FR Doc E8-29568

[Federal Register: December 24, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 248)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 78944-78946]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24de08-9]

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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;
Amendment 39-15767; AD 2008-26-01]
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: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) to
supersede 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 need a modification to the
overturn skid plate. Consequently, this 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 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.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on January 28, 2009.
On January 28, 2009, the Director of the Federal Register approved
the incorporation by reference of Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter
97, revised September 19, 2008, listed in this AD.
As of July 7, 2008 (73 FR 31351, June 2, 2008), the Director of the
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of Snow
Engineering Co. Service Letter 97, revised November 7, 2007,
listed in this AD.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified 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. The docket number is FAA-2008-1120;
Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-064-AD.

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:

Discussion

On October 14, 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, Inc. Models AT-200, AT-300, 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 October 23, 2008 (73 FR 63096). The NPRM proposed to
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.

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 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 modification of installing the overturn skid plate modification kit
P/N 11411-1-501 to those planes that

[[Page 78945]]

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 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-2008-1120; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-064-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:

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. 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:

2008-26-01 Air Tractor, Inc.: Amendment 39-15767; Docket No. FAA-
2008-1120; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-064-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This AD becomes effective on January 28, 2009.

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, -0001 through -1196.
AT-302, AT-400, AT-400A,
AT-401, AT-401A, AT-402,
AT-402A, and AT-402B.
AT-501, AT-502, AT-502A, -0001 through -2620.
and AT-502B.
AT-602................... -0337 through -1153.
AT-802A.................. -0003 through -0282.
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Group 2 models 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 need a modification to the
overturn skid plane. Consequently, this 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: Within the next 180 Follow Snow
If overturn skid plate part days after July 7, Engineering Co.
number (P/N) 11411-1-500 or 2008 (the effective Service Letter
an FAA-approved equivalent date of AD 2008-11- 97,
P/N is already installed 17). revised November 7,
then install P/N 11411-1- 2007; or Snow
501 modification kit. Engineering Co.
Service Letter
97,
revised September
19, 2008.

[[Page 78946]]

(2) For Group 1 airplanes: Within the next 180 Follow Snow
If there is no overturn days after July 7, Engineering Co.
skid plate installed, then 2008 (the effective Service Letter
install overturn skid plate date of AD 2008-11- 97,
kit P/N 11411-1-502 or an 17). revised November 7,
FAA-approved equivalent 2007; or Snow
part number. Engineering Co.
Service Letter
97,
revised September
19, 2008.
(3) For Group 2 airplanes: Within the next 180 Follow Snow
Install P/N 11411-1-501 days after January Engineering Co.
modification kit. 28, 2009 (the Service Letter
effective date of 97,
this AD). 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.

Material Incorporated by Reference

(h) You must use Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter
97, revised November 7, 2007; or Snow Engineering Co.
Service Letter 97, revised September 19, 2008, 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
97, revised September 19, 2008, under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1
CFR part 51.
(2) On July 7, 2008 (73 FR 31351, June 2, 2008), the Director of
the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of Snow
Engineering Co. Service Letter 97, revised November 7,
2007.
(3) For service information identified 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.
(4) You may review copies of the service information
incorporated by reference for this AD at the FAA, Central Region,
Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri
64106. For information on the availability of this material at the
Central Region, call (816) 329-3768.
(5) You may also review copies of the service information
incorporated by reference for this AD 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.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 9, 2008.
John Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-29568 Filed 12-23-08; 8:45 am]

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