2010-21068. Airworthiness Directives; Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Models DA 40 and DA 40F Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Models DA 40 and DA 40F airplanes. This proposed AD would change the emergency open doors procedure by incorporation of a temporary revision into the FAA-approved airplane flight manual for all airplanes. This proposed AD would also require replacement of the passenger door retaining bracket with an improved design retaining bracket for certain airplanes. This proposed AD results from several reports of the rear passenger door departing the airplane in flight. We are proposing this AD to change the emergency open doors procedure and retrofit the rear passenger door retaining bracket, which if not corrected could result in the rear passenger door departing the airplane in flight.

DATES:

We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 12, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

Use one of the following addresses to comment on this proposed AD:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: [phone].
• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH, N.A. Otto-Straße 5, A-2700 Wiener Neustadt, Austria, telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail]; Internet: http://www.diamond-air.at.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number, “FAA-2010-0845; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-044-AD” at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov,, including any personal information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we receive concerning this proposed AD.

Discussion

We have received information from Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH that the Models DA 40 and DA 40F airplanes have had an estimated 31 rear passenger doors depart the airplane while in flight. They also estimate an additional 18 doors have been replaced because of damage to the hinge, primarily due to wind gust conditions while the airplane is parked. Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH conducted a structural test to determine the root cause of the door opening in flight. The test concluded that the locking mechanism provided adequate strength to react the loads in flight. They determined that the root cause was the crew not properly securing the rear passenger door prior to flight.

Models DA 40 and DA 40F airplanes do have a secondary safety latch design feature. The initial intended design function of this latch was to hold the rear passenger door in the “near closed” position while on the ground, protecting the door from wind gusts. However, the original retainer bracket might not hold the door in this “near closed” position while in flight. Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH has designed an improved retainer bracket to prevent the passenger rear door fully opening in flight. In addition, they have revised the emergency door open procedure.

This condition, if not corrected, could result in the rear passenger door departing the airplane in flight.

Relevant Service Information

We have reviewed Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin NO. MSB 40-070/NO. MSB D4-079/NO. MSB F4-024, dated April 30, 2010; and Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Work Instruction WI-MSB 40-070/WI-MSB D4-079/WI-MSB F4-024, dated April 30, 2010.

The service information describes procedures for replacement of the passenger door retaining bracket with an improved design retaining bracket.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design. This proposed AD would require a retrofit of the rear passenger door retaining bracket for certain airplanes. This proposed AD would also change the emergency open doors procedure by incorporation of a temporary revision into the FAA-approved airplane flight manual for all airplanes.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 699 airplanes in the U.S. registry.

We estimate the following costs to do the proposed revision to the airplane flight manual:

Labor cost	Parts cost	Total cost per airplane	Total cost on U.S. operators
.5 work-hour × $85 per hour = $42.50	Not Applicable	$42.50	$29,707.50

We estimate the following costs to do the proposed retrofit of the passenger door retaining bracket. We estimate that this would affect 428 airplanes in the U.S. registry:

Labor cost	Parts cost	Total cost per airplane	Total cost on U.S. operators
2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170.00	$75.00	$245.00	$104,860.00

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 have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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. 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 proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket that contains the proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone [phone]) is located at the street address stated 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

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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:

Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH: Docket No. FAA-2010-0845; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-044-AD.

Comments Due Date

(a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by October 12, 2010.

Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Models DA 40 and DA 40F airplanes, all serial numbers (S/N), that are certificated in any category.

Subject

(d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 52: Doors.

Unsafe Condition

(e) This AD results from several reports of the rear passenger door departing the airplane in flight. We are proposing this AD to change the emergency open doors procedure and retrofit the rear passenger door retaining bracket, which if not corrected could result in the rear passenger door departing the airplane in flight.

Compliance

(f) To address this problem, you must do the following, unless already done:

Actions	Compliance	Procedures
(1) For all serial numbers: Incorporate Diamond Aircraft Temporary Revision TR-MÄM 40-428, page 3-37b, dated April 30, 2010, into the FAA-approved airplane flight manual	Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD	Follow Diamond Aircraft Temporary Revision TR-MÄM 40-428, Cover Page, dated April 30, 2010.
(2) For Model DA 40, S/N 40.006 through 40.009, 40.011 through 40.081, 40.084, and 40.201 through 40.749; and Model DA 40F S/N 40.FC001 through 40.FC009: Replace the rear passenger door retaining bracket with an improved design retaining bracket	Within 6 months after the effective date of this AD	Follow Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin NO. MSB 40-070/NO. MSB D4-079/NO. MSB F4-024, dated April 30, 2010; and Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Work Instruction WI-MSB 40-070/WI-MSB D4-079/WI-MSB F4-024, dated April 30, 2010.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(g) The Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail]. 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.

Related Information

(h) To get copies of the service information referenced in this AD, contact Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH, N.A. Otto-Straße 5, A-2700 Wiener Neustadt, Austria, telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail]; Internet: http://www.diamond-air.at. To view the AD docket, go to U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 18, 2010.

John R. Colomy,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.