[Federal Register: October 29, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 210)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 64282-64284]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29oc08-24]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-1138; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-059-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Aircraft Industries a.s. (Type
Certificate G60EU Previously Held by LETECK[Eacute] Z[Aacute]VODY a.s.
and LET Aeronautical Works) Model L 23 Super Blanik Sailplane
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:
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is prompted by the discovery
on L 23 SUPER-BLANIK sailplanes of cracks in zones where the front
and aft control levers attach the connecting rod designated as
``control bridge'' on the relevant Illustrated Parts Catalogues
(IPC). If left uncorrected cracks could propagate and lead to the
breakage of the connecting rod with subsequent loss of control of
the sailplane.
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 28,
2008.
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: Greg Davison, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130; 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 to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-20**-****;
Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-059-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 European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent
[[Page 64283]]
for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA AD No.
2007-0261, dated October 2, 2007 (referred to after this as ``the
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The
MCAI states:
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is prompted by the discovery
on L 23 SUPER-BLANIK sailplanes of cracks in zones where the front
and aft control levers attach the connecting rod designated as
``control bridge'' on the relevant Illustrated Parts Catalogues
(IPC). If left uncorrected cracks could propagate and lead to the
breakage of the connecting rod with subsequent loss of control of
the sailplane.
For the reasons described above, this AD requires an inspection
for cracks of the control bridge and its replacement, as necessary.
In addition, this AD requires an update of the aircraft Maintenance
Manual (MM) to incorporate repetitive inspections of the control
bridge.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket.
Relevant Service Information
LET Aircraft Industries, a.s. has issued Mandatory Bulletin MB No.
L23/050a Revision No. 2, dated September 12, 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 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
We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 105 products of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 2 work-hours 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 $16,800, or $160 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would
take about 7 work-hours and require parts costing $2,000, for a cost of
$2,560 per product. We have no way of determining the number of
products that may need these actions.
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, 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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Aircraft Industries a.s. (Type Certificate G60EU previously held by
LETECK[Eacute] Z[Aacute]VODY a.s. and LET Aeronautical Works):
Docket No. FAA-2008-1138; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-059-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by November 28, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Model L 23 Super Blanik sailplanes, all
serial numbers, certificated in any category.
Subject
(d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 27: Flight
Controls.
Reason
(e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
states:
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is prompted by the discovery
on L 23 SUPER-BLANIK sailplanes of cracks in zones where the front
and aft control levers attach the connecting rod designated as
``control bridge'' on the relevant Illustrated Parts Catalogues
(IPC). If left uncorrected cracks could propagate and lead to the
breakage of the connecting rod with subsequent loss of control of
the sailplane.
For the reasons described above, this AD requires an inspection
for cracks of the control bridge and its replacement, as necessary.
In addition, this AD requires an update of the aircraft Maintenance
Manual (MM) to incorporate repetitive inspections of the control
bridge.
Actions and Compliance
(f) Unless already done, do the following actions:
[[Page 64284]]
(1) Within the next 3 months after the effective date of this AD
and repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed 12 months,
visually inspect the control bridge in areas of juncture with the
two control sticks for cracks. Do the inspection following paragraph
A of LET Aircraft Industries, a.s. Mandatory Bulletin MB No. L23/
050a Revision No. 2, dated September 12, 2007, except use a 10X
magnifier and do a dye penetrant inspection following the procedures
in chapter 5, section 5, of FAA Advisory Circular AC 43.13-1B CHG 1,
dated September 27, 2001.
(2) If cracks are found in the control bridge bedding during any
inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further
flight, replace the defective control bridge bedding, Dwg. No. A740
371N, in the control bridge assembly, Dwg. No. A740 370N, following
LET Aircraft Industries, a.s. Mandatory Bulletin MB No. L23/050a
Revision No. 2, dated September 12, 2007; and Appendix No. 1,
``Replacement of Bearings 608 CSN 024630 at Control Bridge Dwg. No.
A740 370N in a Bedding Dwg. No. A740 371N,'' to LET Aircraft
Industries, a.s. Mandatory Bulletin MB No. L23/050a Revision No. 2,
dated September 12, 2007.
(3) Doing the replacement required in paragraph (f)(2) of this
AD terminates the 12-month repetitive inspection required in
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD. After the replacement required in
paragraph (f)(2) of this AD, perform subsequent inspections on the
new control bridge assembly according to LET Aircraft Industries,
a.s. Documentation Bulletin No.: L23/020 d, dated August 6, 2007.
FAA AD Differences
Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information
as follows:
1. The service information requires a visual inspection with a
6X magnifier. We are requiring a dye penetrant inspection and a 10X
magnifier to detect cracks that could go undetected using only a 6X
magnifier.
2. The MCAI requires updating the maintenance manuals to add
repetitive inspections of the control bridge. Since the maintenance
manual is only one way of establishing a maintenance program, the
only way we can mandate these repetitive inspections is through an
AD action.
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: Greg Davison, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4130; fax: (816) 329-4090. Before using
any approved AMOC on any sailplane 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 European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.
2007-0261, dated October 2, 2007; LET Aircraft Industries, a.s.
Mandatory Bulletin MB No. L23/050a Revision No. 2, dated September
12, 2007; Appendix No. 1, ``Replacement of Bearings 608 CSN 024630
at Control Bridge Dwg. No. A740 370N in a Bedding Dwg. No. A740
371N,'' to LET Aircraft Industries, a.s. Mandatory Bulletin MB No.
L23/050a Revision No. 2, dated September 12, 2007; and LET Aircraft
Industries, a.s. Documentation Bulletin No.: L23/020 d, dated August
6, 2007, for related information.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 21, 2008.
John R. Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-25661 Filed 10-28-08; 8:45 am]
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