This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

32563 

Vol. 83, No. 135 

Friday, July 13, 2018 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0003; Product 

Identifier 2017–CE–033–AD; Amendment 

39–19326; AD 2018–14–06] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; American 

Champion Aircraft Corp. 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are superseding 

Airworthiness Directive (AD) (AD) 

2017–07–10 for certain American 

Champion Aircraft Corp. (ACAC) Model 

8KCAB airplanes. AD 2017–07–10 

required fabrication and installation of a 

placard to prohibit aerobatic flight, 

inspection of the aileron hinge rib and 

support, and a reporting requirement of 

the inspection results to the FAA. This 

AD requires repetitive inspections of the 

aileron hinge support, installation of the 

aileron hinge support reinforcement kit, 

and incorporation of revised pages into 

the service manual. This AD was 

prompted by a report of a cracked hinge 

support and cracked hinge ribs, which 

resulted in partial loss of control with 

the aileron binding against the cove. We 

are issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective August 17, 

2018. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of August 17, 2018. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain other publication listed in 

this AD as of April 12, 2017 (82 FR 

17542, April 12, 2017). 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this final rule, contact 

American Champion Aircraft Corp., P.O. 

Box 37, 32032 Washington Ave., 

Rochester, Wisconsin 53167; telephone: 

(262) 534–6315; fax: (262) 534–2395; 

email: aca-engineering@tds.net; 

internet: http://www.americanchampion

aircraft.com/service-letters.html. You 

may review copies of the referenced 

service information at the FAA, Policy 

and Innovation Division, 901 Locust, 

Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call (816) 329– 

4148. It is also available on the internet 

at http://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2018–0003. 

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–2018– 

0003; 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, 

the regulatory evaluation, any 

comments received, and other 

information. The address for Docket 

Operations (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Wess Rouse, Small Airplane Program 

Manager, 2300 East Devon Avenue, 

Room 107, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; 

telephone: (847) 294–8113; fax: (847) 

294–7834; email: wess.rouse@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to remove AD 2017–07–10, 

Amendment 39–18849 (82 FR 17542, 

April 12, 2017) (‘‘AD 2017–07–10’’), and 

add a new AD. AD 2017–07–10 applied 

to certain American Champion Aircraft 

Corp. (ACAC) Model 8KCAB airplanes. 

AD 2017–07–10 required fabricating and 

installing a placard to prohibit aerobatic 

flight, inspecting the aileron hinge rib 

and support, and reporting the 

inspection results to the FAA. We 

issued AD 2017–07–10 to prevent 

failure of the aileron support structure, 

which may lead to excessive deflection, 

binding of the control surface, and 

potential loss of control. 

The NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on January 11, 2018 (83 FR 

1311). The NPRM was prompted by a 

report of a cracked hinge support and 

cracked hinge ribs, which resulted in 

partial loss of control with the aileron 

binding against the cove. The NPRM 

proposed to retain the placard and onetime inspection requirements of AD 

2017–07–10 and remove the reporting 

requirement. The NPRM also proposed 

to require repetitive inspections of the 

aileron hinge support, installation of the 

aileron hinge support reinforcement kit, 

and incorporation of revised pages into 

the service manual. We are issuing this 

AD to address the unsafe condition on 

these products. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comments 

received on the NPRM and the FAA’s 

response to each comment. 

Request To Remove the Reinforcement 

Kit Requirement 

Scott Austin, Chris Murley, Moritz 

Bartsch, David Trost, and an anonymous 

individual requested the AD not require 

installation of the reinforcement kit. In 

support of this request, the commenters 

state the airplanes with failures that 

prompted the AD had different 

horsepower, different wingtips, and 

were used repeatedly in ‘‘hard’’ 

aerobatic operations. The commenters 

felt that airplanes with these design 

differences and those used in normal 

operations would be safely mitigated 

with repetitive inspections and 

installation of the reinforcement kit only 

if cracks are found. 

We do not agree. The commenters did 

not provide data to support a position 

that the unsafe condition is affected by 

the differences in horsepower or wing 

design. Additionally, all Model 8KCAB 

airplanes are certificated to the same 

operational limits. We have no safety 

basis to only rely on 100-hour/annual 

inspections to mitigate the unsafe 

condition. We have not changed this AD 

based on this comment. 

Additional Changes Made to This AD 

We have deleted paragraph (g)(1) of 

the NPRM and renumbered paragraphs 

(g)(2) and (g)(3) to (g)(1) and (g)(2) 

respectively in this AD. Paragraphs 

(g)(2) and (g)(3) of the NPRM basically 

presented the actions that were 


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32564 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 135 / Friday, July 13, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 

specified in paragraph (g)(1) of the 

NPRM, thus making it redundant and 

unnecessary. 

We have also corrected minor 

typographical errors in paragraphs 

(h)(1), (h)(3), and (h)(4) in this AD. 

Lastly, we have clarified the 

document title of the airworthiness 

limitations in paragraphs (h)(6) and 

(h)(7) in this AD. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the relevant data, 

considered the comments received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this 

final rule as proposed, except for the 

changes described previously. These 

changes are consistent with the intent of 

the proposals in the NPRM and will not 

increase the economic burden on any 

operator nor increase the scope of the 

AD. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

We reviewed American Champion 

Aircraft Corp. Service Letter 442, 

Revision A, dated August 18, 2017 

(ACAC SL No. 442); American 

Champion Aircraft Corp. Service Letter 

444 Initial Revision, dated August 18, 

2017 (ACAC SL No. 444); and page 

4–1, Manual Revision B, of the 

Airworthiness Limitations section and 

page 5–9, Manual Revision B, of the 

Time and Maintenance Checks section, 

both dated October 3, 2017, and 

included in American Champion 

Aircraft Corporation SM–601 8KCAB 

Service Manual, Reissue B, dated 

October 3, 2017. ACAC SL No. 442 

describes procedures and inspection 

intervals for inspection of the aileron 

hinge rib and hinge support. ACAC SL 

No. 444 provides instructions for the 

installation of the aileron hinge 

reinforcement kit. Page 4–1 and page 

5–9 are revised pages that add a 

repetitive inspection to the 8KCAB 

Service Manual, SM–601, Reissue B, 

dated October 3, 2017. 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 the ADDRESSES section. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 64 

airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Fabrication of placard, inspection of aileron 

hinge rib and support.

2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170.00 ........ $100 $270.00 $17,280 

Repetitive 100-hour TIS inspections ............... 1.5 work-hours × $85 per hour = $127.50 ..... N/A 127.50 8,160 

Installation of aileron hinge support reinforcement kit.50 work-hours × $85 per hour = $4,250 ........ 2,200 6,450 412,800 

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. 

This AD is issued in accordance with 

authority delegated by the Executive 

Director, Aircraft Certification Service, 

as authorized by FAA Order 8000.51C. 

In accordance with that order, issuance 

of ADs is normally a function of the 

Compliance and Airworthiness 

Division, but during this transition 

period, the Executive Director has 

delegated the authority to issue ADs 

applicable to small airplanes, gliders, 

balloons, airships, domestic business jet 

transport airplanes, and associated 

appliances to the Director of the Policy 

and Innovation Division. 

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), 

(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. 

Adoption of 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 

removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 

2017–07–10, Amendment 39–18849 (82 

FR 17542, April 12, 2017), and adding 

the following new AD: 

2018–14–06 American Champion Aircraft 

Corp.: Amendment 39–19326; Docket 

No. FAA–2018–0003; Product Identifier 

2017–CE–033–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This AD is effective August 17, 2018. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD replaces AD 2017–07–10, 

Amendment 39–18849 (82 FR 17542, April 

12, 2017) (‘‘AD 2017–07–10’’). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to any American 

Champion Aircraft Corp. Model 8KCAB 

airplane, certificated in any category, that 

either has: 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 135 / Friday, July 13, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 32565 

(1) A serial number in the range of 1116– 

2012 through 1120–2012 or 1122–2012 

through 1170–2017; or 

(2) Is equipped with part number 4–2142 

exposed balance ailerons. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/ 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America 

Code 57, Wings. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

AD 2017–07–10 was prompted by a report 

of a cracked hinge support and cracked hinge 

ribs, which resulted in partial loss of control 

with the aileron binding against the cove. 

This AD incorporates a newly designed 

aileron hinge support reinforcement kit. We 

are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 

aileron support structure, which may lead to 

excessive deflection, binding of the control 

surface, and potential loss of control. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Restrict Airplane Operation 

(1) Before further flight after April 12, 2017 

(the effective date retained from AD 2017– 

07–10), fabricate a placard using at least 1⁄8

inch letters with the words ‘‘AEROBATIC 

FLIGHT PROHIBITED’’ on it and install the 

placard on the instrument panel within the 

pilot’s clear view. 

(2) This action may be performed by the 

owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a 

private pilot certificate and must be entered 

into the aircraft records showing compliance 

with this AD in accordance with 14 CFR 

43.9(a)(1) through (4) and 14 CFR 

91.417(a)(2)(v). The record must be 

maintained as required by 14 CFR 91.417, 

121.380, or 135.439. 

(h) Inspection and Reinforcement 

(1) Within the next 10 hours time-inservice (TIS) after April 12, 2017 (the 

effective date retained from AD 2017–07–10), 

inspect the aileron hinge rib and support for 

cracks or other damage by following 

American Champion Aircraft Corporation 

Service Letter (SL) 442, dated February 16, 

2017, or American Champion Aircraft Corp. 

Service Letter (SL) 442, Revision A, dated 

August 18, 2017 (ACAC SL No. 442, 

Revision A). 

(2) If no cracks or other damage is found 

during the initial inspection required in 

paragraph (h)(1) of this AD, the placard 

prohibiting aerobatic flight required in 

paragraph (g)(1) of this AD can be removed. 

(3) Within 100 hours TIS from the initial 

inspection required in paragraph (h)(1) of 

this AD or within 10 hours TIS after August 

17, 2018 (the effective date of this AD), 

whichever occurs later, and repetitively 

thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours 

TIS, inspect the aileron hinge rib and support 

for cracks or other damage following ACAC 

SL No. 442, Revision A. 

(4) If cracks or other damage is found 

during any inspection required in paragraph 

(h)(1) or (3) of this AD, before further flight, 

replace any retained parts or structure that 

are cracked or damaged, and install the 

aileron hinge reinforcement kit by following 

American Champion Aircraft Corp. Service 

Letter 444, dated August 18, 2017 (ACAC SL 

No. 444). Unless already removed as 

specified in paragraph (h)(2) of this AD, after 

completing the corrective actions required by 

this paragraph, the placard prohibiting 

aerobatic flight required in paragraph (g)(1) of 

this AD can be removed. 

(5) Within 400 hours after the initial 

inspection required in paragraph (h)(1) of 

this AD, if not already done as required in 

paragraph (h)(4) of this AD, install the aileron 

hinge reinforcement kit following the 

procedures in ACAC SL No. 444. 

(6) After installation of the aileron hinge 

reinforcement kit required in paragraph (h)(4) 

or (5) of this AD, as applicable, insert page 

4–1, Manual Revision B, of the Airworthiness 

Limitations section and page 5–9, Manual 

Revision B, of the Time and Maintenance 

Checks section, both dated October 3, 2017, 

from the American Champion Aircraft 

Corporation SM–601 8KCAB Service Manual, 

Reissue B, dated October 3, 2017, into the 

maintenance program (service manual). 

(7) Installing the aileron hinge 

reinforcement kit as required in paragraph 

(h)(4) or (h)(5) of this AD and the insertion 

of page 4–1, Manual Revision B, of the 

Airworthiness Limitations section and page 

5–9, Manual Revision B, of the Time and 

Maintenance Checks section, both dated 

October 3, 2017, of the American Champion 

Aircraft Corporation SM–601 8KCAB Service 

Manual, Reissue B, dated October 3, 2017, 

into the maintenance program (e.g., service 

manual), as required in paragraph (h)(6) of 

this AD is terminating action to this AD. The 

revised Airworthiness Limitations section 

includes a 100- hour/annual inspection 

requirement for the aileron hinge supports. 

(i) Reporting Requirement 

Although ACAC SL No. 442, Revision A, 

and ACAC SL No. 444 specify submitting 

certain information to the manufacturer, this 

AD does not require that action. 

(j) Special Flight Permit 

No aerobatic flight permitted with a special 

flight permit. 

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Chicago ACO 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 

ACO, send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (l) 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. 

(l) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Wess Rouse, Small Airplane Program 

Manager, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Room 

107, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone: 

(847) 294–8113; fax: (847) 294–7834; email: 

wess.rouse@faa.gov. 

(m) 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) American Champion Aircraft Corp. 

Service Letter 442, Revision A, dated August 

18, 2017. 

(ii) American Champion Aircraft Corp. 

Service Letter 444, Initial Revision, dated 

August 18, 2017. 

(iii) Page 4–1, Manual Revision B, of the 

Airworthiness Limitations section of 

American Champion Aircraft Corporation 

SM–601 8KCAB Service Manual, Reissue B, 

dated October 3, 2017; 

(iv) Page 5–9, Manual Revision B, of the 

Time and Maintenance Checks section of 

American Champion Aircraft Corporation 

SM–601 8KCAB Service Manual, Reissue B, 

dated October 3, 2017. 

(3) The following service information was 

approved for IBR on April 12, 2017 (82 FR 

17542, April 12, 2017). 

(i) American Champion Aircraft 

Corporation Service Letter 442, dated 

February 16, 2017. 

(ii) Reserved. 

(4) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact American Champion 

Aircraft Corp., P.O. Box 37, 32032 

Washington Ave., Rochester, Wisconsin 

53167; telephone: (262) 534–6315; fax: (262) 

534–2395; email: aca-engineering@tds.net; 

internet: http://www.americanchampion

aircraft.com/service-letters.html. 

(5) You may view this referenced service 

information at the FAA, Policy and 

Innovation Division, 901 Locust, Kansas City, 

Missouri 64106. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

(816) 329–4148. 

(6) 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, call 

202–741–6030, or go to: http://

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

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 

29, 2018. 

Melvin J. Johnson, 

Deputy Director, Policy & Innovation Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–14686 Filed 7–12–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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