This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

10620 

Vol. 72, No. 46 

Friday, March 9, 2007 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2007–27208; Directorate 

Identifier 2007–CE–010–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Vulcanair 

S.p.A. P68 Series Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for the 

products listed above. 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: 

The backrest recline of pilot and copilot 

seats requires the removal of a ‘‘quick release 

pin’’ not correctly indicated in the AFM and 

not ready detectable by the passengers. 

Moreover the operation of removal the device 

is difficult. This cause difficulty or disables 

the access to the escapes of the cabin in case 

of emergency evacuation. 

The proposed AD would require 

actions that are intended to address the 

unsafe condition described in the MCAI. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by April 9, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• DOT Docket Web Site: Go to 

http://dms.dot.gov and follow the 

instructions for sending your comments 

electronically. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility, 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 

Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590– 

0001. 

• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on 

the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 

400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://dms.dot.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– 

5227) is in the ADDRESSES section. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Sarjapur Nagarajan, Aerospace Engineer, 

FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 

Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 

Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329– 

4145; fax: (816) 329–4090. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Streamlined Issuance of AD 

The FAA is implementing a new 

process for streamlining the issuance of 

ADs related to MCAI. This streamlined 

process will allow us to adopt MCAI 

safety requirements in a more efficient 

manner and will reduce safety risks to 

the public. This process continues to 

follow all FAA AD issuance processes to 

meet legal, economic, Administrative 

Procedure Act, and Federal Register 

requirements. We also continue to meet 

our technical decision-making 

responsibilities to identify and correct 

unsafe conditions on U.S.-certificated 

products. 

This proposed AD references the 

MCAI and related service information 

that we considered in forming the 

engineering basis to correct the unsafe 

condition. The proposed AD contains 

text copied from the MCAI and for this 

reason might not follow our plain 

language principles. 

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–2007–27208; Directorate Identifier 

2007–CE–010–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:// 

dms.dot.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 Ente Nazionale per l’Aviazione 

Civile (ENAC), which is the aviation 

authority for Italy, has issued AD N. 

2004–522, Rev. 0, dated December 20, 

2004 (referred to after this as ‘‘the 

MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe condition 

for the specified products. The MCAI 

states: 

The backrest recline of pilot and copilot 

seats requires the removal of a ‘‘quick release 

pin’’ not correctly indicated in the AFM and 

not ready detectable by the passengers. 

Moreover the operation of removal the device 

is difficult. This cause difficulty or disables 

the access to the escapes of the cabin in case 

of emergency evacuation. 

The MCAI requires: 

Carry out the operational checks/ 

inspection/modification: 

—Kit SB 128/A–1 applicable to aircraft 

model P68C. Serial numbers (S/N) 429, 434 

and 435 are excluded; 

—Kit SB 128/A–2 applicable only to P68C 

aircraft with S/N 429, 434 and 435; 

—Kit SB 128/B applicable to aircraft model 

P68 Observer 2; 

—Kit SB 128/C applicable to aircraft model 

P68TC Observer; called for by the 

referenced Service Bulletin, in accordance 

with the procedures in there specified, 

within the terms set forth under 

‘‘COMPLIANCE’’ of this AD. 

You may obtain further information 

by examining the MCAI in the AD 

docket. 

Relevant Service Information 

Vulcanair S.p.A. has issued P68 

Variants Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 

128, dated October 12, 2004. The 

actions described in this service 

information are intended to correct the 

unsafe condition identified in the 

MCAI. 


erjones on PRODPC74 with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 46 / Friday, March 9, 2007 / Proposed Rules 10621 

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. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the MCAI or Service Information 

We have reviewed the MCAI and 

related service information and, in 

general, agree with their substance. But 

we might have found it necessary to use 

different words from those in the MCAI 

to ensure the AD is clear for U.S. 

operators and is enforceable. In making 

these changes, we do not intend to differ 

substantively from the information 

provided in the MCAI and related 

service information. 

We might also have proposed 

different actions in this AD from those 

in the MCAI in order to follow FAA 

policies. Any such differences are 

highlighted in a Note within the 

proposed AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

Based on the service information, we 

estimate that this proposed AD would 

affect about 15 products of U.S. registry. 

We also estimate that it would take 

about 2 work-hours per product to 

comply with the basic requirements of 

this proposed AD. The average labor 

rate is $80 per work-hour. Where the 

service information lists required parts 

costs that are covered under warranty, 

we have assumed that there will be no 

charge for these costs. As we do not 

control warranty coverage for affected 

parties, some parties may incur costs 

higher than estimated here. 

Based on these figures, we estimate 

the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. 

operators to be $2,400, or $160 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 

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); 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 proposed AD and placed it in the 

AD docket. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, 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 AD: 

Vulcanair S.p.A. (Type certificate No. 

A31EU formally held by Partenavia 

Costruzioni Aeronautiche S.p.A.): 

Docket No. FAA–2007–27208; 

Directorate Identifier 2007–CE–010–AD 

Comments Due Date 

(a) We must receive comments by April 9, 

2007. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to all Models P68C, 

P68 Observer 2, and P68TC Observer 

airplanes, serial numbers 412 through 424 

(except 418), 429, 434, and 435, certificated 

in any category. 

Subject 

(d) Air Transport Association of America 

(ATA) Code 51: Structures. 

Reason 

(e) The mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI) states: 

The backrest recline of pilot and copilot 

seats requires the removal of a ‘‘quick release 

pin’’ not correctly indicated in the AFM and 

not ready detectable by the passengers. 

Moreover the operation of removal the device 

is difficult. This cause difficulty or disables 

the access to the escapes of the cabin in case 

of emergency evacuation. 

Actions and Compliance 

(f) Unless already done, do the following 

actions within 30 days after the effective date 

of this AD: 

(1) For Model P68C airplanes, serial 

numbers 412 through 424 (except 418): 

Install Kit SB 128/A–1, following Vulcanair 

S.p.A. P68 Variants Mandatory Service 

Bulletin No. 128, dated October 12, 2004; 

(2) For Model P68C airplanes, serial 

numbers 429, 434, and 435: Install Kit SB 

128/A–2 following Vulcanair S.p.A. P68 

Variants Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 128, 

dated October 12, 2004; 

(3) For Model P68 Observer 2 airplanes: 

Install Kit SB 128/B, following Vulcanair 

S.p.A. P68 Variants Mandatory Service 

Bulletin No. 128, dated October 12, 2004; or 

(4) For Model P68TC Observer airplanes: 

Install Kit SB 128/C, following Vulcanair 

S.p.A. P68 Variants Mandatory Service 

Bulletin No. 128, dated October 12, 2004. 

FAA AD Differences 

Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/ 

or service information as follows: No 

differences. 

Other FAA AD Provisions 

(g) The following provisions also apply to 

this AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Staff, 

FAA, ATTN: Sarjapur Nagarajan, Aerospace 

Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 

901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 

64106; telephone: (816) 329–4145; fax: (816) 

329–4090, has the authority to approve 

AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 

procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

(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. 


erjones on PRODPC74 with PROPOSALS
10622 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 46 / Friday, March 9, 2007 / Proposed Rules 

(3) Reporting Requirements: For any 

reporting requirement in this AD, under the 

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act 

(44 U.S.C. 3501 et.seq.), the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) has 

approved the information collection 

requirements and has assigned OMB Control 

Number 2120–0056. 

Related Information 

(h) Refer to MCAI Ente Nazionale per 

l’Aviazione Civile (ENAC), AD N. 2004–522, 

Rev. 0, dated December 20, 2004; and 

Vulcanair S.p.A. P68 Variants Mandatory 

Service Bulletin No. 128, dated October 12, 

2004, for related information. 

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 

2, 2007. 

Kim Smith, 

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–4242 Filed 3–8–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2005–21242; Directorate 

Identifier 2005–NE–09–AD] 

RIN 21207–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Turbomeca 

Arriel 1B, 1D, 1D1, and 1S1 Turboshaft 

Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to 

supersede an existing airworthiness 

directive (AD) for certain Turbomeca 

Arriel 1B, 1D, 1D1, and 1S1 turboshaft 

engines. That AD currently requires 

initial and repetitive position checks of 

the gas generator 2nd stage turbine 

blades on all Turbomeca Arriel 1B, 1D, 

1D1, and 1S1 turboshaft engines. That 

AD also currently requires initial and 

repetitive replacements of 2nd stage 

turbines on 1B, 1D, and 1D1 engines 

only. This proposed AD would require 

adding a 3,000 hour life limit to Arriel 

1B 2nd Stage Turbine Blades. This 

proposed AD results from reports of 

failures of second stage blades. We are 

proposing this AD to prevent failures of 

the 2nd stage turbine blades, which 

could result in uncommanded in-flight 

engine shutdown, and subsequent 

forced autorotation landing or accident. 

DATES: We must receive any comments 

on this proposed AD by May 8, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to comment on this proposed 

AD. 

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to 

http://dms.dot.gov and follow the 

instructions for sending your comments 

electronically. 

• Government-wide rulemaking Web 

site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov 

and follow the instructions for sending 

your comments electronically. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility; 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 

Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590–

0001. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on 

the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 

400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

Contact Turbomeca, 40220 Tarnos, 

France; telephone (33) 05 59 74 40 00, 

fax (33) 05 59 74 45 15, for the service 

information identified in this proposed 

AD. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Christopher Spinney, Aerospace 

Engineer, Engine Certification Office, 

FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 

12 New England Executive Park, 

Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 

238–7175, fax (781) 238–7199. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments 

regarding this proposal. Send your 

comments to an address listed under 

ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA–

2005–21242; Directorate Identifier 

2005–NE–09–AD’’ in the subject line of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of the proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend the 

proposed AD in light of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

dms.dot.gov, including any personal 

information you provide. We will also 

post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact with FAA 

personnel concerning this proposed AD. 

Using the search function of the DMS 

Web site, anyone can find and read the 

comments in any of our dockets, 

including the name of the individual 

who sent the comment (or signed the 

comment on behalf of an association, 

business, labor union, etc.). You may 

review the DOT’s complete Privacy Act 

Statement in the Federal Register 

published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 

19477–78) or you may visit http:// 

dms.dot.gov. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the docket that 

contains the proposal, any comments 

received and any final disposition in 

person at the DMS Docket Office 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647–

5227) is located on the plaza level of the 

Department of Transportation Nassif 

Building at the street address stated in 

ADDRESSES. Comments will be available 

in the AD docket shortly after the DMS 

receives them. 

Discussion 

On August 8, 2006, the FAA issued 

AD 2006–02–08R1, Amendment 39–

14721 (71 FR 46390, August 14, 2006). 

That AD requires initial and repetitive 

position checks of the gas generator 2nd 

stage turbine blades on all Turbomeca 

Arriel 1B, 1D, 1D1, and 1S1 turboshaft 

engines, and initial and repetitive 

replacements of 2nd stage turbines on 

1B, 1D, and 1D1 engines only. The 

Direction Generale de L’Aviation Civile 

(DGAC), which is the airworthiness 

authority for France, notified the FAA 

that an unsafe condition might exist on 

Turbomeca, Arriel 1B (modified per TU 

148), 1D, 1D1, and 1S1 turboshaft 

engines. The DGAC advises that sixteen 

cases of release of gas generator 2nd 

stage turbine blades occurred in service, 

with full containment of debris. These 

events resulted in uncommanded inflight engine shutdowns. Although 

terminating action is still unavailable, 

mandatory checks of the turbine blades 

and replacement of the turbine are being 

required in order to reduce the 

probability of an uncommanded inflight engine shutdown. That AD 

requires initial and repetitive position 

checks of the gas generator 2nd stage 

turbine blades on all Turbomeca Arriel 

1B, 1D, 1D1, and 1S1 turboshaft 

engines. That AD also requires initial 

and repetitive replacements of 2nd stage 

turbines on 1B, 1D, and 1D1 engines 

only. That condition, if not corrected, 

could result in uncommanded in-flight 

engine shutdown. 

Actions Since AD 2006–02–08R1 Was 

Issued 

Since we issued that AD, the 

European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) informed us that they have 

received reports of additional failures of 

the 2nd stage turbine blades. The debris 

from the failures was fully contained. 

The failures were caused by: 


erjones on PRODPC74 with PROPOSALS