Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 210 / Monday, October 30, 2000 / Proposed Rules 64631

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–NM–201–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Israel

Aircraft Industries, Ltd., Model Galaxy

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 Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.,

Model Galaxy airplanes. This proposal

would require replacement of certain

existing fasteners in the aft pickup

fittings of the horizontal stabilizer. This

action is necessary to prevent fatigue

failure of those fasteners, which could

result in reduced structural integrity of

the empennage. This action is intended

to address the identified unsafe

condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by

November 29, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000–NM–

201–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, except Federal

holidays. Comments may be submitted

via fax to (425) 227–1232. Comments

may also be sent via the Internet using

the following address: 9-anmnprmcomment@faa.gov. Comments sent

via fax or the Internet must contain

‘‘Docket No. 2000–NM–201–AD’’ in the

subject line and need not be submitted

in triplicate. Comments sent via the

Internet as attached electronic files must

be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for

Windows or ASCII text.

The service information referenced in

the proposed rule may be obtained from

Galaxy Aerospace Corporation, One

Galaxy Way, Fort Worth Alliance

Airport, Fort Worth, Texas 76177. This

information may be examined at the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Norman B. Martenson, Manager,

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.

Submit comments using the following

format:

• Organize comments issue-by-issue.

For example, discuss a request to

change the compliance time and a

request to change the service bulletin

reference as two separate issues.

• For each issue, state what specific

change to the proposed AD is being

requested.

• Include justification (e.g., reasons or

data) for each request.

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 2000–NM–201–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–114, Attention: Rules Docket No.

2000–NM–201–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

The Civil Aviation Administration of

Israel (CAAI), which is the

airworthiness authority for Israel,

notified the FAA that an unsafe

condition may exist on certain Israel

Aircraft Industries, Ltd., Model Galaxy

airplanes. The CAAI advises that early

fatigue failure of the fasteners that

support the aft pickup fittings of the

horizontal stabilizer can occur. This

failure was detected during a fatigue test

conducted by the manufacturer. Such

fatigue failure, if not corrected, could

result in reduced structural integrity of

the empennage.

Explanation of Relevant Service

Information

Israel Aircraft Industries has issued

GALAXY Service Bulletin GALAXY–

55–008, dated March 23, 2000, which

describes procedures for removing

certain existing HI–LOKS or life-limited

fasteners in the aft pickup fittings of the

horizontal stabilizer, and replacing

those fasteners with improved non-lifelimited fasteners. The replacement

involves measuring the diameter of the

bolt shank, reaming holes, inspecting to

detect cracks using an eddy current

technique, and installing certain new

bolts. Accomplishment of the actions

specified in the service bulletin is

intended to adequately address the

identified unsafe condition. The CAAI

classified this service bulletin as

mandatory and issued Israeli

airworthiness directive 55–00–04–05,

dated April 27, 2000, in order to assure

the continued airworthiness of these

airplanes in Israel.

FAA’s Conclusions

This airplane model is manufactured

in Israel 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

this bilateral airworthiness agreement,

the CAAI has kept the FAA informed of

the situation described above. The FAA

has examined the findings of the CAAI,

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 bulletin described

previously.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 10 Model

GALAXY airplanes of U.S. registry

64632 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 210 / Monday, October 30, 2000 / Proposed Rules

would be affected by this proposed AD,

that it would take approximately 16

work hours per airplane to accomplish

the proposed actions, and that the

average labor rate is $60 per work hour.

Required parts would cost

approximately $250 per airplane. Based

on these figures, the cost impact of the

proposed AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $12,100, or $1,210 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. The cost

impact figures discussed in AD

rulemaking actions represent only the

time necessary to perform the specific

actions actually required by the AD.

These figures typically do not include

incidental costs, such as the time

required to gain access and close up,

planning time, or time necessitated by

other administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein

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. Therefore,

it is determined that this proposal

would not have federalism implications

under Executive Order 13132.

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:

Israel Aircraft Industries, LTD.: Docket

2000–NM–201–AD.

Applicability: Model GALAXY airplanes

having serial numbers 004 through 012

inclusive, and serial number 015; certificated

in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

modified, altered, or repaired in the area

subject to the requirements of this AD. For

airplanes that have been 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 (b) 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 fatigue failure of certain

existing fasteners in the aft pickup fittings of

the horizontal stabilizer, which could result

in reduced structural integrity of the

empennage, accomplish the following:

Fastener Replacement

(a) Within 300 flight hours after the

effective date of this AD, or within 3,600

flight hours after accomplishing GALAXY

(Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.) Service

Bulletin GALAXY–55–031, whichever occurs

later: Remove existing HI–LOKS or lifelimited fasteners in the aft pickup fittings of

the horizontal stabilizer, and replace those

fasteners with improved non-life-limited

fasteners (including measuring the diameter

of the bolt shank, reaming holes, inspecting

to detect cracks using an eddy current

technique, and installing new bolts having

part numbers specified in GALAXY (Israel

Aircraft Industries, Ltd.) Service Bulletin

GALAXY–55–008, dated March 23, 2000).

Perform the actions in accordance with

GALAXY (Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.)

Service Bulletin GALAXY–55–008, dated

March 23, 2000.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(b) 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.

Special Flight Permits

(c) 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 Israeli airworthiness directive 55–00–04–

05, dated April 27, 2000.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on October

24, 2000.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–27797 Filed 10–27–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–NM–253–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; British

Aerospace Model BAe 146 and Model

Avro 146–RJ 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 all

British Aerospace Model BAe 146 and

Model Avro 146–RJ series airplanes.

This proposal would require repetitive

non-destructive testing (NDT)

inspections to detect cracking at the

fuselage end of the inner sidestays of the

main landing gear (MLG) by the antirotation pin, and replacement of the

sidestay with a new sidestay, if

necessary. This action is necessary to

detect and correct fatigue cracking of the

inner sidestays of the MLG, which could

result in failure of the MLG. This action

is intended to address the identified

unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by

November 29, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000–NM–