised the
Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter 253, Rev. A to the Rev. B
level (dated November 30, 2007).
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that:
The unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or
could develop on other products of the same type design;
Doing the actions following the revised service letter is
necessary to address the unsafe condition; and
We should take AD action to correct this unsafe condition.
Therefore, we are incorporating the service letter revision into
the proposed AD, and we are issuing a supplemental NPRM and extending
the comment period to allow the public additional time to comment.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 1,264 airplanes in
the U.S. registry, including those airplanes affected by AD 2007-13-17.
We estimate the following costs to do the proposed inspection:
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Total cost per Total cost on
Labor cost Parts cost airplane U.S. operators
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1.5 work-hours x $80 per hour = $120......................... $0 $120 $151,680
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We estimate the following costs to do the repair/modification:
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Total cost per Total cost on
Labor cost Parts cost airplane U.S. operators
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24 work-hours x $80 per hour = $1,920........................ $80 $2,000 $2,528,000
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The estimated total cost on U.S. operators includes the cumulative
costs associated with AD 2007-13-17 and those airplanes and actions
being added in this proposed AD.
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.
[[Page 71088]]
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:
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 removing Airworthiness Directive
(AD) 2007-13-17, Amendment 39-15121 (72 FR 36863, July 6, 2007), and
adding the following new AD:
Air Tractor, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2007-0258; Directorate Identifier
2007-CE-090-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) action by February 29, 2008 (an additional 30 days after the
comment close date for the NPRM of January 30, 2008).
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2007-13-17, Amendment 39-15121.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to the following airplane models and serial
numbers that are certificated in any category:
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Model Serial Nos.
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AT-400, AT-400A, AT-402, AT-402A, -0001 through -1175.
and AT-402B.
AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, and AT- -0001 through -2597.
503A.
AT-602........................... -0001 through -1141.
AT-802 and AT-802A............... -0001 through -0227.
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Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report of a Model AT-502B airplane
with a crack located where the lower engine mount tube is welded to
the engine mount ring. The airplane had 8,436 total hours time-in-
service (TIS). We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks
in the engine mount, which could result in failure of the engine
mount. Such failure could lead to separation of the engine from the
airplane.
Compliance
(e) To address this problem, you must do the following, unless
already done:
(1) For all airplanes with less than 5,000 hours total TIS that
do not have gussets installed on the engine mount in accordance with
Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter #253 Rev. A, dated October 16,
2007: Visually inspect the engine mount as follows:
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Affected airplanes Compliance Procedures
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(i) For all Models AT-602, Initially before the Follow one of the
AT-802, and AT-802A airplane reaches a following:
airplanes. total of 1,300 (A) Snow Engineering
hours TIS or within Co. Service Letter
the next 100 hours 253, Rev.
TIS after August B, dated November
10, 2007 (the 30, 2007;
effective date of (B) Snow Engineering
AD 2007-13-17), Co. Service Letter
whichever occurs 253, Rev.
later. Repetitively A, dated October
thereafter at 16, 2007; or
intervals not to (C) Snow Engineering
exceed 300 hours Co. Service Letter
TIS. 253,
revised January 22,
2007.
(ii) For all Model AT-502A Initially before the Follow Snow
airplanes. airplane reaches a Engineering Co.
total of 1,300 Service Letter
hours TIS or within 253 Rev.
the next 100 hours B, dated November
TIS after the 30, 2007.
effective date of
this AD, whichever
occurs later.
Repetitively
thereafter at
intervals not to
exceed 300 hours
TIS.
[[Page 71089]]
(iii) For all Models AT-400, Initially within the Follow Snow
AT-400A, AT-402, AT-402A, next 12 months Engineering Co.
AT-402B, AT-502, AT-502B, after the effective Service Letter
and AT-503A airplanes. date of this AD. 253 Rev.
Repetitively B, dated November
thereafter at 30, 2007.
intervals not to
exceed 12 months.
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(2) For all airplanes: Before further flight after any
inspection required by paragraph (e)(1) of this AD where crack
damage is found, repair and modify the engine mount by installing
gussets following Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter 253
Rev. B, dated November 30, 2007. This modification terminates the
repetitive inspections required in paragraphs (e)(1)(i), (e)(1)(ii),
and (e)(1)(iii) of this AD.
(3) For all airplanes: Before the airplane reaches 5,000 hours
total TIS after the effective date of this AD or within the next 100
hours TIS after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs
later; inspect, repair if cracked, and modify the engine mount by
installing gussets following Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter
253 Rev. B, dated November 30, 2007. This modification
terminates the repetitive inspections required in paragraphs
(e)(1)(i), (e)(1)(ii), and (e)(1)(iii) of this AD.
Note: As a terminating action to the repetitive inspections
required in paragraphs (e)(1)(i), (e)(1)(ii), and (e)(1)(iii) of
this AD, you may install the gussets before finding cracks or
reaching 5,000 hours total TIS.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(f) The Manager, Forth Worth Aircraft Certification 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: Andy
McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, ASW-150, FAA San Antonio MIDO-43, 10100
Reunion Place, San Antonio, Texas 78216; phone: (210) 308-3365; fax:
(210) 308-3370. 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.
Related Information
(g) To get copies of the service information referenced in this
AD, contact Air Tractor Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374;
telephone: (940) 564-5616; fax: (940) 564-5612. To view the AD
docket, go to U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations,
M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 10, 2007.
John R. Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-24215 Filed 12-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P