Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 236 / Tuesday, December 9, 1997 / Proposed Rules 64777

(1) Rework the affected wing leading edge

section(s) to add the correct number of holes,

and

(2) Perform a visual inspection of the

auxiliary spar or front spar, as applicable, to

detect heat damage. If any heat damage is

detected, prior to further flight, repair the

affected structure in accordance with a

method approved by the Manager,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate.

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

person shall install a wing leading edge

section, unless it has been inspected for the

presence of the correct number of bleed air

exhaust holes, and reworked, if necessary, to

add the correct number of holes, in

accordance with Fokker Component Service

Bulletin D14000–57–004, dated August 21,

1995.

(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.

(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.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in Dutch airworthiness directive BLA No.

1995–087 (A), dated August 31, 1995.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on

December 2, 1997.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–32113 Filed 12–8–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–NM–280–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Aerospatiale

Model ATR72 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to

certain Aerospatiale Model ATR72

series airplanes. This proposal would

require removal of certain landing gear

attachment pins, and replacement of the

pins with serviceable pins. This

proposal is prompted by issuance of

mandatory continuing airworthiness

information by a foreign civil

airworthiness authority. The actions

specified by the proposed AD are

intended to prevent wear of the

attachment pins, which could result in

collapse of the main landing gear.

DATES: Comments must be received by

January 8, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–103,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–NM–

280–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

The service information referenced in

the proposed rule may be obtained from

Aerospatiale, 316 Route de Bayonne,

31060 Toulouse, Cedex 03, 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:

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:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications shall

identify the Rules Docket number and

be submitted in triplicate to the address

specified above. All communications

received on or before the closing date

for comments, specified above, will be

considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained

in this notice may be changed in light

of the comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report

summarizing each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this

proposal will be filed in the Rules

Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket Number 97–NM–280–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

ANM–103, Attention: Rules Docket No.

97–NM–280–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

The Direction Ge ́ne ́rale de l’Aviation

Civile (DGAC), which is the

airworthiness authority for France,

notified the FAA that an unsafe

condition may exist on certain

Aerospatiale Model ATR72 series

airplanes. The DGAC advises that failed

main landing gear (MLG) pins have been

found during routine inspections. The

failure has been traced to inadequate

quality control of the MLG attachment

pins during manufacture. Failure of the

MLG attachment pins, if not corrected,

could result in collapse of the MLG.

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information

Aerospatiale has issued Service

Bulletin No. ATR72–32–1036, and No.

ATR72–32–1037, both dated June 19,

1996, which describe procedures for

removal of certain attachment pins of

the MLG, and replacement of the pins

with serviceable pins. The Aerospatiale

service bulletins reference MessierDowty Service Bulletin No. 631–32–125,

dated May 7, 1996, and No. 631–32–

126, dated May 7, 1996, as the

appropriate sources of service

information for accomplishment of

these actions. The DGAC classified the

Aerospatiale service bulletins as

mandatory and issued French

airworthiness directive 96–096–029(B),

dated May 9, 1996, in order to assure

the continued airworthiness of these

airplanes in France.

FAA’s Conclusions

This airplane model is manufactured

in France and is type certificated for

operation in the United States under the

provisions of section 21.29 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.29) and the applicable bilateral

airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to
64778 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 236 / Tuesday, December 9, 1997 / Proposed Rules

this bilateral airworthiness agreement,

the DGAC has kept the FAA informed

of the situation described above. The

FAA has examined the findings of the

DGAC, reviewed all available

information, and determined that AD

action is necessary for products of this

type design that are certificated for

operation in the United States.

Explanation of Requirements of

Proposed Rule

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other airplanes of the same

type design registered in the United

States, the proposed AD would require

accomplishment of the actions specified

in the service bulletins described

previously.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 39 airplanes

of U.S. registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 18 work hours per

airplane to accomplish the proposed

actions, and that the average labor rate

is $60 per work hour. Required parts

would be provided by the manufacturer

at no cost to operators. Based on these

figures, the cost impact of the proposed

AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be

$42,120, or $1,080 per airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed

above is based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the proposed 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 proposed herein

would not have substantial direct effects

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,

in accordance with Executive Order

12612, it is determined that this

proposal would not have sufficient

federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that 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) if

promulgated, 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 copy of the draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this

action is contained in the Rules Docket.

A copy of it may be obtained by

contacting the Rules Docket at the

location provided under the caption

ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration proposes to amend 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:

Aerospatiale: Docket 97–NM–280–AD.

Applicability: Model ATR72 series

airplanes; as identified in Aerospatiale

Service Bulletin No. ATR72–32–1036, dated

June 19, 1996, and Aerospatiale Service

Bulletin No. ATR72–32–1037, dated June 19,

1996; certificated in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in

the area subject to the requirements of this

AD. For airplanes that have been otherwise

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 (d)

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 wear of the landing gear

attachment pins, which could result in

collapse of the main landing gear (MLG),

accomplish the following:

(a) Within 12 months after the effective

date of this AD, remove the MLG leg hinge

pins and side brace assembly center pins

having the part numbers (P/N) specified in

paragraph B. of the Planning Information of

Aerospatiale Service Bulletin No. ATR72–

32–1036, dated June 19, 1996; and replace

the pins with serviceable pins, in accordance

with the Aerospatiale service bulletin and

Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin No. 631–32–

125, dated May 7, 1996.

(b) Prior to the accumulation of 15,000

landings since the last overhaul of the MLG,

or within 8 years since the last overhaul of

the MLG, whichever occurs first: Remove the

MLG swinging lever/barrel pins and shock

absorber/universal joint hinge pins having

the

P/N’s specified in paragraph B. of the

Planning Information of Aerospatiale Service

Bulletin No. ATR72–32–1037, dated June 19,

1996; and replace the pins with serviceable

pins; in accordance with the Aerospatiale

service bulletin and Messier-Dowty Service

Bulletin No. 631–32–126, dated May 7, 1996.

Note 2: Serviceable pins include those that

have been removed, inspected, and marked

with green paint in accordance with MessierDowty Service Bulletin No. 631–32–125,

dated May 7, 1996; or Messier-Dowty Service

Bulletin No. 631–32–126, dated May 7, 1996;

as applicable.

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

person shall install any MLG pin having a

part number identified in Aerospatiale

Service Bulletin No. ATR72–32–1036, dated

June 19, 1996, or Aerospatiale Service

Bulletin No. ATR72–32–1037, dated June 19,

1996, on any airplane unless that pin is

considered to be serviceable in accordance

with the applicable service bulletin.

(d) 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 3: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the International Branch,

ANM–116.

(e) 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.

Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed

in French airworthiness directive 96–096–

029(B), dated May 9, 1996.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on

December 2, 1997.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–32111 Filed 12–8–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U