E9-28299. Airworthiness Directives; 328 Support Services GmbH (Dornier) Model 328-100 Airplanes

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Final rule; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The FAA is revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to all 328 Support Services GmbH (Dornier) Model 328-100 airplanes. That AD currently requires modifying the electrical wiring of the fuel pumps; installing insulation at the hand flow control and shut-off valves, and other components of the environmental control system; and installing markings at fuel wiring harnesses. That AD also requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate new inspections of the fuel tank system. This AD clarifies the intended effect of the AD on spare and on-airplane fuel tank system components. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to reduce the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

DATES:

This AD is effective December 21, 2009.

On September 17, 2008 (73 FR 47027, August 13, 2008), the Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the AD.

On July 29, 2005 (70 FR 36470, June 24, 2005), the Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain other publications listed in the AD.

We must receive any comments on this AD by January 19, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

You may send comments by any of the following methods:

• 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 AD, contact 328 Support Services GmbH, Global Support Center, P.O. Box 1252, D-82231 Wessling, Federal Republic of Germany; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]; e-mail [e-mail]; Internet http://www.328support.de.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket 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 AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Office (telephone [phone]) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tom Groves, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone [phone]; fax [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

On July 29, 2008, we issued AD 2008-17-01, Amendment 39-15639 (73 FR 47027, August 13, 2008). That AD applied to all 328 Support Services GmbH (Dornier) Model 328-100 airplanes. That AD required modifying the electrical wiring of the hand fuel pumps; installing insulation at the hand flow control and shut-off valves, and other components of the environmental control system; and installing markings at fuel wiring harnesses. That AD also required revising the Airworthiness Limitations section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate new inspections of the fuel tank system.

Critical design configuration control limitations (CDCCLs) are limitation requirements to preserve a critical ignition source prevention feature of the fuel tank system design that is necessary to prevent the occurrence of an unsafe condition. The purpose of a CDCCL is to provide instruction to retain the critical ignition source prevention feature during configuration change that may be caused by alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions. A CDCCL is not a periodic inspection.

Actions Since AD Was Issued

Since we issued that AD, we have determined that it is necessary to clarify the AD's intended effect on spare and on-airplane fuel tank system components, regarding the use of maintenance manuals and instructions for continued airworthiness.

Section 91.403(c) of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 91.403(c)) specifies the following:

No person may operate an aircraft for which a manufacturer's maintenance manual or instructions for continued airworthiness has been issued that contains an airworthiness limitation section unless the mandatory * * * procedures * * * have been complied with.

Some operators have questioned whether existing components affected by the new CDCCLs must be reworked. We did not intend for the AD to retroactively require rework of components that had been maintained using acceptable methods before the effective date of the AD. Owners and operators of the affected airplanes therefore are not required to rework affected components identified as airworthy or installed on the affected airplanes before the required revisions of the ALS. But once the CDCCLs are incorporated into the ALS, future maintenance actions on components must be done in accordance with those CDCCLs.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

The affected products have been approved by the aviation authority of another country, and are approved for operation in the United States. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all pertinent information and determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design. This new AD retains the requirements of the existing AD, and adds a new note to clarify the intended effect of the AD on spare and on-airplane fuel tank system components.

Costs of Compliance

This revision imposes no additional economic burden. The current costs for this AD are repeated for the convenience of affected operators, as follows:

This AD affects about 16 airplanes of U.S. registry. The actions that are required by AD 2005-13-24 and retained in this AD take about 70 work hours per airplane, at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. Required parts cost about $14,118 per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the currently required actions is $315,488, or $19,718 per airplane.

The ALS revision required by AD 2008-17-01 and retained in this AD takes about 1 work hour per airplane. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of this action specified in this AD for U.S. operators is $1,280, or $80 per airplane.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

This revision merely clarifies the intended effect on spare and on-airplane fuel tank system components, and makes no substantive change to the AD's requirements. For this reason, it is found that notice and opportunity for prior public comment for this action are unnecessary, and good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to provide your comments before it becomes effective. However, we invite you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include “Docket No. FAA-2009-1074; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-177-AD” at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because 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 about this AD.

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 AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 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 AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Incorporation by reference
• Safety

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 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. The FAA amends § 39.13 by removing Amendment 39-15639 ( 73 FR 47027, August 13, 2008) and adding the following new AD:

2008-17-01 R1 328 Support Services GMBH (Formerly, AvCraft Aerospace GmbH, formerly Fairchild Dornier GmbH, formerly Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH): Amendment 39-16106. Docket No. FAA-2009-1074; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-177-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective December 21, 2009.

Affected ADs

(b) This AD revises AD 2008-17-01, Amendment 39-15639.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to all 328 Support Services GmbH (Dornier) Model 328-100 airplanes, certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

(d) This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to reduce the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

Compliance

(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the actions have already been done.

Note 1:

This AD requires revisions to certain operator maintenance documents to include inspections. Compliance with these inspections is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). For airplanes that have been previously modified, altered, or repaired in the areas addressed by these inspections, the operator may not be able to accomplish the inspections described in the revisions. In this situation, to comply with 14 CFR 91.403(c), the operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance according to paragraph (j) of this AD. The request should include a description of changes to the required inspections that will ensure the continued operational safety of the airplane.

Restatement of Requirements of AD 2005-13-24, With No Changes

Modification and Installations

(f) Within 12 months after July 29, 2005 (the effective date of AD 2005-13-24), do the actions in Table 1 of this AD in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of AvCraft Service Bulletin SB-328-00-445, dated August 23, 2004; or Revision 1, dated June 17, 2005.

Table 1—Requirements

Do the following actions—	By accomplishing all the actions specified in—
(1) Modify the electrical wiring of the left-hand and right-hand fuel pumps	Paragraph 2.B(1) of AvCraft Service Bulletin SB-328-00-445, dated August 23, 2004; or Revision 1, dated June 17, 2005.
(2) Install insulation at the left-hand and right-hand flow control and shut-off valves, and other components of the environmental control system	Paragraph 2.B(2) of AvCraft Service Bulletin SB-328-00-445, dated August 23, 2004; or Revision 1, dated June 17, 2005.
(3) Install markings at fuel wiring harnesses	Paragraph 2.B(3) of AvCraft Service Bulletin SB-328-00-445, dated August 23, 2004; or Revision 1, dated June 17, 2005.

Revision to Airworthiness Limitations

(g) Within 12 months after July 29, 2005, revise the Airworthiness Limitations section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness by inserting a copy of Dornier Temporary Revision ALD-080, dated October 15, 2003, into the Dornier 328 Airworthiness Limitations Document. Thereafter, except as provided in paragraphs (i) and (j) of this AD, no alternative inspection intervals may be approved for this fuel tank system.

Restatement of Requirements of AD 2008-17-01, With No Changes

Revised Initial Compliance Time

(h) For Tasks 28-00-00-02 and 28-00-00-03 (“Detailed Inspection of Outer Fuel Tank Harness Internal, LH/RH,” and “Detailed Inspection of Inner Fuel Tank Harness Internal, LH/RH”), as identified in Dornier Temporary Revision ALD-080, dated October 15, 2003, or Section F, “Fuel Tank System Limitations,” of the Dornier 328 Airworthiness Limitations Document (ALD), Revision 15, dated January 15, 2005; the initial compliance time is within 8 years after September 17, 2008 (the effective date of AD 2008-17-01). Thereafter, except as provided by paragraphs (i) and (j) of this AD, these tasks must be accomplished at the repetitive interval specified in Section F, “Fuel Tank System Limitations,” of the Dornier 328 ALD, Revision 15, dated January 15, 2005.

No Alternative Inspections, Inspection Intervals, or Critical Design Configuration Control Limitations (CDCCLs)

(i) After accomplishing the actions specified in paragraphs (g) and (h) of this AD, no alternative inspections, inspection intervals, or CDCCLs may be used unless the inspections, intervals, or CDCCLs are approved as an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (j) of this AD.

New Information

Explanation of CDCCL Requirements

Note 2:

Notwithstanding any other maintenance or operational requirements, components that have been identified as airworthy or installed on the affected airplanes before the revision of the ALS, as required by paragraph (g) of this AD, do not need to be reworked in accordance with the CDCCLs. However, once the ALS has been revised, future maintenance actions on these components must be done in accordance with the CDCCLs.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(j) The Manager, ANM-116, International Branch, Transport 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: Tom Groves, Aerospace Engineer, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057-3356; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]. Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your principal maintenance inspector (PMI) or principal avionics inspector (PAI), as appropriate, or lacking a principal inspector, your local Flight Standards District Office. The AMOC approval letter must specifically reference this AD.

Related Information

(k) European Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness Directive 2006-0197 [Corrected], dated July 11, 2006, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

(l) You must use the service information contained in Table 2 of this AD, as applicable, to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.

Table 2—Material Incorporated by Reference

Service information	Revision level	Date
AvCraft Service Bulletin SB-328-00-445, including Price Information Sheet	Original	August 23, 2004.
AvCraft Service Bulletin SB-328-00-445	1	June 17, 2005.
Dornier Temporary Revision ALD-080	Original	October 15, 2003.
Section F, “Fuel Tank System Limitations,” of Dornier 328 Airworthiness Limitations Document	15	January 15, 2005.

(1) The Director of the Federal Register previously approved the incorporation by reference of AvCraft Service Bulletin SB-328-00-445, Revision 1, dated June 17, 2005; and Section F, “Fuel Tank System Limitations,” of Dornier 328 Airworthiness Limitations Document, Revision 15, dated January 15, 2005 on September 17, 2008 (73 FR 47027, August 13, 2008).

(2) The Director of the Federal Register previously approved the incorporation by reference of AvCraft Service Bulletin SB-328-00-445, including Price Information Sheet, dated August 23, 2004; and Dornier Temporary Revision ALD-080, dated October 15, 2003; on July 29, 2005 (70 FR 36470, June 24, 2005).

(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 328 Support Services GmbH, Global Support Center, P.O. Box 1252, D-82231 Wessling, Federal Republic of Germany; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]; e-mail [e-mail]; Internet http://www.328support.de.

(4) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425-227-1221 or 425-227-1152.

(5) You may also review copies of the service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/​federal_​register/​code_​of_​federal_​regulations/​ibr_​locations.html.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 18, 2009.

Stephen P. Boyd,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.