2014-11476. Airworthiness Directives; Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. Airplanes

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. Models FA-200-160, FA-200-180, and FA-200-180AO airplanes. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated 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 deterioration of brake performance due to seal defects caused by deterioration due to age of the O-rings of the brake master cylinder. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES:

We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 3, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

You may send comments by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: [phone].
• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd., AEROSPACE COMPANY, 1-11 YOUNAN 1 CHOME UTSUNOMIYA TOCHIGI, JAPAN 320-8564; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: none; Internet: http://www.fhi.co.jp/​english/​outline/​section/​aero.html. You may review this referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call [phone].

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-0311; 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 this proposed AD, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include “Docket No. FAA-2014-0311; Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-014-AD” at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposed AD because of those comments.

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://regulations.gov,, including any personal information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), which is the aviation authority for Japan, has issued AD No. TCD-8396-2014, dated April 21, 2014 (referred to after this as “the MCAI”), to correct an unsafe condition for Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. Models FA-200-160, FA-200-180, and FA-200-180AO airplanes and was based on mandatory continuing airworthiness information originated by an aviation authority of another country. The MCAI was issued based on reports of deterioration of brake performance due to seal defects caused by deterioration due to age of the O-rings of the brake master cylinder on the affected airplanes, which could result in reduced or loss of control during ground operations. The MCAI requires repetitive replacement of any O-ring of the brake master cylinders. You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-0311.

Relevant Service Information

Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. has issued Service Bulletin No. 200-016, dated April 17, 2014. The actions described in this service information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 3 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour per product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.

Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $255, or $85 per product.

In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would take about 8 work-hours and require parts costing $10, for a cost of $690 per product. We have no way of determining the number of products that may need these actions.

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 proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 proposed regulation:

(1) Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866,

(2) Is not a “significant rule” under the DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Incorporation by reference
• Safety

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. Amend § 39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd.: Docket No. FAA-2014-0311; Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-014-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

We must receive comments by July 3, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. Models FA-200-160, FA-200-180, and FA-200-180AO airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 32: Landing Gear.

(e) Reason

This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated 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 deterioration of brake performance due to seal defects caused by deterioration due to age of the O-rings of the brake master cylinders. We are issuing this proposed AD to prevent the deterioration of brake performance, which could result in reduced or loss of control during ground operations.

(f) Actions and Compliance

Unless already done, do the following actions required by paragraphs (f)(1) through (f)(3) of this AD:

(1) As of the effective date of this AD, if the brake master cylinder O-rings have accumulated more than 1,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 5 years since the last replacement of any O-ring or if the replacement date of any O-ring cannot be determined, within 50 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD or 1 year after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, replace any O-ring following Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. Service Bulletin No. 200-016, dated April 17, 2014.

(2) As of the effective date of this AD, every time the brake master cylinder is replaced, inspect the manufacture date on the data tag of the brake master cylinder or the last replacement date of any O-ring by referring to the airframe logbook.

(3) During any inspection of the manufacture date of the brake master cylinder or the last replacement date of any O-ring as required by paragraph (f)(2) of this AD, if it is determined that the O-rings have accumulated more than 5 years since the manufacture date on the data tag of the brake master cylinder or the last replacement date of the brake master cylinder O-rings, or if the manufacture date on the data tag on the brake master cylinder and the last replacement date of any brake master cylinder O-ring cannot be determined, before further flight, replace all brake master cylinder O-rings when installed on the airplane following Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. Service Bulletin No. 200-016, dated April 17, 2014.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

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: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail]. 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.

(h) Related Information

Refer to MCAI Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) AD No. TCD-8396-2014, dated April 21, 2014, for related information. You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-0311. For service information related to this AD, contact Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd., AEROSPACE COMPANY, 1-11 YOUNAN 1 CHOME UTSUNOMIYA TOCHIGI, JAPAN 320-8564; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; email: none; Internet: http://www.fhi.co.jp/​english/​outline/​section/​aero.html. You may review this referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call [phone].

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 12, 2014.

Earl Lawrence,

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.