E8-8509. Airworthiness Directives; Alpha Aviation Design Limited (Type Certificate No. A48EU Previously Held by APEX Aircraft and AVIONS PIERRE ROBIN) Model R2160 Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

To prevent failure of the wing structure and assembly components due to undetected fatigue and corrosion * * *

We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES:

This AD becomes effective May 27, 2008.

On May 27, 2008, the Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD.

ADDRESSES:

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on February 5, 2008 (73 FR 6634). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

To prevent failure of the wing structure and assembly components due to undetected fatigue and corrosion * * *

The MCAI requires that you inspect the wing structure and fuselage attachment and repair any defects that you find.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information provided in the MCAI and related service information.

We might also have required different actions in this AD from those in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are highlighted in a NOTE within the AD.

Costs of Compliance

Based on the service information, we estimate that this AD will affect 9 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 15 work-hours per product to comply with basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $1,326 per product.

Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the U.S. operators to be $22,734 or $2,526 per product.

We have no way to determine what aircraft will need replacement parts that may be required based on the results of any inspection.

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 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 this AD:

(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.

We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD Docket.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket 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 AD docket contains the NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Office (telephone [phone]) is 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

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 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.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2008-09-01 Alpha Aviation Design Limited (Type Certificate No. A48EU previously held by APEX Aircraft and AVIONS PIERRE ROBIN): Amendment 39-15481; Docket No. FAA-2006-26490; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-075-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective May 27, 2008.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to Model R2160 airplanes, serial numbers 001 through 378, certificated in any category.

Subject

(d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code: 57: Wings.

Reason

(e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) states:

To prevent failure of the wing structure and assembly components due to undetected fatigue and corrosion * * *

The MCAI requires that you inspect the wing structure and fuselage attachment and repair any defects that you find.

Actions and Compliance

(f) Unless already done, do the following actions:

(1) Disassemble the wings from the fuselage and inspect the wing structure and assembly components using instruction No. 1 in Robin Aviation Service Bulletin No. 123, revision 3, dated December 23, 1999. If any defects are found, repair following Robin Aviation Service Bulletin No. 123, revision 3, dated December 23, 1999. Use the following compliance times for the inspection:

(i) For airplanes with less than 4,000 hours time-in-service (TIS): When the airplane reaches a total of 3,500 hours TIS or within the next 100 hours TIS after May 27, 2008 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 750 hours TIS.

(ii) For airplanes with 4,000 hours TIS or more that have not complied with the special instruction in paragraph E of Avions Pierre Robin Service Bulletin No. 123, revision 2, dated November 14, 1995: Within the next 100 hours TIS after May 27, 2008 (the effective date of this AD) and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 750 hours TIS.

(iii) For airplanes with 4,000 hours TIS or more that have complied with the special instruction in paragraph E of Avions Pierre Robin Service Bulletin No. 123, revision 2, dated November 14, 1995: Within the next 750 hours TIS after May 27, 2008 (the effective date of this AD) and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 750 hours TIS.

(2) When the airplane reaches a total of 3,500 hours TIS with original wing-to-fuselage bolts installed or 3,500 hours TIS of an airplane since new bolts have been installed or within the next 100 hours TIS after May 27, 2008 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later, do a non-destructive inspection of the wing-to-fuselage retaining bolts and replace any bolts that do not pass this inspection following instruction No. 2 in Robin Aviation Service Bulletin No. 123, revision 3, dated December 23, 1999. Thereafter, repetitively inspect wing-to-fuselage retaining bolts and replace any bolts that do not pass this inspection every 750 hours TIS following instruction No. 2 in Robin Aviation Service Bulletin No. 123, revision 3, dated December 23, 1999.

Note 1:

The requirement for a 3,500-hour inspection is a time since new or time since installation (that is, the TIS of new bolts).

(3) Within the next 50 hours TIS after re-assembling the wing and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS, inspect the wing-to-fuselage retaining bolts for correct torque settings following instruction No. 3 in Robin Aviation Service Bulletin No. 123, revision 3, dated December 23, 1999. The required torque value is 22 ft-lb with nut part number 95.24.39.010. Tighten to 16 ft-lb (pre-loading) and then torque from 16 to 22 ft-lb.

FAA AD Differences

Note 2:

This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows: No differences.

Other FAA AD Provisions

(g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Standards 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: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]. 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.

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product is airworthy before it is returned to service.

(3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-0056.

Related Information

(h) Refer to MCAI Civil Aviation Authority AD DCA/R2000/28, dated September 28, 2006, and Robin Aviation Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 123, revision 3, dated December 23, 1999, for related information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

(i) You must use Robin Aviation Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 123, revision 3, dated December 23, 1999, 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 this service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Alpha Aviation, Ingram Road, Hamilton Airport, RD 2, Hamilton 2021, New Zealand; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; Internet: http://www.alphaaviation.co.nz.

(3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or 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/​cfr/​ibr-locations.html.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 11, 2008.

James E. Jackson,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.