FR Doc E8-25286

[Federal Register: October 23, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 206)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 63096-63098]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23oc08-20]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-1120; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-064-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-200, AT-
300, AT-400, AT-500, AT-600, and AT-800 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-11-
17, which applies to certain Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-200, AT-300,
AT-400, AT-500, AT-600, and AT-800 series airplanes. AD 2008-11-17
currently requires you to install an overturn skid plate kit or a
modification to the overturn skid plate already installed. Since we
issued AD 2008-11-17, the manufacturer has notified us that Model AT-
401B airplanes also require a modification to the overturn skid plate.
Consequently, this proposed AD would retain the actions of AD 2008-11-
17 and add the requirement to modify the overturn skid plate installed
on Model AT-401B airplanes. We are proposing this AD to prevent the
front and rear connections of the overturn skid plate to the airplane
from breaking, which could allow foreign debris to enter the cockpit
during an airplane overturn. This condition, if not corrected, could
lead to pilot injury.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 24,
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; e-mail: airmail@airtractor.com; Internet:
http://www.airtractor.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andy McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, ASW-
150, FAA San Antonio MIDO-43, 10100 Reunion Pl., Ste. 650, 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-
2008-1120; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-064-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

[[Page 63097]]

substantive verbal contact we receive concerning this proposed AD.

Discussion

Reports of foreign material entering the cabin area during an
overturn skid on Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor) AT-301 and AT-401
series airplanes caused us to issue AD 2002-25-09, Amendment 39-12985
(67 FR 78156, December 23, 2002). AD 2002-25-09 required you to install
overturn skid plate, part number (P/N) 11411-1-500 or an FAA-approved
equivalent P/N. The manufacturer incorporated skid plates in some
production models including Models AT-401B, AT-402B, AT-502B, AT-602,
and AT-802A airplanes.
Since we issued AD 2002-25-09, we received a report of the bolts
breaking in an overturn accident where they attach the forward end of
the original design overturn skid plate to the airframe. This allowed
the skid plate to rotate around the rear attach point and the forward
end of the plate to enter the cockpit area. This report caused us to
issue AD 2008-11-17, Amendment 39-15540 (73 FR 31351, June 2, 2008). AD
2008-11-17 currently retains the actions of AD 2002-25-09 and requires
you to install a modification kit if certain overturn skid plates are
already installed.
Since we issued AD 2008-11-17, the manufacturer has notified us
that Model AT-401B airplanes also require a modification to the
overturn skid plane. Consequently, this proposed AD would retain the
actions of AD 2008-11-17 and add the requirement to modify the overturn
skid plate installed on Model AT-401B airplanes.
We are proposing this AD to prevent the front and rear connections
of the overturn skid plate to the airplane from breaking, which could
allow foreign debris to enter the cockpit during an airplane overturn.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to pilot injury.

Relevant Service Information

We have reviewed Snow Engineering Company Service Letter
97, Revised September 19, 2008.
The service information describes procedures for:
Modifying the overturn skid plate by enlarging the
mounting holes and replacing existing clamps and hardware on airplanes
with the overturn skid plate installed; and
Installing the overturn skid plate for airplanes that do
not have the overturn skid plate currently installed.

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 supersede AD 2008-11-17 with a new AD that would retain the
actions of AD 2008-11-17 and add the requirement to modify the overturn
skid plate installed on Model AT-401B airplanes. This proposed AD would
require you to use the service information described previously to
perform these actions.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 1,309 airplanes in
the U.S. registry.
In determining the total cost on U.S. operators, we presume all
airplanes in the U.S. fleet have an overturn skid plate installed (as
required by AD 2002-25-09) and the only cost is to incorporate the
modification kit P/N 11411-1-501. We estimate the following costs to do
the proposed modification of installing the overturn skid plate
modification kit P/N 11411-1-501 to those planes that currently have
the overturn skid plate installed:

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Total cost per Total cost on
Labor cost Parts cost airplane U.S. operators
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2 work-hours x $80 per hour = $160........................... $42 $202 $264,418
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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://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 Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5527)
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, Incorporation by
reference, 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.

[[Page 63098]]

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive
(AD) 2008-11-17, Amendment 39-15540 (73 FR 31351, June 2, 2008), and
adding the following new AD:

Air Tractor, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2008-1120; Directorate Identifier
2008-CE-064-AD.

Comments Due Date

(a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) action by November 24, 2008.

Affected ADs

(b) This AD supersedes AD 2008-11-17, Amendment 39-15540.

Applicability

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Group 1 models Serial Nos.
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AT-250, AT-300, AT-301, AT-302, AT- -0001 through -1196.
400, AT-400A, AT-401, AT-401A, AT-
402, AT-402A, and AT-402B.
AT-501, AT-502, AT-502A, and AT- -0001 through -2620.
502B.
AT-602............................ -0337 through -1153.
AT-802A........................... -0003 through -0282.
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Group 2 model Serial Nos.
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AT-401B........................... -0952 through -1196.
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Unsafe Condition

(d) Since we issued AD 2008-11-17, the manufacturer has notified
us that Model AT-401B airplanes also require a modification to the
overturn skid plate. Consequently, this proposed AD retains the
actions of AD 2008-11-17 and adds the requirement to modify the
overturn skid plate installed on Model AT-401B airplanes. We are
issuing this AD to prevent the front and rear connections of the
overturn skid plate to the airplane from breaking, which could allow
foreign debris to enter the cockpit during an airplane overturn.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to pilot injury.

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) For Group 1 airplanes: If Within the next Follow Snow
overturn skid plate part number 180 days after Engineering Co.
(P/N) 11411-1-500 or an FAA- July 7, 2008 (the Service Letter
approved equivalent P/N is effective date of 97,
already installed then install AD 2008-11-17). revised November
P/N 11411-1-501 modification 7, 2007; or Snow
kit. Engineering Co.
Service Letter
97,
revised September
19, 2008.
(2) For Group 1 airplanes: If Within the next Follow Snow
there is no overturn skid plate 180 days after Engineering Co.
installed, then install July 7, 2008 (the Service Letter
overturn skid plate kit P/N effective date of 97,
11411-1-502 or an FAA-approved AD 2008-11-17). revised November
equivalent part number. 7, 2007; or Snow
Engineering Co.
Service Letter
97,
revised September
19, 2008.
(3) For Group 2 airplanes: Within the next Follow Snow
Install P/N 11411-1-501 180 days after Engineering Co.
modification kit. the effective Service Letter
date of this AD. 97,
revised September
19, 2008.
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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: Andy
McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, ASW-150, FAA San Antonio MIDO-43, 10100
Reunion Pl., Ste. 650, San Antonio, Texas 78216; telephone: (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; e-mail:
airmail@airtractor.com; Internet: 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.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 14, 2008.
John Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-25286 Filed 10-22-08; 8:45 am]

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