00-16645. Airworthiness Directives; Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd., Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra Series Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness directive

(AD) that is applicable to certain Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd., Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra series airplanes. This proposal would require a one-time inspection of the position of the aileron autopilot servo and attachment arm; follow-on actions; and corrective actions, if necessary; and installation of a stopper angle on the servo bracket. This action is necessary to prevent the control link of the aileron autopilot servo from being driven overcenter, which could result in roll oscillations when the autopilot is engaged. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

DATES:

Comments must be received by July 31, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-10-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056. Comments may be inspected at this location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Comments may also be sent via the Internet using the following address: [e-mail]. Comments sent via the Internet must contain “Docket No. 2000-NM-10-AD” in the subject line and need not be submitted in triplicate. Comments sent via the Internet as attached electronic files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or ASCII text.

The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be obtained from Galaxy Aerospace Corporation, One Galaxy Way, Fort Worth Alliance Airport, Fort Worth, Texas 76177. This information may be examined at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Norman B. Martenson, Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone [phone]; fax [phone].

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 shall 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.

• Submit comments using the following format:
• Organize comments issue-by-issue. For example, discuss a request to change the compliance time and a request to change the service bulletin reference as two separate issues.
• For each issue, state what specific change to the proposed AD is being requested.
• Include justification (e.g., reasons or data) for each request.

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 summarizing 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 Number 2000-NM-10-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, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-10-AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056.

Discussion

The Civil Aviation Administration of Israel (CAAI), which is the airworthiness authority for Israel, notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on certain Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd., Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra series airplanes. The CAAI advises that a too-short attachment arm on an aileron autopilot servo actuator can allow the servo control link to be driven overcenter. This condition, if not corrected, could result in roll oscillations when the autopilot is engaged.

Explanation of Relevant Service Information

The manufacturer has issued Astra (Israel Aircraft Industries) Alert Service Bulletin 1125-27A-157, dated September 14, 1999. The service bulletin describes procedures for a one-time inspection of the aileron autopilot servo and attaching linkage to determine whether the attachment arm on the autopilot servo is in the correct position. For any attachment arm that is not in the correct position, the service bulletin describes procedures for a one-time inspection to detect damage (including gouges and scratches) of the bellcrank arm, control link, and servo attachment arm; follow-on actions; and corrective actions, if necessary. The follow-on and corrective actions include repositioning the servo attachment arm to the correct position, and repairing or replacing damaged parts with new parts depending on the extent of damage found. The service bulletin also describes procedures for installing a stopper angle on the servo bracket.

Accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletin is intended to adequately address the identified unsafe condition. The CAAI classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued Israeli airworthiness directive 27-99-10-06R1, dated November 17, 1999, in order to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Israel.

FAA's Conclusions

These airplane models are manufactured in Israel and are 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 CAAI has kept the FAA informed of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of the CAAI, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action is necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for operation in the United States.

Explanation of Requirements of Proposed Rule

Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to exist or develop on other airplanes of the same type design registered in the United States, the proposed AD would require accomplishment of the actions specified in the service bulletin described previously.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 38 airplanes of U.S. registry would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 2 work hours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts would cost approximately $100 per airplane. Based on these figures, the cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $8,360, or $220 per airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed above is based on assumptions that no operator has yet accomplished any of the proposed requirements of this AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the future if this AD were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein 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. Therefore, it is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that 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); 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 is contained 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.

§ 39.13

[Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new airworthiness directive:

Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.: Docket 2000-NM-10-AD

Applicability: Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra series airplanes; certificated in any category; serial numbers 030, and 042 through 086 inclusive.

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 request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (b) 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 as indicated, unless accomplished previously.

To prevent the control link of the aileron autopilot servo from being driven overcenter, which could result in roll oscillations when the autopilot is engaged, accomplish the following:

Inspection and Corrective Actions

(a) Within 50 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, perform a one-time general visual inspection of the aileron autopilot servo and attaching linkage to determine whether the attachment arm on the servo is in the correct position, in accordance with Astra (Israel Aircraft Industries) Alert Service Bulletin 1125-27A-157, dated September 14, 1999.

(1) If the attachment arm is in the correct position, prior to further flight, install a stopper angle on the servo bracket in accordance with the alert service bulletin.

(2) If the attachment arm is in the incorrect position, prior to further flight, perform a general visual inspection to detect damage of the bellcrank arm, control link, and attachment arm, in accordance with the alert service bulletin. Prior to further flight after accomplishment of all applicable corrective actions specified by this paragraph, install a stopper angle on the servo bracket in accordance with the alert service bulletin.

(i) If no damage is detected, prior to further flight, reposition the attachment arm in accordance with the alert service bulletin.

(ii) If any damage is detected and the damage is within the limits specified by the alert service bulletin, prior to further flight, repair the damaged part in accordance with the alert service bulletin.

(iii) If any damage is detected and the damage exceeds the limits specified by the alert service bulletin, prior to further flight, replace the damaged part with a new part in accordance with the alert service bulletin.

Note 2:

For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection is defined as: “A visual examination of an interior or exterior area, installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or irregularity. This level of inspection is made under normally available lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or drop-light, and may require removal or opening of access panels or doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be required to gain proximity to the area being checked.”

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be used if approved by the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators shall submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116.

Note 3:

Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the International Branch, ANM-116.

Special Flight Permits

(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 airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

Note 4:

The subject of this AD is addressed in Israeli airworthiness directive 27-99-10-06R1, dated November 17, 1999.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 26, 2000.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.