[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 201 (Thursday, October 16, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61343-61346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24137]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0749; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-044-AD;
Amendment 39-15692; AD 2008-21-08]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-402, AT-
402A, and AT-402B Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor) Models AT-402, AT-402A, and AT-402B
airplanes. This AD requires you to repetitively visually inspect the
rudder and vertical fin hinge attaching structure for loose fasteners
and inspect the rudder or vertical fin skins, spars, hinges, or
brackets for cracks and/or corrosion. This AD also requires you to
replace any damaged parts found as a result of the inspections and
install an external doubler at the upper rudder hinge. Installation of
the external doubler at the upper rudder hinge is terminating action
for the repetitive inspection requirements. This AD results from a
report of a Model AT-402 airplane with a loose upper rudder hinge
caused by fatigue. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct loose
fasteners; any cracks in the rudder or vertical fin skins, spars,
hinges, or brackets; or corrosion of the rudder and vertical fin hinge
attaching structure. Hinge failure adversely affects ability to control
yaw and has led to the rudder folding over in flight. This condition
could allow the rudder to contact the elevator and affect ability to
control pitch with consequent loss of control.
DATES: This AD becomes effective on November 20, 2008.
On November 20, 2008, the Director of the Federal Register approved
the incorporation by reference of Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter
247, revised June 2, 2008, listed in this AD.
As of December 21, 2006 (71 FR 66661, November 16, 2006), the
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of Snow Engineering Co. Process Specification Number 145,
dated December 6, 1991, listed in this AD.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact Air
Tractor, Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas
[[Page 61344]]
76374; telephone: (940) 564-5616; facsimile: (940) 564-5612; E-mail:
[email protected]; Web site: http://www.airtractor.com.
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. The docket number is FAA-2008-0749;
Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-044-AD.
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:
Discussion
On July 1, 2008, 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 certain Air Tractor Models AT-402, AT-402A, and AT-402B
airplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal Register as a
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on July 8, 2008 (73 FR 38933). The
NPRM proposed to require you to repetitively visually inspect the
rudder and vertical fin hinge attaching structure for loose fasteners
and inspect the rudder or vertical fin skins, spars, hinges, or
brackets for cracks and/or corrosion. This AD would also require you to
replace any damaged parts found as a result of the inspections and
install an external doubler at the upper rudder hinge. Installation of
the external doubler at the upper rudder hinge is terminating action
for the repetitive inspection requirements.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the proposal or on the
determination of the cost to the public.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed
except for minor editorial corrections. We have determined that these
minor corrections:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 220 airplanes in the U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to do the inspection:
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Total cost
Labor cost Parts cost Total cost on U.S.
per airplane operators
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1 work-hour x $80 per hour = $80................ Not applicable.................... $80 $17,600
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any required replacements will vary depending upon the damage
found, and any replacements required will vary based on the results of
the inspection. Based on this, we have no way of determining the
potential replacement costs for each airplane or the number of
airplanes that will need the replacements based on the result of the
inspections.
We estimate the following costs to do installation of the external
doubler at the upper rudder hinge:
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Total cost
Labor cost Parts cost Total cost on U.S.
per airplane operators
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 work-hours x $80 per hour = $217 $617 $135,740
$400.........................
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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 AD.
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that this AD will not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 this AD:
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 summary of the costs to comply with this AD (and
other information as included in the Regulatory Evaluation) and placed
it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by sending a
request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket
No. FAA-2008-0749; Directorate Identifier 2008 CE-044-AD'' in your
request.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,
the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:
[[Page 61345]]
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0
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]
0
2. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
2008-21-08 Air Tractor, Inc.: Amendment 39-15692; Docket No. FAA-
2008-0749; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-044-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective on November 20, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Models AT-402, AT-402A, and AT-402B
airplanes, serial numbers 0694 through 1176, that are certificated
in any category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report of a Model AT-402 airplane
with a loose upper rudder hinge caused by fatigue. We are issuing
this AD to detect and correct loose fasteners; any cracks in the
rudder or vertical fin skins, spars, hinges, or brackets; or
corrosion of the rudder and vertical fin hinge attaching structure.
Hinge failure adversely affects ability to control yaw and has led
to the rudder folding over in flight. This condition could allow the
rudder to contact the elevator and affect ability to control pitch
with consequent loss of control.
Compliance
(e) To address this problem, you must do the following, unless
already done:
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Actions Compliance Procedures
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(1) Inspect visually the rudder Initially inspect Follow Snow
and vertical fin hinge when the airplane Engineering Co.
attachment for loose fasteners; reaches a total Service Letter
and inspect the rudder or of 3,500 hours 247,
vertical fin skins, spars, time-in-service revised June 2,
hinges, and brackets for cracks (TIS) or within 2008.
and/or corrosion. the next 100
hours TIS after
November 20, 2008
(the effective
date of this AD),
whichever occurs
later.
Thereafter,
repetitively
inspect at
intervals not to
exceed every 100
hours TIS.
Installation of
the external
doubler at the
upper rudder
hinge required by
paragraph
(e)(2)(ii) or
(e)(3) of this AD
is terminating
action for the
repetitive
inspections
required by this
AD.
(2) If you find any damage as a
result of any inspection
required by paragraph (e)(1) of
this AD, you must:
(i) Replace any damaged
parts with new parts; and
(ii) Do the installation of Before further Follow Snow
the external doubler at the flight after any Engineering Co.
upper rudder hinge. inspection Service Letter
required by 247,
paragraph (e)(1) revised June 2,
of this AD where 2008; and Snow
you find any Engineering Co.
damaged parts. Process
The installation Specification
of the external Number 145, dated
doubler at the December 6, 1991.
upper rudder
hinge required by
paragraph
(e)(2)(ii) or
(e)(3) of this AD
terminates the
repetitive
inspections
required by this
AD.
(3) Do the installation of the When the airplane Follow Snow
external doubler at the upper reaches a total Engineering Co.
rudder hinge. of 5,000 hours Service Letter
TIS after 247,
November 20, 2008 revised June 2,
(the effective 2008; and Snow
date of this AD) Engineering Co.
or within the Process
next 100 hours Specification
TIS after Number 145, dated
November 20, 2008 December 6, 1991.
(the effective
date of this AD),
whichever occurs
later. The
installation of
the external
doubler at the
upper rudder
hinge required by
paragraph
(e)(2)(ii) or
(e)(3) of this AD
terminates the
repetitive
inspections
required by this
AD.
(4) Do not install any rudder As of November 20, Not Applicable.
without the external doubler at 2008 (the
the upper rudder hinge required effective date of
by paragraph (e)(3) of this AD. this AD).
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Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(f) The Manager, Fort Worth Airplane 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:
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. 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(g) You must use Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter
247, revised June 2, 2008; and Snow Engineering Co. Process
Specification Number 145, dated December 6, 1991, to do the actions
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter
247, revised June 2, 2008, under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR
part 51.
(2) On December 21, 2006 (71 FR 66661, November 16, 2006), the
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of Snow Engineering Co. Process Specification Number 145,
dated December 6, 1991.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact Air
Tractor, Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374; telephone: (940)
564-5616; facsimile: (940) 564-5612; E-mail: [email protected];
Web site: http://www.airtractor.com.
(4) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of
the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at
the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For
information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-
741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
[[Page 61346]]
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-24137 Filed 10-15-08; 8:45 am]
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