E7-9600. Airworthiness Directives; Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH Model 228 Series 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:

During a maintenance inspection, cracks were found on the centre section of fuselage frame 19. The investigation on the root cause is still in progress. Fuselage frame 19 supports the rear side of the main landing gear (MLG). This condition, if not corrected, could cause collapse of frame 19, leading to subsequent collapse of a MLG.

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

DATES:

This AD becomes effective June 26, 2007.

On June 26, 2007, 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://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC.

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:

Streamlined Issuance of AD

The FAA is implementing a new process for streamlining the issuance of ADs related to MCAI. The streamlined process will allow us to adopt MCAI safety requirements in a more efficient manner and will reduce safety risks to the public. This process continues to follow all FAA AD issuance processes to meet legal, economic, Administrative Procedure Act, and Federal Register requirements. We also continue to meet our technical decision-making responsibilities to identify and correct unsafe conditions on U.S.-certificated products.

This AD references the MCAI and related service information that we considered in forming the engineering basis to correct the unsafe condition. The AD contains text copied from the MCAI and for this reason might not follow our plain language principles.

Discussion

We issued a 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 March 16, 2007 (72 FR 12574). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states that:

During a maintenance inspection, cracks were found on the centre section of fuselage frame 19. The investigation on the root cause is still in progress. Fuselage frame 19 supports the rear side of the main landing gear (MLG). This condition, if not corrected, could cause collapse of frame 19, leading to subsequent collapse of a MLG. Since an unsafe condition has been identified that may exist or develop on other aircraft of this type design, this Airworthiness Directive (AD) requires a visual inspection of the affected fuselage frame and, if discrepancies are found, reporting the results to the TC holder. This is considered to be an interim action.

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

We estimate that this AD will affect 19 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 6 work-hours per product to comply with basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour.

Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD to the U.S. operators to be $9,120 or $480 per product.

In addition, this AD may require follow-on actions. Because each follow-on action is based on the damage found on the affected airplane, we have no way of determining the cost of those follow-on actions or 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 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://dms.dot.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:

2007-11-03 Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH: Amendment 39-15060; Docket No. FAA-2007-27295; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-013-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective June 26, 2007.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to Dornier 228-100, Dornier 228-101, Dornier 228-200, Dornier 228-201, Dornier 228-202, and Dornier 228-212 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

Subject

(d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 53: Fuselage.

Reason

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

During a maintenance inspection, cracks were found on the centre section of fuselage frame 19. The investigation on the root cause is still in progress. Fuselage frame 19 supports the rear side of the main landing gear (MLG). This condition, if not corrected, could cause collapse of frame 19, leading to subsequent collapse of a MLG. Since an unsafe condition has been identified that may exist or develop on other aircraft of this type design, this Airworthiness Directive (AD) requires a visual inspection of the affected fuselage frame and, if discrepancies are found, reporting the results to the TC holder. This is considered to be an interim action.

Actions and Compliance

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

(1) For all airplanes, within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, visually inspect the affected fuselage frame 19 using the instructions in Dornier 228 RUAG Alert Service Bulletin No. ASB-228-266, dated December 1, 2006.

(2) If any crack is found during the inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further flight, contact RUAG Aerospace Services GmbH, Dornier 228 Customer Support, P.O. Box 1253, 82231 Wessling, Germany; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail] for FAA-approved repair instructions and incorporate the repair on the airplane.

Note 1:

This is considered interim action. The State of Design and DORNIER LUFTFAHRT GmbH are looking at a possible repetitive inspection program and/or modification program to address this condition for the long-term. In the meantime, the FAA recommends that you incorporate the above inspection into your regular maintenance program.

FAA AD Differences

Note 2:

This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information as follows:

(1) The MCAI requires different compliance times for airplanes operated in different conditions. The FAA is not able to enforce compliance times based on airplane operations since there is no way of determining the amount of operations in different conditions. To ensure the unsafe condition is addressed adequately and timely, we are requiring the inspection for all airplanes at 25 hours TIS.

(2) The MCAI allows flight with known cracks provided they do not exceed a certain limit. FAA policy does not allow flight with cracks in primary structure. Since the fuselage is considered primary structure, we are mandating repair before further flight after any crack is found.

Other FAA AD Provisions

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

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Staff, FAA, ATTN: Karl Schletzabaum, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone], has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 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 European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No: 2007-0028, dated February 5, 2007; and Dornier 228 RUAG Alert Service Bulletin No. ASB-228-266, dated December 1, 2006, for related information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

(i) You must use Dornier 228 RUAG Alert Service Bulletin No. ASB-228-266, dated December 1, 2006, 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 RUAG Aerospace Services GmbH, Dornier 228 Customer Support, P.O. Box 1253, D-82231 Wessling, Federal Republic of Germany; telephone: [phone].

(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 May 11, 2007.

David R. Showers,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.