[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6934-6935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3886]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 95-CE-59-AD; Amendment 39-9520; AD 96-04-08]
Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Incorporated Models AT-802
and AT-802A 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 Air Tractor, Incorporated (Air Tractor) Models AT-802 and
AT-802A airplanes. This action requires repetitively replacing the main
landing gear legs. Failure of the main landing gear legs on an AT-802A
prompted this action. The actions specified by this AD are intended to
prevent possible failure of the main landing gear legs, which, if not
detected and corrected, could result in loss of control of the airplane
during landing operations.
DATES: Effective April 12, 1996.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as
of April 12, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained
from Air Tractor Incorporated, P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374;
telephone (817) 564-5616, facsimile (817) 564-2348. 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-59-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: Bob May, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Aircraft Certification Office, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth,
Texas 76193-0150; telephone (817) 222-5155, 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 Air Tractor, Incorporated (Air Tractor) Models AT-802 and AT-802A
airplanes was published in the Federal Register on October 5, 1995 (60
FR 52130). The action proposed to require repetitively replacing the
main landing gear legs in accordance with Snow Engineering Company
Service Letter (SL) 104A, dated July 29, 1995.
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.
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 18 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 12 hours per
airplane to accomplish this action, and that the average labor rate is
approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost approximately $2,816 per
airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD on
U.S. operators is estimated to be $63,648 ($3,536 per airplane). This
figure is based on the assumption that no affected airplane owner/
operator has replaced the main landing gear legs and does not take into
account the number of repetitive replacements each operator would incur
over the life of the airplane. The FAA has no way of determining how
many main landing gear replacements each owner/operator will incur.
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
[[Page 6935]]
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 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
Ad No. 96-04-08 Air Tractor Incorporated: Amendment 39-9520; Docket
No. 95-CE-59-AD.
Applicability: Model AT-802 and AT-802A Airplanes (all serial
numbers), certificated in any category:
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 upon the accumulation of 3,000
landings or within the next 25 landings after the effective date of
this AD, whichever occurs later, unless already accomplished, and
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 3,000 landings.
Note 2: If the number of landings is not known, calculate by
multiplying three landings per one hour time-in-service (TIS).
To prevent possible failure of the main landing gear legs, which
could result in loss of control of landing operations and possible
loss of the airplane, accomplish the following:
(a) Replace the main landing gear legs, Air Tractor part number
(P/N) 40091-2, in accordance with Air Tractor Service Bulletin (SB)
104A, dated July 29, 1995.
(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
initial or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent
level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Fort Worth Aircraft
Certification Office, FAA, Aircraft Certification Office, 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
Aircraft Certification Office.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Fort Worth Aircraft Certification Office.
(d) The replacements required by this AD shall be done in
accordance with Air Tractor Service Bulletin 104A, dated July 29,
1995. 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 Air Tractor Incorporated, P.O.
Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374. 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 (39-9520) becomes effective on April 12,
1996.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 13, 1996.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 96-3886 Filed 2-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
