Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 13 / Tuesday, January 21, 2014 / Proposed Rules 3341 

International Branch, ANM–116, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356; 

telephone 425–227–1622; fax 425–227–1149. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-ANM-116- 

AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. Before using 

any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 

principal inspector, or lacking a principal 

inspector, the manager of the local flight 

standards district office/certificate holding 

district office. The AMOC approval letter 

must specifically reference this AD. 

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement 

in this AD to obtain corrective actions from 

a manufacturer, use these actions if they are 

FAA approved. Corrective actions are 

considered FAA-approved if they were 

approved by the State of Design Authority (or 

its delegated agent, or the Design Approval 

Holder with a State of Design Authority’s 

design organization approval, as applicable). 

For a repair method to be approved, the 

repair approval must specifically refer to this 

AD. You are required to ensure the product 

is airworthy before it is returned to service. 

(j) Special Flight Permits 

Special flight permits, as described in 

Section 21.197 and Section 21.199 of the 

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 

and 21.199), are not allowed. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) Israel 

Airworthiness Directive 01–12–02–02–R1, 

dated April 23, 2013, for related information. 

This MCAI may be found in the AD docket 

on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2014–0003. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Gulfstream Aerospace 

Corporation, P.O. Box 2206, Mail Station D– 

25, Savannah, GA 31402–2206; telephone 

800–810–4853; fax 912–965–3520; email 

pubs@gulfstream.com; Internet http://

www.gulfstream.com/product_support/

technical_pubs/pubs/index.htm. You may 

view this referenced service information at 

the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 

10, 2014. 

Jeffrey E. Duven, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–01015 Filed 1–17–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–1073; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–NM–039–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airplanes 

Originally Manufactured by Lockheed 

for the Military as P–3A and P3A 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

airplanes, originally manufactured by 

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company 

for the military as P–3A or P3A 

airplanes. This proposed AD was 

prompted by a determination that the 

existing maintenance program must be 

revised to address fatigue cracking of 

the airplane. This proposed AD would 

require revising the maintenance or 

inspection program, as applicable, to 

incorporate certain limitations. We are 

proposing this AD to detect and correct 

fatigue cracking, which could result in 

reduced structural integrity of the 

airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by March 7, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, 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: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Avenger 

Aircraft and Services, 103 N. Main 

Street, Suite 106, Greenville, SC 29601– 

4833; telephone: (864) 232–8073; fax: 

(864) 232–8074; email: AAS@

AvengerAircraft.com. You may view 

this referenced service information at 

the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 

Renton, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call 425–227–1221. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2013– 

1073; 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 

(phone: 800–647–5527) is in the 

ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

George Garrido, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120L, FAA, Los 

Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 

3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, 

CA 90712–4137; phone: (562) 627–5357; 

fax: (562) 627–5210; email: 

george.garrido@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposal. Send your comments to 

an address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– 

2013–1073; Directorate Identifier 2012– 

NM–039–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:// 

www.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 

We reviewed accident investigation 

reports involving other restricted 

category firefighting airplanes, 

specifically Model C–130 and P2V 

airplanes. Previous accident 

investigations for these other firefighting 

airplanes revealed that the existing 

maintenance programs for airplanes 

operating under restricted category type 

certificate data sheets (TCDS) are not 

adequate to maintain the aircraft for 

continued safe operation. Therefore, we 

have determined that it is necessary to 

incorporate an airworthiness limitation 

section based on damage tolerance into 

the Model P–3A airplane maintenance 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
3342 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 13 / Tuesday, January 21, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

program to ensure continue safe 

operation in a restricted category. The 

adverse loading spectrum for the 

restricted category firefighting airplanes 

could result in fatigue cracking, which 

could result in reduced structural 

integrity of the airplane. 

The initial Model P–3A inspection 

program was based on the navy usage 

(or baseline usage) as defined by the 

U.S. Navy. The new airworthiness 

limitations addressed in this proposed 

AD are separated into baseline usage 

and usage that includes aerial 

dispensing of liquids. For airplanes with 

combined baseline and aerial dispersion 

usage accumulated, the operator must 

determine the total remaining life and 

the total remaining hours or flights until 

inspection is due for the principle 

structural element (PSE) inspection 

requirements by combining the fatigue 

damage accumulated during the 

baseline and the aerial dispersion of 

liquids usage. 

Relevant Service Information 

We reviewed Avenger Aircraft and 

Services P3A Airworthiness Limitations 

Section—FAA TCDS A32NM & TCDS 

T00006LA, Forest and Wildlife 

Conservation Usage (Includes Aerial 

Dispensing of Liquids), AAS–ALS–07– 

001, Revision D, dated August 2, 2010, 

which describes airworthiness 

limitations that include structural 

inspection requirements. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are proposing this AD because we 

evaluated all the relevant information 

and determined the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop in other products of the same 

type design. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

For Model P3A and P–3A airplanes, 

this proposed AD would require 

revising the maintenance or inspection 

program, as applicable, to incorporate 

airworthiness limitations of Avenger 

Aircraft and Services P3A 

Airworthiness Limitations Section— 

FAA TCDS A32NM & TCDS T00006LA, 

Forest and Wildlife Conservation Usage 

(Includes Aerial Dispensing of Liquids), 

AAS–ALS–07–001, Revision D, dated 

August 2, 2010. 

This proposed AD requires revisions 

to certain operator maintenance 

documents to include new actions (e.g., 

inspections). Compliance with these 

actions is required by 14 CFR 91.403(c). 

For airplanes that have been previously 

modified, altered, or repaired in the 

areas addressed by this proposed AD, 

the operator may not be able to 

accomplish the actions 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 the 

requirements of paragraph (j) of this 

proposed AD. The request should 

include a description of changes to the 

required actions that will ensure the 

continued damage tolerance of the 

affected structure. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 8 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Revise the maintenance or inspection program.1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 ......................................... $0 $85 $680 

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 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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

Lockheed (Original Manufacturer): Docket 

No. FAA–2013–1073; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–NM–039–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by March 7, 

2014. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all P–3A or P3A 

airplanes, originally manufactured by 

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company for 

the military, identified in paragraphs (c)(1) 

and (c)(2) of this AD, certificated in any 

category: 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 13 / Tuesday, January 21, 2014 / Proposed Rules 3343 

(1) Aero Union Corporation Model P3A 

airplanes; and 

(2) USDA Forest Service Model P–3A 

airplanes. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 55, Stabilizers; 57, Wings. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a determination 

that the existing maintenance or inspection 

program must be revised to address fatigue 

cracking of the airplane. We are issuing this 

AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking, 

which could result in reduced structural 

integrity of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Maintenance Program Revision 

Within 12 months after the effective date 

of this AD, revise the maintenance or 

inspection program, as applicable, by 

incorporating airworthiness limitations 

specified in Avenger Aircraft and Services 

P3A Airworthiness Limitations Section— 

FAA TCDS A32NM & TCDS T00006LA, 

Forest and Wildlife Conservation Usage 

(Includes Aerial Dispensing of Liquids), AAS

–ALS–07–001, Revision D, dated August 2, 

2010. 

(h) Compliance Times for Modifications, 

Replacements, and Inspections 

For the tasks specified in Part–I, Sections 

B. through E., of Procedure 01–00–005, of 

Avenger Aircraft and Services P3A 

Airworthiness Limitations Section—FAA 

TCDS A32NM & TCDS T00006LA, Forest and 

Wildlife Conservation Usage (Includes Aerial 

Dispensing of Liquids), AAS–ALS–07–001, 

Revision D, dated August 2, 2010, the 

compliance times are specified in paragraphs 

(h)(i) through (h)(iv) of this AD. For airplanes 

with combined baseline and aerial 

dispensing usage accumulated, the total 

remaining life and the total remaining hours 

or flights until inspection is due for the 

principle structural element (PSE) inspection 

requirements is determined by combining the 

fatigue damage accumulated during the 

baseline and the aerial dispensing of liquids 

usage. The usage must be combined in 

accordance with a method approved by the 

Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 

Office (ACO), FAA. 

(i) For the baseline life limits, the 

compliance time is: At the applicable ‘‘flight 

hours’’ or ‘‘flights,’’ whichever occurs first, 

specified in Part–I, Section B, ‘‘Life 

Limitations Baseline Usage,’’ of Procedure 

01–00–005, of Avenger Aircraft and Services 

P3A Airworthiness Limitations Section— 

FAA TCDS A32NM & TCDS T00006LA, 

Forest and Wildlife Conservation Usage 

(Includes Aerial Dispensing of Liquids), 

AAS–ALS–07–001, Revision D, dated August 

2, 2010; or within 12 months after the 

effective date of this AD; whichever occurs 

later. 

(ii) For the baseline principle structural 

limits (PSE) inspection requirements, the 

compliance time is: At the applicable 

‘‘threshold interval hours’’ or ‘‘threshold 

interval flights’’ since new, whichever occurs 

first, as specified in Tables C.1, C.2, and C.3, 

of Part–I, Section C, ‘‘Principle Structural 

Element Inspection Requirements—Baseline 

Usage,’’ of Procedure 01–00–005, of Avenger 

Aircraft and Services P3A Airworthiness 

Limitations Section—FAA TCDS A32NM & 

TCDS T00006LA, Forest and Wildlife 

Conservation Usage (Includes Aerial 

Dispensing of Liquids), AAS–ALS–07–001, 

Revision D, dated August 2, 2010; or within 

12 months after the effective date of this AD; 

whichever occurs later. Where compliance 

times are specified as ‘‘threshold interval 

hours,’’ those compliance times are total 

flight hours. Where the compliance times are 

specified as ‘‘threshold interval flights,’’ 

those compliance times are total flight cycles. 

(iii) For the aerial dispensing of liquids life 

limits, the compliance time is: At the 

applicable ‘‘flight hours’’ or ‘‘flights,’’ 

whichever occurs first, specified in Part–I, 

Section D, ‘‘Life Limitations—Aerial 

Dispensing of Liquids Usage’’ of Procedure 

01–00–005, of Avenger Aircraft and Services 

P3A Airworthiness Limitations Section— 

FAA TCDS A32NM & TCDS T00006LA, 

Forest and Wildlife Conservation Usage 

(Includes Aerial Dispensing of Liquids), 

AAS–ALS–07–001, Revision D, dated August 

2, 2010; or within 12 months after the 

effective date of this AD; whichever occurs 

later. 

(iv) For the aerial dispensing of liquids PSE 

inspection requirements, the compliance 

time is: At the applicable ‘‘threshold interval 

hours’’ or threshold interval flights,’’ 

whichever occurs first, as specified in Tables 

E.1, E2, and E.3, of Part–I, Section E, 

‘‘Principle Structural Element Inspection 

Requirements—Aerial Dispensing of Liquids 

Usage,’’ of Procedure 01–00–005, of Avenger 

Aircraft and Services P3A Airworthiness 

Limitations Section—FAA TCDS A32NM & 

TCDS T00006LA, Forest and Wildlife 

Conservation Usage (Includes Aerial 

Dispensing of Liquids), AAS–ALS–07–001, 

Revision D, dated August 2, 2010; or within 

12 months after the effective date of this AD; 

whichever occurs later. 

(i) No Alternative Actions, Intervals, and/or 

Critical Design Configuration Control 

Limitations 

After accomplishing the revision required 

by paragraph (g) of this AD, no alternative 

actions (e.g., inspections), and/or intervals 

may be used unless the actions, and intervals 

are approved as an AMOC in accordance 

with the procedures specified in paragraph (j) 

of this AD. 

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Los Angeles ACO, FAA, 

has the authority to approve AMOCs for this 

AD, if requested using the procedures found 

in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 

39.19, send your request to your principal 

inspector or local Flight Standards District 

Office, as appropriate. If sending information 

directly to the manager of the ACO, send it 

to the attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (k) of this AD. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/

certificate holding district office. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact George Garrido, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120L, FAA, Los 

Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 

Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712– 

4137; phone: (562) 627–5357; fax: (562) 627– 

5210; email: george.garrido@faa.gov. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Avenger Aircraft and 

Services, 103 N. Main Street, Suite 106, 

Greenville, SC 29601–4833; telephone: (864) 

232–8073; fax: (864) 232–8074; email: AAS@

AvengerAircraft.com. You may view this 

referenced 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. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 

9, 2014. 

Jeffrey E. Duven, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–01010 Filed 1–17–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS