Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 200 / Wednesday, October 18, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 71733 

Provisions. We may cancel this policy 

with express written consent from FCIC. 

* * * * * 

Marcia Bunger, 

Manager, Federal Crop Insurance 

Corporation. 

[FR Doc. 2023–22964 Filed 10–17–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–08–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2023–1503; Project 

Identifier AD–2023–00197–A; Amendment 

39–22566; AD 2023–20–07] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Epic Aircraft, 

LLC Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Epic Aircraft, LLC Model E1000 

airplanes. This AD was prompted by 

improperly rigged flap position 

switches. This AD requires installing a 

secondary full position limit switch to 

the flap system, installing a switch ramp 

on the flap actuator, and modifying the 

take-off position switch rigging. The 

FAA is issuing this AD to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective November 

22, 2023. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of November 22, 2023. 

ADDRESSES: 

AD Docket: You may examine the AD 

docket at regulations.gov under Docket 

No. FAA–2023–1503; or in person at 

Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 

5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this final rule, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

address for Docket Operations is U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 

20590. 

Material Incorporated by Reference: 

• For service information identified 

in this final rule, contact Epic Aircraft, 

LLC, 22590 Nelson Road, Bend, OR 

97701; phone: (541) 639–4603; email: 

info@epicaircraft.com; website: 

epicaircraft.com. 

• You may view this service 

information at the FAA, Airworthiness 

Products Section, Operational Safety 

Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 

64106. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call (817) 222–5110. It is also available 

at regulations.gov under Docket No. 

FAA–2023–1503. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Anthony Caldejon, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 3960 Paramount 

Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712; 

phone: (206) 231–3534; email: 

anthony.v.caldejon@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to certain Epic Aircraft, LLC 

Model E1000 airplanes. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

July 21, 2023 (88 FR 47084). The NPRM 

was prompted by a report that during a 

production ground test, the flap position 

switches were not properly rigged and 

allowed the actuator to travel beyond 

the commanded flaps’ full (fully 

extended) position. The flap actuator 

could overrun the flaps’ fully extended 

position if the full position microswitch 

is either missing or not rigged properly, 

resulting in an uncertified flap 

configuration. This condition, if not 

addressed, could result in loss of control 

of the airplane. 

In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to 

require installing a secondary full 

position limit switch to the flap system, 

installing a switch ramp on the flap 

actuator, and modifying the take-off 

position switch rigging. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

the unsafe condition on these products. 

Discussion of Final Airworthiness 

Directive 

Comments 

The FAA received no comments on 

the NPRM or on the determination of 

the costs. 

Conclusion 

The FAA reviewed the relevant data 

and determined that air safety requires 

adopting this AD as proposed. 

Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD 

to address the unsafe condition on these 

products. This AD is adopted as 

proposed in the NPRM. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed Epic Aircraft 

Service Bulletin SB–0034, Revision B, 

issued December 22, 2022. This service 

information specifies procedures for 

installing a secondary full position limit 

switch to the flap system to prevent 

over-travel. This service information 

also specifies procedures for installing a 

switch ramp on the flap actuator to 

improve reliability and modifying the 

take-off position switch rigging. In 

addition, this service information 

specifies procedures for checking the 

flap-to-wing clearances, adjusting 

clearances as needed, and contacting 

Epic Aircraft if clearance and travel 

limits cannot be met. This service 

information is reasonably available 

because the interested parties have 

access to it through their normal course 

of business or by the means identified 

in ADDRESSES. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

Service Information 

The service information specifies 

contacting the manufacturer if the 

clearance and travel limits are exceeded 

during the check of the flap-to-wing 

clearances, but this AD does not require 

that action. This AD requires adjusting 

the flap-to-wing clearances until they do 

not exceed the specified travel limits. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 29 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

The FAA estimates the following 

costs to comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Install a secondary full position limit switch to the flap 

system.

1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 $587 $672 $19,488 

Install a switch ramp on the flap actuator ....................... 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 54 139 4,031 

Modify rigging .................................................................. 4 work-hours × $85 per hour = 

$340.

0 340 9,860 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
71734 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 200 / Wednesday, October 18, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 

The FAA has no data to determine the 

costs to accomplish the corrective action 

of adjusting the flap-to-wing clearances 

or the number of airplanes that may 

require this corrective action. 

The FAA has included all known 

costs in its cost estimate. According to 

the manufacturer, however, all of the 

costs of this AD may be covered under 

warranty, thereby reducing the cost 

impact on affected operators. 

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. 

The FAA is 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 

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) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, 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. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 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: 

2023–20–07 Epic Aircraft, LLC: 

Amendment 39–22566; Docket No. 

FAA–2023–1503; Project Identifier AD– 

2023–00197–A. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective November 22, 2023. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Epic Aircraft, LLC 

Model E1000 airplanes, serial numbers K003 

through K032 inclusive, certificated in any 

category. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 2750, TE Flap Control System. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report that 

during a production ground test, the flap 

position switches were not properly rigged 

and allowed the actuator to travel beyond the 

commanded flaps’ full (fully extended) 

position. The FAA is issuing this AD to 

prevent the flap actuator from overrunning 

the flaps’ fully extended position if the full 

position microswitch is either missing or not 

rigged properly, resulting in an uncertified 

flap configuration. The unsafe condition, if 

not addressed, could result in loss of control 

of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

Within 12 months after the effective date 

of this AD, install a secondary full position 

limit switch to the flap system, install a 

switch ramp on the flap actuator, and modify 

the take-off position switch rigging in 

accordance with steps 5 through 13 of the 

Instructions section in Epic Aircraft Service 

Bulletin SB–0034, Revision B, issued 

December 22, 2022 (Epic SB–0034, Revision 

B). Where Epic SB–0034, Revision B, 

specifies to discard a switch block, this AD 

requires removing that part from service. If, 

during the accomplishment of step 12, the 

flap-to-wing clearances exceed the specified 

travel limits, before further flight, adjust the 

flap-to-wing clearances until they do not 

exceed the specified travel limits. Where 

Epic SB–0034, Revision B, specifies to 

contact Epic Aircraft if clearance and travel 

limits cannot be met, this AD does not 

require that action. 

Note 1 to paragraph (g): Information 

regarding the flap-to-wing travel limits may 

be found in Epic E1000 Maintenance Manual 

SK05000000, Revision A, dated April 13, 

2020. 

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, West Certification 

Branch, 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 certification branch, 

send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-ANMSeattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov. 

(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. 

(i) Additional Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Anthony Caldejon, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 

Lakewood, CA 90712; phone: (206) 231– 

3534; email: anthony.v.caldejon@faa.gov. 

(2) Service information identified in this 

AD that is not incorporated by reference is 

available at the addresses specified in 

paragraphs (j)(3) and (4) of this AD. 

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the service information listed in this 

paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. 

(2) You must use this service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Epic Aircraft Service Bulletin SB–0034, 

Revision B, issued December 22, 2022. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Epic Aircraft, LLC, 22590 

Nelson Road, Bend, OR 97701; phone: (541) 

639–4603; email: info@epicaircraft.com; 

website: epicaircraft.com. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, 

Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on 

the availability of this material at the FAA, 

call (817) 222–5110. 

(5) You may view this service information 

that is incorporated by reference at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on 

the availability of this material at NARA, 

email: fr.inspection@nara.gov, or go to: 

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued on September 29, 2023. 

Victor Wicklund, 

Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–22962 Filed 10–17–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1