95-28794. Airworthiness Directives; Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227 Series Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 227 (Monday, November 27, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58208-58209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28794]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-01-AD; Amendment 39-9441; AD 95-24-11]


Airworthiness Directives; Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227 
Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to certain Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227 series airplanes. 
This action requires installing foreign object damage (FOD) barriers in 
the floorboards of the cockpit between the pedestal and floor from 
Fuselage Station (FS) 79.38 to FS 88.06 and on the outboard forward 
edge of the left-hand and right-hand cockpit forward floorboards at FS 
79.38. Two incidents of objects falling through openings in the cockpit 
floor and jamming the elevator controls and the yoke prompted this 
action. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent 
airplane flight control jammings caused by objects falling through the 
cockpit floor openings.

DATES: Effective January 3, 1996. The incorporation by reference of 
certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the 
Director of the Federal Register as of January 3, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained 
from Fairchild Aircraft, P.O. Box 790490, San Antonio, Texas 78279-
0490; telephone [phone]. This information may also be examined 
at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of 
the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 95-CE-01-AD, Room 
1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office 
of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, 
Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Werner Koch, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Airplane Certification Office, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, 
Texas 76193-0150; telephone [phone]; facsimile [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply 
to certain Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227 series airplanes was 
published in the Federal Register on June 15, 1995 (60 FR 14235). The 
action proposed to require installing foreign object damage (FOD) 
barriers in the floorboards of the cockpit between the pedestal and 
floor from Fuselage Station (FS) 79.38 to FS 88.06 and on the outboard 
forward edge of the left-hand and right-hand cockpit forward 
floorboards at FS 79.38. Accomplishment of the proposed action would be 
in accordance with Fairchild Service Bulletin (SB) 226-53-012, 
Fairchild SB 227-53-005, or Fairchild SB CC7-53-002, all Issued: 
September 22, 1994, as applicable.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the one comment received.
    The commenter is in favor of the substance of the proposed rule, 
but feels that the FAA should have issued a final rule; request for 
comments, instead of a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). Under 
current regulations, the FAA must issue an NPRM prior to issuing a 
final rule to allow the public the opportunity to comment, unless the 
FAA demonstrates that the unsafe condition is an urgent safety of 
flight condition. After reviewing all information related to this 
subject, the FAA made the determination prior to issuing the NPRM that 
the unsafe condition was not an urgent safety of flight conditon, and 
thus did not require final rule; request for comments, AD action. The 
AD is unchanged as a result of this comment.
    No comments were received on the FAA's determination of the cost to 
the public.
    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor 
corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any 
additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.
    The FAA estimates that 855 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 4 workhours per 
airplane to accomplish the required action, and that the average labor 
rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost approximately $50 per 
airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD on 
U.S. operators is estimated to be $247,950. This figure is based on the 
assumption that no affected airplane owner/operator has incorporated 
the required modification and that parts have not been distributed to 
any owner/operator of the affected airplanes.
    The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the 

[[Page 58209]]
national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is 
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; 
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under 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. A copy of the final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under the 
caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to 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

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 USC 106(g), 40101, 40113, 44701.


Sec. Section 39.13  [AMENDED]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

95-24-11 Fairchild Aircraft: Amendment 39-9441; Docket No. 95-CE-01-
AD.

    Applicability: The following airplane models and serial numbers, 
certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Model                             Serial Nos.          
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SA226-T................................  All serial numbers.            
SA226-T(B).............................  All serial numbers.            
SA226-AT...............................  All serial numbers.            
SA226-TC...............................  All serial numbers.            
SA227-AT...............................  All serial numbers.            
SA227-AC...............................  All serial numbers.            
SA227-BC...............................  All serial numbers.            
SA227-TT...............................  All serial numbers.            
SA227-CC...............................  CC784 and CC790 through CC863  
SA227-DC...............................  DC784 and DC790 through DC863  
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it. Compliance: Required within the next 600 hours time-in-
service after the effective date of this AD, unless already 
accomplished.
    To prevent airplane flight control jammings caused by objects 
falling through the cockpit floor openings, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Install foreign object damage (FOD) barriers in the 
floorboards of the cockpit between the pedestal and floor from 
Fuselage Station (FS) 79.38 to FS 88.06 and on the outboard forward 
edge of the left-hand and right-hand cockpit forward floorboards at 
FS 79.38. Accomplish this action in accordance with the 
ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of either Fairchild Service 
Bulletin (SB) 226-53-012, Fairchild SB 227-53-005, or Fairchild SB 
CC7-53-002, all Issued: September 22, 1994, as applicable.
    (b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Airplane Certification Office (ACO), FAA, 
2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0150. The request 
shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, 
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Fort Worth 
ACO.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Fort Worth ACO.

    (d) The installation required by this AD shall be done in 
accordance with Fairchild Service Bulletin 226-53-012, Fairchild 
Service Bulletin 227-53-005, or Fairchild Service Bulletin CC7-53-
002, all Issued: September 22, 1994. This incorporation by reference 
was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance 
with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from 
Fairchild Aircraft, P.O. Box 790490, San Antonio, Texas 78279-0490. 
Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, 
Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North 
Capitol Street, NW., 7th Floor, suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (e) This amendment (39-9441) becomes effective on January 3, 
1996.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 17, 1995.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 95-28794 Filed 11-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U