[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 6, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62321-62323]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29669]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 95-CE-25-AD; Amendment 39-9452; AD 95-25-07]
Airworthiness Directives; Fairchild Aircraft SA226 Series
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that
applies to certain Fairchild Aircraft SA226 series airplanes that are
equipped with a part number 27-55001-229 actuator assembly. This action
requires replacing the main landing gear door actuator tang and
associated hardware with parts of improved design. Reports of the main
landing gear doors hanging up and locking the landing gear links on the
affected airplanes prompted this action. The actions specified by this
AD are intended to prevent the inability to extend the main landing
gear because of the main landing gear door actuation roller contacting
the lower edge of the tang and causing the linkage to lock over-center.
DATES: Effective January 17, 1996.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as
of January 17, 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 (210) 824-9421. 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-25-AD, Room
1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or
[[Page 62322]]
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 (817) 222-5133; facsimile (817) 222-5960.
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 series airplanes that are equipped
with a part number 27-5500-229 actuator assembly was published in the
Federal Register on August 7, 1995 (60 FR 40118). The action proposed
to require replacing the main landing gear door tangs and associated
hardware with parts of improved design. Accomplishment of the proposed
action would be in accordance with Fairchild Aircraft Service Bulletin
226-32-059, Issued: February 14, 1991.
Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the
proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.
In preparing the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the FAA
inadvertently referenced part number (P/N) 27-55001-229 as P/N 27-5500-
229 in the preamble and Applicability section of the proposed AD. The
FAA is changing the AD to reflect the correct P/N.
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
the correction noted above and minor editorial corrections. The FAA has
determined that these 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 307 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 $114 (two
main landing gear door actuator tang kits per airplane at $57 each) per
airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the AD on
U.S. operators is estimated to be $108,678.
Fairchild Aircraft has informed the FAA that enough main landing
gear door actuator tang kits have been distributed to equip 11 of the
affected airplanes (22 kits). Assuming that each of these kits is
installed on an affected airplane, the cost impact upon U.S. operators
of the affected airplanes would be reduced $3,894 from $108,678 to
$104,784.
The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct
effects 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. 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. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
95-25-07 Fairchild Aircraft: Amendment 39-9452; Docket No. 95-CE-
25-AD.
Applicability: The following airplane models and serial numbers
that are equipped with a part number (P/N) 27-55001-229 actuator
assembly, certificated in any category:
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Model Serial Nos.
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SA226-T............................... T201 through T275 and T277
through T291.
SA226-T(B)............................ T(B) 276 and T(B) 292 through
T(B) 417.
SA226-AT.............................. AT001 through AT074.
SA226-TC.............................. TC201 through TC419.
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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 1,000 hours time-in-service
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent the inability to extend the main landing gear because
of the main landing gear door actuation roller contacting the lower
edge of the tang and causing the linkage to lock over-center,
accomplish the following:
(a) Replace the main landing gear door actuator tangs and
associated hardware, part numbers 27-55001-249 and 27-55001-250,
with new tangs and hardware of improved design, part numbers 27-
55001-299 and 27-55001-301. Accomplish this replacement in
accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Fairchild
Aircraft Service Bulletin 226-32-059, Issued: February 14, 1991.
(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 replacement required by this AD shall be done in
accordance with Fairchild Aircraft Service Bulletin 226-32-059,
Issued: February 14, 1991. 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,
[[Page 62323]]
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 (39-9452) becomes effective on January 17,
1996.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 28, 1995.
Dwight A. Young,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-29669 Filed 12-5-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
