Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 215 / Monday, November 8, 2004 / Proposed Rules 64695

May I Request an Alternative Method of 

Compliance? 

(f) You may request a different method of 

compliance or a different compliance time 

for this AD by following the procedures in 14 

CFR 39.19. Unless FAA authorizes otherwise, 

send your request to your principal 

inspector. The principal inspector may add 

comments and will send your request to the 

Manager, Standards Office, Small Airplane 

Directorate, FAA. For information on any 

already approved alternative methods of 

compliance, contact Greg Davison, Aerospace 

Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 

901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 

64106; telephone: (816) 329–4130; facsimile: 

(816) 329–4090. 

May I Get Copies of the Documents 

Referenced in This AD? 

(g) You may get copies of the documents 

referenced in this AD from DG Flugzeugbau, 

Postbox 41 20, D–76625 Bruchsal, Federal 

Republic of Germany; telephone: 011–49 

7257–890; facsimile: 011–49 7257–8922. You 

may view these documents at FAA, Central 

Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 

Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 

64106. 

Is There Other Information That Relates to 

This Subject? 

(h) German AD Number 2002–083, dated 

April 4, 2002, also addresses the subject of 

this AD.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on 

November 2, 2004. 

James E. Jackson, 

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 04–24818 Filed 11–5–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA–2004–19442; Directorate 

Identifier 2004–CE–31–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Gippsland 

Aeronautics Pty. Ltd. Model GA8 

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for 

certain Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd. 

Model GA8 airplanes. This proposed 

AD would require you to inspect the 

pilot and co-pilot control column 

wheels and aileron cable operating arm 

shafts for damage and, if damage is 

found, to repair the shafts or to replace 

the steel shafts with bronze shafts. This 

proposed AD results from mandatory 

continuing airworthiness information 

(MCAI) issued by the airworthiness 

authority for Australia. We are issuing 

this proposed AD to detect and correct 

damage of the pilot and co-pilot control 

wheels and aileron cable operating arm 

shafts. This damage could result in the 

aileron controls becoming stiff or 

locking, which could lead to loss of 

control of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive any comments 

on this proposed AD by December 15, 

2004.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following to 

submit comments on this proposed AD: 

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to

http://dms.dot.gov and follow the 

instructions for sending your comments 

electronically. 

• Government-wide rulemaking Web 

site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov

and follow the instructions for sending 

your comments electronically. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility; 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 

Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590–

001. 

• Fax: 1–202–493–2251. 

• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on 

the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 

400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

To get the service information 

identified in this proposed AD, contact 

Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd., 

Latrobe Regional Airport, P.O. Box 881, 

Morwell, Victoria 3840, Australia; 

telephone: 61 (0) 3 5172 1200; facsimile: 

61 (0) 3 5172 1201. 

To view the comments to this 

proposed AD, go to http://dms.dot.gov.

This is docket number FAA–2004–

19442.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, 

Small Airplane Directorate, ACE–112, 

901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 

Missouri 64106; telephone: 816–329–

4059; facsimile: 816–329–4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

How do I comment on this proposed 

AD? We invite you to submit any 

written relevant data, views, or 

arguments regarding this proposal. Send 

your comments to an address listed 

under ADDRESSES. Include the docket 

number, ‘‘FAA–2004–19442; Directorate 

Identifier 2004–CE–31–AD’’ at the 

beginning of your comments. We will 

post all comments we receive, without 

change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including 

any personal information you provide. 

We will also post a report summarizing 

each substantive verbal contact with 

FAA personnel concerning this 

proposed rulemaking. Using the search 

function of our docket web site, anyone 

can find and read the comments 

received into any of our dockets, 

including the name of the individual 

who sent the comment (or signed the 

comment on behalf of an association, 

business, labor union, etc.). This is 

docket number FAA–2004–19442. You 

may review the DOT’s complete Privacy 

Act Statement in the Federal Register

published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 

19477–78) or you may visit http://

dms.dot.gov.

Are there any specific portions of this 

proposed AD I should pay attention to?

We specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

this proposed AD. If you contact us 

through a nonwritten communication 

and that contact relates to a substantive 

part of this proposed AD, we will 

summarize the contact and place the 

summary in the docket. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD in light of those comments 

and contacts. 

Docket Information 

Where can I go to view the docket 

information? You may view the AD 

docket that contains the proposal, any 

comments received, and any final 

disposition in person at the DMS Docket 

Offices between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

(eastern standard time), Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

The Docket Office (telephone 1–800–

647–5227) is located on the plaza level 

of the Department of Transportation 

NASSIF Building at the street address 

stated in ADDRESSES. You may also view 

the AD docket on the Internet at

http://dms.dot.gov. The comments will 

be available in the AD docket shortly 

after the DMS receives them. 

Discussion 

What events have caused this 

proposed AD? The Civil Aviation Safety 

Authority (CASA), which is the 

airworthiness authority for Australia, 

recently notified FAA that an unsafe 

condition may exist on certain 

Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd. Model 

GA8 airplanes. CASA reports three 

occurrences of aileron control stiffness 

and one occurrence of aileron control 

locking during taxi. Rubbing between 

the control wheel shaft and the bush in 

the control column may cause wear or 

damage to the control wheel shaft where 

the shaft connects to the control 

column. This damage may lead to the 

64696 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 215 / Monday, November 8, 2004 / Proposed Rules 

aileron control becoming stiff or 

locking. 

What is the potential impact if FAA 

took no action? Damage of the pilot and 

co-pilot control wheels and aileron 

cable operating arm shafts could result 

in the aileron controls becoming stiff or 

locking, which could lead to loss of 

control of the airplane. 

Is there service information that 

applies to this subject? Gippsland 

Aeronautics Pty. Ltd. has issued Service 

Bulletin SB–GA8–2004–11, dated 

August 25, 2004. 

What are the provisions of this service 

information? The service bulletin 

includes procedures for:

—Inspecting control wheel and aileron 

cable operating arm shafts for damage; 

—Repairing damage; and 

—Replacing damaged shafts with the 

bronze shafts.

What action did the CASA take? The 

CASA classified this service bulletin as 

mandatory and issued Australian AD 

Number AD/GA8/2, dated September 

17, 2004, to ensure the continued 

airworthiness of these airplanes in 

Australia. 

Did the CASA inform the United 

States under the bilateral airworthiness 

agreement? These Gippsland GA8 

airplanes are manufactured in Australia 

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. 

Under this bilateral airworthiness 

agreement, Australia has kept us 

informed of the situation described 

above. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of This Proposed AD 

What has FAA decided? We have 

examined the CASA’s findings, 

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.

Since the unsafe condition described 

previously is likely to exist or develop 

on other Gippsland Aeronautics GA8 

airplanes of the same type design that 

are registered in the United States, we 

are proposing AD action to detect and 

correct damage of the pilot and co-pilot 

control wheels and aileron cable 

operating arm shafts that could result in 

the aileron controls becoming stiff or 

locking, which could lead to loss of 

control of the airplane. 

What would this proposed AD 

require? This proposed AD would 

require you to inspect the pilot and copilot control wheels and aileron cable 

operating arm shafts for damage and, if 

damage is found, to repair the shafts or 

to replace the steel shafts with bronze 

shafts. 

How does the revision to 14 CFR part 

39 affect this proposed AD? On July 10, 

2002, we published a new version of 14 

CFR part 39 (67 FR 47997, July 22, 

2002), which governs FAA’s AD system. 

This regulation now includes material 

that relates to altered products, special 

flight permits, and alternative methods 

of compliance. This material previously 

was included in each individual AD. 

Since this material is included in 14 

CFR part 39, we will not include it in 

future AD actions. 

Costs of Compliance 

How many airplanes would this 

proposed AD impact? We estimate that 

this proposed AD affects 5 airplanes in 

the U.S. registry. 

What would be the cost impact of this 

proposed AD on owners/operators of the 

affected airplanes? We estimate the 

following costs to accomplish this 

proposed inspection:

Labor cost Parts cost 

Total cost

per

airplane 

Total cost

on U.S.

operators 

2 work hours × $65 per hour = $130 ................................................................................................ N/A $130 $650

We estimate the following costs to 

accomplish any necessary replacements 

that would be required based on the 

results of this proposed inspection. We 

have no way of determining the number 

of airplanes that may need this repair/

replacement:

Labor cost Parts cost Total cost per airplane 

Labor cost per side (either pilot or co-pilot) ¥ 8 work hours × $65 per hour 

= $520.

Warranty .............................................. Per side = $520. 

For both sides = $1,040. 

Regulatory Findings 

Would this proposed AD impact 

various entities? 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. 

Would this proposed AD involve a 

significant rule or regulatory action? For 

the reasons discussed above, I certify 

that this proposed AD: 

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 summary of the costs 

to comply with this proposed AD and 

placed it in the AD Docket. You may get 

a copy of this summary by sending a 

request to us at the address listed under 

ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘AD Docket FAA–

2004–19442; Directorate Identifier 

2004–CE–31–AD’’ in your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the Federal Aviation Administration 

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.

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 215 / Monday, November 8, 2004 / Proposed Rules 64697

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD):

Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd.: Docket No. 

FAA–2004–19442; Directorate Identifier 

2004–CE–31–AD. 

When Is the Last Date I Can Submit 

Comments on This Proposed AD? 

(a) We must receive comments on this 

proposed airworthiness directive (AD) by 

December 15, 2004. 

What Other ADs Are Affected by This 

Action? 

(b) None. 

What Airplanes Are Affected by This AD? 

(c) This AD affects model GA8 airplanes, 

serial numbers GA8–00–004 through GA8–

04–056, that are certificated in any category. 

What Is the Unsafe Condition Presented in 

This AD? 

(d) This AD is the result of rubbing 

between the control wheel shaft and the bush 

in the control column, which may cause wear 

or damage to the control wheel shaft where 

the shaft connects to the control column. 

This damage may lead to the aileron control 

becoming stiff or locking. The actions 

specified in this AD are intended to detect 

and correct damage of the pilot and co-pilot 

control wheels and aileron cable operating 

arm shafts that could result in the aileron 

controls becoming stiff or locking, which 

could lead to loss of control of the airplane.

What Must I Do To Address This Problem? 

(e) To address this problem, you must do 

the following:

Actions Compliance Procedures 

(1) Inspect the pilot and co-pilot control column 

wheel and aileron cable operating arm shafts 

for damage.

Perform the initial inspection within 50 hours 

time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date 

of this AD.

Follow Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd. Service Bulletin SB–GA8–2004–11, Issue 2, 

dated August 25, 2004. 

(2) If no damage is found, continue repetitive 

inspections.

Perform repetitive inspections every 300 

hours TIS until steel operating arm shafts 

are replaced with bronze operating arm 

shafts. Replacement of steel operating arm 

shafts with bronze operating arm shafts is 

terminating action for this AD on the side 

that was replaced. If one steel shaft requires replacement, all of the shafts on that 

side (pilot or co-pilot) must be replaced with 

bronze shafts. If only one side (pilot or copilot) is replaced, repetitive inspections are 

still required for the side that was not replaced.

Follow Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd. Service Bulletin SB–GA8–2004–11, Issue 2, 

dated August 25, 2004. 

(3) For airplanes where damage is found: 

(i) If damage can be repaired by polishing out 

marks or scratches so that material removed 

does not exceed 0.005 inches, repair the 

shaft. You can not repair by polishing out 

marks or scratches more than one time. 

(ii) If damage can not be repaired by polishing 

out marks or scratches so that material removed does not exceed 0.005 inches or you 

have already repaired the damage by 

polishing out the marks or scratches previously, the damaged steel operating arm 

shaft must be replaced with a bronze operating arm shaft. When a shaft (pilot or copilot) requires replacement, you must install 

new bronze shafts in all areas of the affected 

side. 

If damage is found, repair or replace operating arm shafts prior to further flight. If airplane is repaired, repetitively inspect every 

300 hours TIS after repair until replacement 

of the operating arm shafts. Replacement of 

the steel operating arm shafts with bronze 

operating arm shafts is terminating action 

for this AD. If only one side (pilot or co-pilot) 

is replaced with bronze shafts, you must 

still repetitively inspect the other side that 

was not replaced.

Follow Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd. Service Bulletin SB–GA8–2004–11, Issue 2, 

dated August 25, 2004. 

(4) As of the effective date of this AD, do not 

install shafts that are not bronze on any affected Model GA8 airplane.

As of the effective date of this AD ................... Follow Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd. Service Bulletin SB–GA8–2004–11, Issue 2, 

dated August 25, 2004. 

May I Request an Alternative Method of 

Compliance? 

(f) You may request a different method of 

compliance or a different compliance time 

for this AD by following the procedures in 14 

CFR 39.19. Unless FAA authorizes otherwise, 

send your request to your principal 

inspector. The principal inspector may add 

comments and will send your request to the 

Manager, Standards Office, Small Airplane 

Directorate, FAA. For information on any 

already approved alternative methods of 

compliance, contact Doug Rudolph, 

Aerospace Engineer, Small Airplane 

Directorate, ACE–112, 901 Locust, Room 301, 

Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: 816–

329–4059; facsimile: 816–329–4090. 

Is There Other Information That Relates to 

This Subject? 

(g) Australian Civil Aviation Safety 

Authority Airworthiness Directive AD/GA8/

2, dated September 17, 2004, and Gippsland 

Aeronautics Pty., Ltd., Service Bulletin SB–

GA8–2004–11, dated August 25, 2004, also 

address the subject of this AD. 

May I Get Copies of the Documents 

Referenced in This AD? 

(h) To get copies of the documents 

referenced in this AD, contact Gippsland 

Aeronautics Pty. Ltd., Latrobe Regional 

Airport, P.O. Box 881, Morwell, Victoria 

3840, Australia; telephone: 61 (0) 3 5172 

1200; facsimile: 61 (0) 3 5172 1201. To view 

the AD docket, go to the Docket Management 

Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 

400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 

Room PL–401, Washington, DC, or on the 

Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. This is docket 

number FAA–2004–19442.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on 

November 2, 2004. 

James E. Jackson, 

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 04–24819 Filed 11–5–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P