[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 164 (Thursday, August 22, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43319-43320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21373]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 96-CE-33-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2, BN2A, and
BN2B 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 Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2, BN2A, and
BN2B series airplanes that have been modified with a 70 amp direct
current (DC) Generation System. The proposed action would require
removing the 70 amp terminal diodes and installing new terminal diodes
with a higher amp rating. Reports from operators that one or both
diodes were failing prompted the proposed action. The actions specified
by the proposed AD are intended to prevent loss of electrical power to
the navigation, communications and light systems, which could impair
the pilots ability to maintain control of the airplane.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 21, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 96-CE-33-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 Pilatus Britten-Norman, Ltd., Bembridge, Isle of Wight, United
Kingdom, PO35 5PR. This information also may be examined at the Rules
Docket at the address above. Comments may be inspected at this location
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dorenda Baker, Program Manager,
Brussels Aircraft Certification Division, FAA, Europe, Africa and the
Middle East Office, c/o American Embassy, b-1000, Brussels, Belgium;
telephone (322) 508.27.15, facsimile (322) 230.6899 or Mr. Jeffrey
Morfitt, Project Officer, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut,
suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri, 64106; telephone (816) 426-6934,
facsimile (816) 426-2169.
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. 96-CE-33-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. 96-CE-33-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The Civil Airworthiness Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness
authority for the United Kingdom, recently notified the FAA that an
unsafe condition may exist on certain Pilatus Britten-Norman (Pilatus)
BN2, BN2A, and BN2B series airplanes that have been modified with a 70
amp DC Generation System. The CAA reports that several owners/operators
of these airplanes have experienced diode failure which leads to
generator failure during flight. Further investigation has shown that
the diode rating is not sufficient to maintain the generators used to
operate the navigation, communication, and light systems. This
condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in loss of power
to the navigation, communication, and light systems which could impair
the pilot's ability to maintain control of the airplane.
Pilatus has issued Service Bulletin (SB) BN-2/SB.228, Issue 2,
dated January 17, 1996 which specifies procedures for removing the
diodes (type 10B1 or 10D1) and installing diodes (type 60S6) with a
higher amp rating.
The CAA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued
CAA AD No. 004-01-96, in order to assure the continued airworthiness of
these airplanes in the United Kingdom.
These airplane models are manufactured in the United Kingdom 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 between the
United Kingdom and the United States. Pursuant to this bilateral
airworthiness agreement, the CAA has kept the FAA informed of the
situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of the
CAA, 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.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in Pilatus BN2, BN2A, and BN2B series airplanes of the
same type design registered in the United States, the proposed would
require removing the diodes (type 10B1 or 10D1) installed on the
terminals of the ``STBD (RIGHT) GEN'' and ``PORT (LEFT) GEN'' switches
(SW2 and SW3), and installing new approved diodes that are type 60S6.
Accomplishment of the proposed action would be in accordance with
Pilatus SB BN-2/SB.228, Issue 2, dated January 17, 1996.
The FAA estimates that one airplane currently on the U.S. registry
would be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately
one workhour per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that
the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost
approximately $40 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $100.
[[Page 43320]]
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 AD 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:
Pilatus Britten-Norman (Pilatus): Docket No. 96-CE-33-AD.
Applicability: BN2, BN2A, and BN2B series airplanes (all serial
numbers) that have been modified with a 70 amp direct current (DC)
Generation System, certificated in any category.
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 50 hours time-in-service
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already
accomplished.
To prevent loss of electrical power to the navigation,
communications and light systems, which could impair the pilot's
ability to maintain control of the airplane, accomplish the
following:
(a) Remove the diodes (quantity 2, part number 340502014, type
10B1 or 10D1) installed on the terminals of the ``STBD (RIGHT) GEN''
and ``PORT (LEFT) GEN'' switches (SW2 and SW3), and install new
approved diodes (quantity 2, part number NB-81-5873, type 60S6) in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions section in Pilatus
Britten-Norman Service Bulletin BN-2/SB.228, Issue 2, dated January
17, 1996.
(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, Brussels Aircraft Certification Division,
FAA, Europe, Africa and the Middle East Office, c/o American
Embassy, B-1000, Brussels, Belgium or Mr. Jeffrey Morfitt, Project
Officer, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas
City, Missouri, 64106. The request shall be forwarded through an
appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then
send it to the Manager, Brussels Aircraft Certification Division or
the Small Airplane Directorate.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Brussels Aircraft Certification Division or the
Small Airplane Directorate.
(d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the document referred to herein upon request Pilatus Britten-Norman,
Ltd., Bembridge, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, PO35 5PR; 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.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 15, 1996.
Carolanne L. Cabrini,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-21373 Filed 8-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
