[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 83 (Thursday, April 30, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 23685-23686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11439]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 98-CE-27-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Aeromot-Industria Mecanico Metalurgica
Ltda. Model AMT-200 Powered Gliders
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
(AD) that would apply to certain Aeromot-Industria Mecanico Metalurgica
Ltda. (Aeromot) Model AMT-200 powered gliders. The proposed AD would
require replacing certain flexible hoses in the engine oil system with
flexible hoses with a larger internal diameter. The proposed AD is the
result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued
by the airworthiness authority for Brazil. The actions specified by the
proposed AD are intended to prevent inefficiency of the engine
lubricating system because of ineffective flexible hoses, which could
result in an in-flight engine shutdown with consequent loss of powered
glider controllability.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 9, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-CE-27-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at this location
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.
Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained
from Grupo Aeromot, Aeromot-Industria Mecanico Metalurgica Ltda., Av.
das Industries-1210, Bairro Anchieta, Caixa Postal 8031, 90200-Porto
Alegre-RS, Brazil. This information also may be examined at the Rules
Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Curtis Jackson, Aerospace
Engineer, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, One Crown Center,
1895 Phoenix Blvd., suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone: (770)
703-6083; facsimile: (770) 703-6097.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire.
Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be
submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned
with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket No. 98-CE-27-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention:
Rules Docket No. 98-CE-27-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The Centro Tecnico Aeroespacial (CTA), which is the airworthiness
authority for Brazil, notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may
exist on certain Aeromot Model AMT-200 powered gliders. The CTA reports
that the steel piping in the engine oil system on the above-referenced
powered gliders was replaced with flexible hoses that have a smaller
internal diameter. These smaller diameter hoses lead to inefficiency of
the engine lubricating system.
This condition, if not corrected in a timely manner, could result
in an in-flight engine shutdown with consequent loss of powered glider
controllability.
Relevant Service Information
Aeromot has issued Service Bulletin (SB) B.S. No. 200-79-036, Issue
Date: January 30, 1997, which specifies procedures for replacing any
engine oil system hose, part number 10702, 10703, or 10704; with a hose
with a larger internal diameter, part number 10706, 10707, or 10708.
The CTA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued
Brazilian AD 97-04-02, dated April 8, 1997, in order to assure the
continued airworthiness of these gliders in Brazil.
The FAA's Determination
This powered glider model is manufactured in Brazil and is type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the CTA has kept the FAA informed of
the situation described above.
The FAA has examined the findings of the CTA; reviewed all
available information, including the service information referenced
above; and
[[Page 23686]]
determined that AD action is necessary for products of this type design
that are certificated for operation in the United States.
Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Aeromot Model AMT-200 powered gliders of the
same type design registered in the United States, the FAA is proposing
AD action. The proposed AD would require replacing any engine oil
system hose, part number 10702, 10703, or 10704; with a hose with a
larger internal diameter, part number 10706, 10707, or 10708.
Accomplishment of the proposed installation would be in accordance with
Aeromot SB B.S. No. 200-79-036, Issue Date: January 30, 1997.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 18 powered gliders in the U.S. registry
would be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately
7 workhours per powered glider to accomplish the proposed replacements,
and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Based on
these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S.
operators is estimated to be $7,560, or $420 per powered glider.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein would 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
proposal would 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) if promulgated,
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 draft regulatory evaluation
prepared for this action has been placed 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, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
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:
Aeromot-Industria Mecanico Metalurgica Ltda.: Docket No. 98-CE-27-
AD.
Applicability: Model AMT-200 powered gliders, serial numbers
200.046 through 200.066, certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each powered glider 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 powered gliders 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 (d) 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 50 hours time-in-service
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already
accomplished.
To prevent inefficiency of the engine lubricating system because
of ineffective flexible hoses, which could result in an in-flight
engine shutdown with consequent loss of powered glider
controllability, accomplish the following:
(a) For powered gliders with a serial number in the range of
200.046 through 200.058: Replace any engine oil system hose, part
number 10702; with a hose with a larger internal diameter, part
number 10706. Accomplish the replacement in accordance with Aeromot
Service Bulletin B.S. No. 200-79-036, Issue Date: January 30, 1997.
(b) For powered gliders with a serial number in the range of
200.059 through 200.066: Replace any engine oil system hose, part
number 10702, 10703, or 10704; with a hose with a larger diameter,
part number 10706, 10707, or 10708. Accomplish the replacement in
accordance with Aeromot Service Bulletin B.S. No. 200-79-036, Issue
Date: January 30, 1997.
(c) 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 glider to a location where the
requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance times that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Blvd., suite 450, Atlanta,
Georgia 30349. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate
FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to
the Manager, Atlanta ACO.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Atlanta ACO.
(e) Questions or technical information related to Aeromot
Service Bulletin B.S. No. 200-79-036, Issue Date: January 30, 1997,
Grupo Aeromot, Aeromot-Industria Mecanico Metalurgica Ltda., Av. das
Industries-1210, Bairro Anchieta, Caixa Postal 8031, 90200-Porto
Alegre-RS, Brazil. This service information may be examined at the
FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601
E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Brazilian AD 97-
04-02, dated April 8, 1997.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 23, 1998.
Marvin R. Nuss,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-11439 Filed 4-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
