[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 131 (Monday, July 8, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35693-35695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17295]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 95-CE-103-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Aerospace Technologies of Australia Pty
Ltd. (formerly Government Aircraft Factory) Models N22B, N24A, and N22S
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 Aerospace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd.
(ASTA) Models N22B, N24A, and N22S airplanes that are not equipped with
a part number (P/N) 1E/N-12-57 fuselage stub fin plate (MOD N759). The
proposed action would require replacing the existing fuselage stub fin
plate with one of improved design, P/N 1E/N-12-57. Several reports of
cracks along the forward flange of the fuselage stub fin plate in the
area of Rib Water Line (WL) 138.87 prompted the proposed action. The
actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent structural
failure of the fuselage area caused by a cracked stub fin plate, which,
if not detected and corrected, could result in loss of control of the
airplane.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 6, 1996.
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-103-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.
ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be
obtained from Aerospace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd., ASTA
DEFENCE, Private Bag No. 4, Beach Road Lara 3212, Victoria, Australia.
This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the
address below. Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the
Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-103-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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ron Atmur, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount
Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712; telephone (310) 627-5224;
facsimile (310) 627-5210.
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-103-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-103-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th
Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which is the
airworthiness authority for Australia, recently notified the FAA that
an unsafe condition may
[[Page 35694]]
exist on certain ASTA Models N22B, N24A, and N22S airplanes. The CASA
reports several incidents of cracks along the forward flange of the
fuselage stub fin plate in the area of Rib Water Line (WL) 138.87.
Investigation has revealed fretting and fatigue of this plate, part
number (P/N) 1D/N-12-57. These conditions, if not detected and
corrected, could result in structural failure of the fuselage area,
which could result in loss of control of the airplane.
ASTA has issued Nomad Service Bulletin (SB) ANMD- 53-13, Revision
3, dated October 24, 1995, which specifies procedures for installing a
fuselage stub fin plate of improved design, P/N 1E/N-12-57.
The CASA of Australia classified this service bulletin as mandatory
and issued FCAA AD/GAF-N22/63, amendment 1, dated July 1994, in order
to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Australia.
This airplane model is manufactured in Australia 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 CASA of Australia has kept the
FAA informed of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the
findings of the CASA of Australia, reviewed all available information
including the service information referenced above, and 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 ASTA Models N22B, N24A, and N22S airplanes of
the same type design that are registered in the United States and are
not equipped with a P/N 1E/N-12-57 fuselage stub fin plate (MOD N759),
the proposed AD would require replacing the existing fuselage stub fin
plate with one of improved design, P/N 1E/N-12-57. Accomplishment of
the proposed installation would be in accordance with Nomad SB ANMD-53-
13, Revision 3, dated October 24, 1995.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 15 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 22
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost
approximately $150 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $22,050
or $1,470 per airplane. This figure is based on the assumption that no
affected owner/operator of the affected airplanes has accomplished the
proposed replacement.
ASTA has informed the FAA that it has no records of parts
distribution. The FAA believes that several of the affected airplanes
already have the proposed replacement incorporated, which would reduce
the cost impact upon the public.
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), 40101, 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
Aerospace Technologies of Australia PTY Ltd: Docket No. 95-CE-103-
AD.
Applicability: Models N22B, N24A, and N22S airplanes (all serial
numbers), certificated in any category, that are not equipped with a
part number (P/N) 1E/N-12-57 fuselage stub fin plate (MOD N759).
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 (c) 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 100 hours time-in-service
after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent structural failure of the fuselage area caused by a
cracked stub fin plate, which, if not detected and corrected, could
result in loss of control of the airplane, accomplish the following:
(a) Replace the fuselage stub fin plate with one of improved
design, P/N 1E/N-12-57 (MOD N759), in accordance with the
ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of Nomad Service Bulletin ANMD-
53-13, Revision 3, dated October 24, 1995.
(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, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification
Office (ACO), 3960 Paramount Boulevard., Lakewood, California 90712.
The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the
Manager, Los Angeles ACO.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Los Angeles ACO.
(d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the document referred to herein upon request to Aerospace
Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd., ASTA DEFENCE, Private Bag No. 4,
Beach Road Lara 3212, Victoria, Australia; or may examine this
document at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
[[Page 35695]]
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 25, 1996.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-17295 Filed 7-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
