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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 53 (Monday, March 19, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15980-15981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6440]

[[Page 15980]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0279; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-007-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Alpha Aviation Concept Limited (Type 
Certificate Previously Held by Alpha Aviation Design Limited) Airplanes

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Alpha Aviation Concept Limited Model R2160 airplanes. This proposed AD 
results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and 
correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes 
the unsafe condition as oil lines fitted to affected aircraft are not 
fire resistant. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 3, 2012.

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: (202) 493-2251.
     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 
Alpha Aviation Concept Limited, Ingram Road, Hamilton Airport, RD 2, 
Hamilton 2021, New Zealand; telephone: 011 64 7 843 7070; fax: 011 64 
7843 8040; email: customer.support@alphaaviation.co.nz; Internet: 
http://www.alphaaviation.co.nz. You may review copies of the referenced 
service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

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 proposed AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4146; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
karl.schletzbaum@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2012-0279; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-007-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the aviation authority 
for New Zealand, has issued AD DCA/R2000/40, dated February 23, 2012 
(referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe 
condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

    It has been determined that the oil lines fitted to affected 
aircraft are not fire resistant and not compliant with the 
requirements in FAR 23.1183. To correct this unsafe condition the 
Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand issued DCA/R2000/34 
requiring the replacement of oil lines with fire resistant lines. 
Since the issue of that AD it has been determined that the oil 
transmitter hoses are also not compliant with FAR 23.1183. DCA/
R2000/40 retains the requirements in superseded DCA/R2000/34. The AD 
requirement expanded to include the replacement of the oil pressure 
transducer hoses.

Relevant Service Information

    Alpha Aviation has issued Service Bulletin AA-SB-79-001, Revision 
0, dated February 2012; and Apex Aircraft has issued Service Bulletin 
No. 020310, dated June 3, 2002. The actions described in this service 
information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in 
the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they 
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because 
we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition exists 
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type 
design.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 10 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 4 work-hours per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost 
about $510 per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $8,500, or $850 per product.

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

[[Page 15981]]

products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We 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 this 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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

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.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Alpha Aviation Concept Limited (Type Certificate previously held by 
Alpha Aviation Design Limited): Docket No. FAA-2012-0279; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-007-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by May 3, 2012.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Alpha Aviation Concept Limited Model R2160 
airplanes, serial numbers 001 through 378, certificated in any 
category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 79: Engine Oil.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a determination that the oil lines and 
the oil pressure transducer hose fitted to affected aircraft are not 
fire resistant. We are issuing this AD to detect and replace non-
fire resistant oil lines, which, if not corrected, could lead to an 
inflight fire.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions:
    (1) Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective 
date of this AD, replace the oil hose lines following Apex Aircraft 
Service Bulletin No. 020310, dated June 3, 2002, and replace the oil 
pressure transducer hose and associated hardware following Alpha 
Aviation Service Bulletin AA-SB-79-001, Revision 0, dated February 
2012.
    (2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install any oil 
hose lines with part number 41-23-56-000, 53-11-10-000, 53-20-13-
000, 53-20-14-000, 53-34-10-010, 53-18-02-030, 53-21-14-000, or 53-
22-01-000 on the affected aircraft.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Standards Office, 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: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4146; fax: (816) 329-4090; 
email: karl.schletzbaum@faa.gov. 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.
    (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, a federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person 
is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a 
penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless 
that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control 
Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 
2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is 
estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the 
time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this 
burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to 
the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand AD DCA/
R2000/40, dated February 23, 2012; Apex Aircraft Service Bulletin 
No. 020310, dated June 3, 2002; and Alpha Aviation Service Bulletin 
AA-SB-79-001, Revision 0, dated February 2012, for related 
information. For service information related to this AD, contact 
Alpha Aviation Concept Limited, Ingram Road, Hamilton Airport, RD 2, 
Hamilton 2021, New Zealand; telephone: 011 64 7 843 7070; fax: 011 
64 7843 8040; email: customer.support@alphaaviation.co.nz; Internet: 
http://www.alphaaviation.co.nz. You may review copies of the 
referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
(816) 329-4148.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 12, 2012.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-6440 Filed 3-16-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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