[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 7, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6194-6197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-992]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22875; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-179-AD; 
Amendment 39-14469; AD 2006-03-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Short Brothers Model SD3-60 SHERPA, 
SD3-SHERPA, and SD3-60 Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD), which applies to all Short Brothers Model SD3-60 and SD3-SHERPA 
airplanes. That AD currently requires an inspection of the fork end of 
the rear pintle pin on each main landing gear (MLG) to verify that 
sealant is properly applied and is undamaged, and related 
investigative/corrective actions if necessary. This new AD requires an 
additional inspection for correctly applied sealant on the MLG rear 
pintle pin assemblies, and related investigative/corrective actions if 
necessary. This AD also expands the applicability of the existing AD. 
This AD results from a new report of a cracked pintle pin fork end. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent stress-corrosion cracking and subsequent 
failure of the MLG.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 14, 2006.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of March 14, 
2006.
    On March 18, 1993 (58 FR 7983, February 11, 1993), the Director of 
the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of Shorts 
SD3-60 Service Bulletin SD360-32-33, dated August 7, 1992.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street,

[[Page 6195]]

SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, Washington, DC.
    Contact Short Brothers, Airworthiness & Engineering Quality, P.O. 
Box 241, Airport Road, Belfast BT3 9DZ, Northern Ireland, for service 
information identified in this AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 
227-2125; fax (425) 227-1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the airworthiness directive (AD) docket on the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management 
Facility office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Management Facility office 
(telephone (800) 647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif 
Building at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section.

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that supersedes AD 93-02-03, amendment 39-
8485 (58 FR 7983, February 11, 1993).
    The existing AD applies to all Short Brothers Model SD3-60 and SD3-
SHERPA airplanes. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on 
November 9, 2005 (70 FR 67949). That NPRM proposed to continue to 
require an inspection of the fork end of the rear pintle pin on each 
main landing gear (MLG) to verify that sealant is properly applied and 
is undamaged, and related investigative/corrective actions if 
necessary. That NPRM also proposed to require an inspection for 
correctly applied sealant on the MLG rear pintle pin assemblies, and 
related investigative/corrective actions if necessary; it also proposed 
to expand the applicability of the existing AD.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. No comments have been received on the NPRM or 
on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
to comply with this AD.

                                                                     Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                          Number of U.S.
                  Action                     Work hours     Average labor              Parts                 Cost per       pregistered     Fleet cost
                                                            rate per hour                                    airplane        airplanes
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Inspection--(required by AD 93-02-03)....               1             $65  None.........................             $65              42          $2,730
Inspection--(new action).................               1              65  None.........................              65              42           2,730
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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 this AD:
    (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.
    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

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
removing amendment 39-8485 (58 FR 7983, February 11, 1993) and by 
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

2006-03-05 Short Brothers PLC: Amendment 39-14469. Docket No. FAA-
2005-22875; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-179-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective March 14, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 93-02-03.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Shorts Model SD3-60 SHERPA, SD3-
SHERPA, and SD3-60 airplanes, certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a new report of a cracked pintle pin 
fork end. We are issuing this AD to prevent stress-corrosion 
cracking

[[Page 6196]]

and subsequent failure of the main landing gear (MLG).

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.

Restatement of Requirements of AD 93-02-03

Inspection

    (f) For Model SD3-60 and SD3-SHERPA airplanes: Within 300 hours' 
time-in-service or 30 days after March 18, 1993 (the effective date 
of AD 93-02-03), whichever occurs first, perform a visual inspection 
of the fork end of the rear pintle pin on each MLG to verify that an 
undamaged fillet of sealant is properly applied around the flanges 
of the bronze bushings, in accordance with Shorts SD3-60 Service 
Bulletin SD360-32-33, dated August 7, 1992.
    (1) If an undamaged fillet of properly applied sealant is found: 
No further action is required by this AD.
    (2) If no fillet of sealant is found at the joint line, or if a 
damaged fillet of sealant is found: Prior to the accumulation of 
1,200 hours' time-in-service or 120 days after accomplishing the 
inspection required by paragraph (f) of this AD, whichever occurs 
first, remove the bushings and perform a magnetic non-destructive 
testing (NDT) inspection to detect faults of the bores in the fork 
end, in accordance with the service bulletin. If faults are found as 
a result of the NDT inspection, prior to further flight, repair the 
fork end of the rear pintle pin in a manner approved by the Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA.

New Requirements of This AD

Inspection

    (g) For all airplanes: Within 3 months after the effective date 
of this AD, do a general visual inspection of the MLG rear pintle 
pin assemblies for correctly applied sealant, in accordance with 
Shorts Service Bulletin SD360-32-37, SD3 Sherpa-32-5, or SD360 
Sherpa-32-4, all dated July 2004, as applicable.
    (1) If the sealant is applied correctly: This AD requires no 
further work.
    (2) If the sealant is applied incorrectly: Within 12 months 
after the effective date of this AD, do a magnetic flaw detection 
inspection to detect cracks of the rear pintle pin fork ends, in 
accordance with the service bulletin. If any cracked pintle pin fork 
end is found: Replace it before further flight with a serviceable 
part that has been inspected in accordance with the requirements of 
this AD.


    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection 
is: ``A visual examination of an interior or exterior area, 
installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or 
irregularity. This level of inspection is made from within touching 
distance unless otherwise specified. A mirror may be necessary to 
ensure visual access to all surfaces in the inspection area. This 
level of inspection is made under normally available lighting 
conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or 
droplight and may require removal or opening of access panels or 
doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be required to gain 
proximity to the area being checked.''


    Note 2: The service bulletins identified in paragraph (g) of 
this AD refer to Messier Dowty Special Inspection Service Bulletin 
32-70SD, Revision 1, dated July 3, 1995, as an additional source of 
service information for the inspection and corrective actions.


    (h) If any crack is detected during any inspection required by 
this AD and the service information specifies to contact the 
manufacturer for repair instructions: Before further flight, repair 
using a method approved by either the Manager, International Branch, 
ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the Civil Aviation 
Authority (CAA) (or its delegated agent).

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(1) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for 
this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 
CFR 39.19.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

Related Information

    (j) British airworthiness directive G-2004-0022, dated August 
25, 2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (k) You must use the service information identified in Table 1 
of this AD to perform the actions that are required by this AD, 
unless the AD specifies otherwise.

            Table 1.--All Material Incorporated by Reference
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        Shorts service bulletin                        Date
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SD3 Sherpa-32-5, including Messier       July 2004
 Dowty Special Inspection Service
 Bulletin 32-70SD, Revision 1, dated
 July 3, 1995.
SD360 Sherpa-32-4, including Messier     July 2004.
 Dowty Special Inspection Service
 Bulletin 32-70SD, Revision 1, dated
 July 3, 1995.
SD360-32-33............................  August 7, 1992.
SD360-32-37, including Messier Dowty     July 2004.
 Special Inspection Service Bulletin 32-
 70SD, Revision 1, dated July 3, 1995.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the documents identified in Table 2 of 
this AD in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

            Table 2.--New Material Incorporated by Reference
------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Shorts service bulletin                        Date
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SD3 Sherpa-32-5, including Messier       July 2004.
 Dowty Special Inspection Service
 Bulletin 32-70SD, Revision 1, dated
 July 3, 1995.
SD360 Sherpa-32-4, including Messier     July 2004.
 Dowty Special Inspection Service
 Bulletin 32-70SD, Revision 1, dated
 July 3, 1995.
SD360-32-37, including Messier Dowty     July 2004.
 Special Inspection Service Bulletin 32-
 70SD, Revision 1, dated July 3, 1995.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) On March 18, 1993 (58 FR 7983, February 11, 1993), the 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of Shorts SD3-60 Service Bulletin SD360-32-33, dated 
August 7, 1992.
    (3) Contact Short Brothers, Airworthiness & Engineering Quality, 
P.O. Box 241, Airport Road, Belfast BT3 9DZ, Northern Ireland, for a 
copy of this service information. You may review copies at the 
Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 
Seventh Street SW., room PL-401, Nassif Building, Washington, DC; on 
the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at the NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.


[[Page 6197]]


    Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 24, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-992 Filed 2-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P