[Federal Register: May 29, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 102)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 25684-25686]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29my09-20]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2009-0489; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-025-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-802 and AT-
802A Airplanes
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
certain Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor) Models AT-802 and AT-802A
airplanes. This proposed AD would require installing a rudder-aileron
interconnect cable system shield kit and securing any items stowed in
the baggage compartment using tie downs and/or a cargo net until the
cable shield kit is installed. This proposed AD results from a report
of the rudder pedal cable becoming jammed in flight. We are proposing
this AD to prevent jamming of the rudder-aileron interconnect cables by
unsecured items in the baggage compartment, which could result in
failure of the rudder-aileron interconnect cable system. This failure
could lead to loss of control.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 28, 2009.
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; facsimile: (940) 564-5612; E-mail: parts@airtractor.com;
Internet: http://www.airtractor.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andy McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer,
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-
2009-0489; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-025-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
We received a report of an Air Tractor Model AT-802 airplane rudder
pedal jamming in flight. The pilot was able to maintain control and
land. After landing, a cable pulley in the rudder system was found
broken. Air Tractor believes one or more unsecured items in the baggage
compartment became entangled in the cables and caused them to jam,
resulting in failure of the pulley.
Air Tractor has designed a modification kit that installs shielding
in the baggage compartment to prevent unsecured stowed items from
becoming entangled in the rudder-aileron interconnect cable system.
This condition, if not corrected, could result in jamming of the
rudder-aileron interconnect cables by unsecured items in the baggage
compartment, which could result in failure of the rudder-aileron
interconnect cable system. This failure could lead to loss of control.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Snow Engineering Co., Service Letter 274,
Revision A, dated April 6, 2009.
The service information describes procedures for installing a cable
shield in the baggage compartment.
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 require installing a rudder-aileron interconnect cable system
shield kit and securing any items stowed in the baggage compartment
using tie downs and/or a cargo net until the cable shield kit is
installed.
Normally, the FAA would use a compliance time of hours time-in-
service (TIS) or a certain number of months. The proposed AD uses a
calendar date for compliance instead of hours TIS or a certain number
of months. We are using the calendar date of before December 31, 2009,
to allow owners with airplanes used in agricultural spray operations
until the end of the spray season to install the rudder-aileron
interconnect cable system shields (terminating action).
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information
This proposed AD would require securing stowed items in the baggage
compartment with tie-down straps or a cargo net until the rudder-
aileron interconnect cable system shield required in the proposed AD is
[[Page 25685]]
installed. The requirements of this proposed AD, if adopted as a final
rule, would take precedence over the provisions in the service
information.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 210 airplanes in the
U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to do the proposed modification:
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Total cost
Labor cost Parts cost Total cost per on U.S.
airplane operators
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Cable Shield Kit SL274: 4.5 work-hours x $80 airplanes at
per hour = $360. $1,220 each.
Cable Shield Kit SL274-2: 4.5 work-hours x airplanes at
$80 per hour = $360. $900 each.
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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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Air Tractor, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2009-0489; Directorate Identifier
2009-CE-025-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) action by July 28, 2009.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Model AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes,
serial numbers 802/802A-001 through 802/802A-0319, that are
certificated in any category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report of the rudder pedal cable
becoming jammed in flight. We are proposing this AD to prevent
jamming of the rudder-aileron interconnect cables by unsecured items
in the baggage compartment, which could result in failure of the
rudder-aileron interconnect cable system. This failure could lead to
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) Secure any items stowed in Before further flight Not applicable.
the baggage compartment using after the effective
tie down straps and/or a date of this AD
cargo net. until the
installation of the
rudder-aileron
interconnect cable
shield kit required
in paragraph (e)(2)
of this AD is done.
(2) Install the following No later than Snow Engineering Co., Service Letter 274,
rudder-aileron interconnect December 31, 2009. Revision A, dated April 6, 2009.
cable shield kit, as
applicable.
(i) For all airplanes
equipped for agricultural
spray operations and all fire-
fighting airplanes
retrofitted with Gen II Fire
Retardant Delivery System
relay box, install cable
shield kit SL274.
(ii) For all fire-fighting
airplanes not equipped with
Gen II Fire Retardant
Delivery System relay box,
install cable shield kit
SL274-2.
[[Page 25686]]
(iii) Installation of the
applicable cable shield kit
SL274 or SL274-2 terminates the
requirement of paragraph
(e)(1) of 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: Andy
McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, 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; facsimile: (940) 564-5612; E-mail:
parts@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 May 20, 2009.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E9-12524 Filed 5-28-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P