[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 115 (Thursday, June 15, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31419-31421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14637]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 95-CE-01-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227
Series Airplanes
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 Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227
series airplanes. The proposed action would require installing foreign
object damage (FOD) barriers in the floorboards of the cockpit between
the pedestal and floor from Fuselage Station (FS) 79.38 to FS 88.06 and
on the outboard forward edge of the left-hand and right-hand cockpit
forward floorboards at FS 79.38. Two incidents of objects falling
through openings of the cockpit floor and jamming the elevator controls
and the yoke prompted the proposed action. The actions specified by the
proposed AD are intended to prevent airplane flight control jammings
caused by objects falling through the cockpit floor openings.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 21, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-01-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 Fairchild Aircraft, P.O. Box 790490, San Antonio, Texas 78279-
0490; telephone [[Page 31420]] (210) 824-9421. This information also
may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Werner Koch, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Airplane Certification Office, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth,
Texas 76193-0150; telephone (817) 222-5133; facsimile (817) 222-5960.
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. 95-CE-01-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 Assistant Chief Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-01-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The FAA has received reports of two incidents of flight control
jammings on Fairchild Aircraft SA227 series airplanes caused by objects
falling through openings of the cockpit floor.
In one instance, the air vent in the cockpit broke and the ball
section of the vent fell through one of the openings in the floor and
lodged in the elevator control linkage. The airplane crew experienced a
momentary restriction in elevator control during a pre-flight control
check. In the other instance, a bottle (Coca-Cola) fell through one of
the floor openings and jammed the yoke until the crew overcame the jam
by breaking the bottle.
These openings are located in the floorboards of the cockpit of
Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227 series airplanes between the
pedestal and floor from Fuselage Station (FS) 79.38 to FS 88.06 and on
the outboard forward edge of the left-hand and right-hand cockpit
forward floorboards at FS 79.38.
Fairchild Aircraft has issued Service Bulletin (SB) 226-53-012, SB
227-53-005, and SB CC7-53-002, all Issued: September 22, 1994. These
service bulletins contain procedures for installing cockpit floorboard
foreign object damage (FOD) barriers on Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and
SA227 series airplanes in the areas referenced above.
After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available
information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has
determined that AD action should be taken to prevent airplane flight
control jammings caused by objects falling through the cockpit floor
openings.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227 series
airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would require
installing FOD barriers in the floorboards of the cockpit between the
pedestal and floor from FS 79.38 to FS 88.06 and on the outboard
forward edge of the left-hand and right-hand cockpit forward
floorboards at FS 79.38. Accomplishment of the proposed action would be
in accordance with Fairchild SB 226-53-012, Fairchild SB 227-53-005, or
Fairchild SB CC7-53-002, all Issued: September 22, 1994, as applicable.
The FAA estimates that 855 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 4
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost
approximately $50 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be
$247,950. This figure is based on the assumption that no affected
airplane owner/operator has incorporated the proposed modification.
Parts have not been distributed to any owner/operator of the affected
airplanes.
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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new AD to read as follows:
Fairchild Aircraft: Docket No. 95-CE-01-AD.
Applicability: The following airplane models and serial numbers,
certificated in any category:
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Model Serial numbers
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SA226-T..................................... All serial numbers.
SA226-T(B).................................. All serial numbers.
SA226-AT.................................... All serial numbers.
SA226-TC.................................... All serial numbers.
SA227-AT.................................... All serial numbers.
SA227-AC.................................... All serial numbers.
SA227-BC.................................... All serial numbers.
SA227-TT.................................... All serial numbers.
[[Page 31421]]
SA227-CC.................................... CC784 and CC790 through
CC863.
SA227-DC.................................... DC784 and DC790 through
DC863.
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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 use the authority
provided in paragraph (c) of this AD to request approval from the
FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current
configuration eliminates the unsafe condition, or different actions
necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such
a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair
remove any airplane from the applicability of this AD.
Compliance: Required within the next 600 hours time-in-service
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent airplane flight control jammings caused by objects
falling through the cockpit floor openings, accomplish the
following:
(a) Install foreign object damage (FOD) barriers in the
floorboards of the cockpit between the pedestal and floor from
Fuselage Station (FS) 79.38 to FS 88.06 and on the outboard forward
edge of the left-hand and right-hand cockpit forward floorboards at
FS 79.38. Accomplish this action in accordance with the
ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of either Fairchild Service
Bulletin (SB) 226-53-012, Fairchild SB 227-53-005, or Fairchild SB
CC7-53-002, all Issued: September 22, 1994, as applicable.
(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
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, Airplane Certification Office (ACO), FAA,
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
ACO.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Fort Worth ACO.
(d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the service bulletins referred to herein upon request to Fairchild
Aircraft, P.O. Box 790490, San Antonio, Texas 78279-0490; or may
examine these service bulletins at the FAA, Central Region, Office
of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 9, 1995.
Gerald W. Pierce,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-14637 Filed 6-14-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
