3798 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 16 / Tuesday, January 25, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 11,

2000.

Eric Bries,

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–1369 Filed 1–24–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99–NM–223–AD; Amendment

39–11520; AD 2000–02–02]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Short

Brothers Model SD3–60 SHERPA,

SD3–SHERPA, and SD3–30 Series

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to all Short Brothers Model

SD3–60 SHERPA and SD3–SHERPA

series airplanes, and certain Model

SD3–30 series airplanes, that requires

replacement of existing oxygen system

‘‘O’’ rings with improved wear-resistant

‘‘O’’ rings. This amendment is prompted

by issuance of mandatory continuing

airworthiness information by a foreign

civil airworthiness authority. The

actions specified by this AD are

intended to prevent the loss of oxygen

from the aircraft oxygen system, which

could result in an insufficient supply of

oxygen being provided to the airplane

flight crew and passengers in the event

of an emergency.

DATES: Effective February 29, 2000.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of February

29, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The service information

referenced in this AD may be obtained

from Short Brothers, Airworthiness &

Engineering Quality, P.O. Box 241,

Airport Road, Belfast BT3 9DZ,

Northern Ireland. This information may

be examined at the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington; or at the Office of the

Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Norman B. Martenson, Manager,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–2110;

fax (425) 227–1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A

proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to

include an airworthiness directive (AD)

that is applicable to all Short Brothers

Model SD3–60 SHERPA, SD3–SHERPA,

and SD3–30 series airplanes was

published in the Federal Register on

October 6, 1999 (64 FR 54237). That

action proposed to require replacement

of existing oxygen system ‘‘O’’ rings

with improved wear-resistant ‘‘O’’ rings.

Comment Received

Interested persons have been afforded

an opportunity to participate in the

making of this amendment. Due

consideration has been given to the

comment received.

One commenter requests that the

applicability of the proposed AD be

revised to include only those Model

SD3–30 series airplanes on which an

oxygen system is installed. The

commenter states that only one variant

of these airplanes was delivered in this

configuration, and provides a list of the

applicable serial numbers. The

commenter notes that these serial

numbers are also listed in Shorts

Service Bulletin SD330–35–1, dated

February 25, 1999, which is referenced

as the appropriate source of service

information in the proposed AD.

The FAA concurs that the

requirements of the AD are applicable

only to those airplanes on which an

oxygen system is installed. The FAA has

limited the applicability for Model SD3–

30 series airplanes to those listed in

Shorts Service Bulletin SD330–35–1,

dated February 25, 1999, and has

revised the Summary section of the AD

to refer to ‘‘certain,’’ rather than ‘‘all,’’

Model SD3–30 series airplanes.

Conclusion

After careful review of the available

data, including the comment noted

above, the FAA has determined that air

safety and the public interest require the

adoption of the rule with the change

described previously. The FAA has

determined that this change will neither

increase the economic burden on any

operator nor increase the scope of the

AD.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 62 airplanes

of U.S. registry will be affected by this

AD, that it will take approximately 50

work hours per airplane to accomplish

the required actions, and that the

average labor rate is $60 per work hour.

Required parts will be provided by the

manufacturer at no cost to operators.

Based on these figures, the cost impact

of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated

to be $186,000, or $3,000 per airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed

above is based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the requirements of this AD action, and

that no operator would accomplish

those actions in the future if this AD

were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it is

determined that this final rule does not

have federalism implications under

Executive Order 13132.

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)

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 final evaluation has

been prepared for this action and it is

contained in the Rules Docket. A copy

of it may be obtained from the Rules

Docket at the location provided under

the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Incorporation by reference,

Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration 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. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding the following new airworthiness

directive:

2000–02–02 Short Brothers PLC:

Amendment 39–11520. Docket 99–NM–

223–AD.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 16 / Tuesday, January 25, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 3799

Applicability: All Model SD3–60 SHERPA

and SD3–SHERPA series airplanes; and

Model SD3–30 series airplanes as listed in

Shorts Service Bulletin SD330–35–1, dated

February 25, 1999; 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 as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent the loss of oxygen from the

aircraft oxygen system, accomplish the

following:

Replacement

(a) Within 24 months after the effective

date of this AD, replace oxygen system ‘‘O’’

rings, part number (P/N) MS28778, with

improved wear-resistant ‘‘O’’ rings, P/N

MS9068, in accordance with Shorts Service

Bulletins SD360 Sherpa–35–2, dated

February 25, 1999 (for Model SD3–60 Sherpa

series airplanes); SD3 Sherpa–35–3, Revision

1, dated May 5, 1999 (for Model SD3 Sherpa

series airplanes); and SD330–35–1, dated

February 25, 1999 (for Model SD3–30 series

airplanes); as applicable.

Spares

(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no

person shall install an oxygen system ‘‘O’’

ring, P/N MS28778, on any airplane.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(c) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators

shall submit their requests through an

appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, International Branch,

ANM–116.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the International Branch,

ANM–116.

Special Flight Permits

(d) 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.

Incorporation by Reference

(e) The actions shall be done in accordance

with Shorts Service Bulletin SD3–60 Sherpa35-2, dated February 25, 1999; Shorts Service

Bulletin SD3 Sherpa-35-3, Revision 1, dated

May 5, 1999; or Shorts Service Bulletin

SD330–35–1, dated February 25, 1999; as

applicable. Shorts Service Bulletin SD3

Sherpa-35-3, Revision 1, dated May 5, 1999,

contains the following list of effective pages:

Page No. Revision level shown on page Date shown on page

1, 4, 9, 10 .............................................................................................................. 1 ............................................................ May 5, 1999.

2, 3, 5–8, 11–14 .................................................................................................... Original .................................................. February 25, 1999.

This incorporation by reference was

approved by the Director of the Federal

Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a)

and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained

from Short Brothers, Airworthiness &

Engineering Quality, P.O. Box 241, Airport

Road, Belfast BT3 9DZ, Northern Ireland.

Copies may be inspected at the FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the

Office of the Federal Register, 800 North

Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington,

DC.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in British airworthiness directives 007–02–99

(for Model SD3–60 Sherpa series airplanes),

006–02–99 (for Model SD3 Sherpa series

airplanes), and 008–02–99 (for Model SD3–

30 series airplanes).

(f) This amendment becomes effective on

February 29, 2000.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on January

14, 2000.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–1502 Filed 1–24–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–NM–09–AD; Amendment

39–11522; AD 2000–02–04]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Model

A300, A300–600, and A310 Series

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for

comments.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD) that is

applicable to certain Airbus Model

A300 and all Model A300–600 and

A310 series airplanes. This action

requires performing a pitch trim system

test to detect any continuity defect in

the autotrim function, and follow-on

corrective actions, if necessary. This

amendment is prompted by issuance of

mandatory continuing airworthiness

information by a foreign civil

airworthiness authority. The actions

specified in this AD are intended to

prevent a sudden change in pitch due to

an out-of-trim condition combined with

an autopilot disconnect, which could

result in reduced controllability of the

airplane.

DATES: Effective February 9, 2000.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of February 9,

2000.

Comments for inclusion in the Rules

Docket must be received on or before

February 24, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000–NM–

09–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

The service information referenced in

this AD may be obtained from Airbus

Industrie, 1 Rond Point Maurice

Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France.

This information may be examined at

the FAA, Transport Airplane

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington; or at the Office of

the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Norman B. Martenson, Manager,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–2110;

fax (425) 227–1149.