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

71357 

Vol. 77, No. 231 

Friday, November 30, 2012 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–1251; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–CE–044–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Pacific 

Aerospace Limited 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 all 

Pacific Aerospace Limited Models 

FU24–954 and FU24A–954 airplanes 

that would supersede an existing AD. 

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 

aircraft operating outside the aircraft aft 

center of gravity (C of G) limits during 

parachute-drop operations. Exceeding C 

of G limits could result in loss of control 

of the aircraft. We are issuing this 

proposed AD to require actions to 

address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by January 14, 2013. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.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) 647–5527) is in the 

ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl 

Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 

Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 

Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; 

telephone: (816) 329–4146; fax: (816) 

329–4090; email: 

karl.schletzbaum@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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–2012–1251; Directorate Identifier 

2012–CE–044–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:// 

regulations.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 

On September 21, 2010, we issued AD 

2010–20–18, Amendment 39–16453 (75 

FR 59606, September 28, 2010). That 

AD required actions intended to address 

an unsafe condition on the products 

listed above. 

Since we issued AD 2010–20–18, 

Amendment 39–16453 (75 FR 59606, 

September 28, 2010), information has 

been received that shows that the 

operating limitations required by this 

AD should be different between turbine 

engine and piston engine Pacific 

Aerospace Limited Models FU24–954 

and FU24A–954 airplanes. 

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), 

which is the aviation authority for New 

Zealand, has issued AD DCA/FU24/182, 

dated October 25, 2012 (referred to after 

this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe 

condition for the specified products. 

The new MCAI AD supersedes the 

requirements in AD DCA/FU24/179. 

The new MCAI requires adding a 

requirement to install station marking 

placards inside the rear cabin walls and 

inserting a supplement into the airplane 

flight manual (AFM) specifically 

approved for parachuting operations 

that contains detailed information for 

determining the weight and balance of 

the aircraft for turbine engine airplanes. 

This proposed AD also retains all 

actions in AD 2010–20–18, Amendment 

39–16453 (75 FR 59606, September 28, 

2010), for all airplanes. 

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. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 1 product of U.S. registry. 

We also estimate that it would take 

about 22 work-hours per product to 

comply with the basic requirements of 

this proposed AD. The average labor 

rate is $85 per work-hour. 

Based on these figures, we estimate 

the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. 

operators to be $1,870 per product. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 


wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with 
71358 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 231 / Friday, November 30, 2012 / Proposed Rules 

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), 

(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. 

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 

removing AD 2010–20–18, Amendment 

39–16453 (75 FR 59606, September 28, 

2010), and adding the following new 

AD: 

Pacific Aerospace Limited: Docket No. FAA– 

2012–1251; Directorate Identifier 2012– 

CE–044–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by January 14, 

2013. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD supersedes AD 2010–20–18, 

Amendment 39–16453 (75 FR 59606, 

September 28, 2010). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Pacific Aerospace 

Limited Models FU24–954 and FU24A–954 

airplanes, all serial numbers, that are: 

(1) certificated in any category; and 

(2) modified to conduct parachute 

operations. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association of America 

(ATA) Code 8: Leveling and Weighing. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

aircraft operating outside the aft center of 

gravity (C of G) limits during parachute-drop 

operations. We are issuing this AD to prevent 

exceeding C of G limits, which could result 

in loss of control of the aircraft. 

(f) Actions and Compliance for All Airplanes 

(Both Turbine and Piston Engine Airplanes) 

Retained From AD 2010–20–18, Amendment 

39–16453 (75 FR 59606, September 28, 2010) 

Unless already done, do the following 

actions: 

(1) As of October 18, 2010 (the effective 

date retained from AD 2010–20–18, 

Amendment 39–16453 (75 FR 59606, 

September 28, 2010)), before further 

parachute-drop operations: 

(i) Amend the airplane flight manual 

(AFM) to restrict maximum occupancy of the 

cabin aft of fuselage station (F.S) 118.84 to 6 

persons. This may be done by inserting a 

copy of this AD into the AFM adjacent to the 

applicable supplement for parachuting 

operations; and 

(ii) Fabricate a placard at least 2 by 4 

inches (using at least 1⁄8-inch letters) and 

install the placard in two places, one on each 

side of the aft cabin, in view of all occupants 

as they enter and occupy the cabin which 

states the following: Maximum occupancy of 

this cabin limited to six persons for 

parachuting operations. Weight and Balance 

must be confirmed for each flight. 

(2) As of October 18, 2010 (the effective 

date retained from AD 2010–20–18, 

Amendment 39–16453 (75 FR 59606, 

September 28, 2010)), before further 

parachute-drop operations, the weight and 

balance calculation must comply with the 

following limitations and establish that the 

aircraft C of G will remain within AFM limits 

for the duration of the flight: 

(i) Use actual weights for all occupants and 

their equipment to do the calculation; 

(ii) Account for the positions of all 

occupants in the calculation. Do the 

calculation with the occupants’ (parachuting 

group) positions at the most aft positions that 

result from the rearmost members of the 

group sitting against the aft cabin wall and 

subsequent occupants located immediately 

forward of them, unless a means of restraint 

is provided to prevent the occupants moving 

rearwards from their normal position; and 

(iii) Keep a record of the C of G 

determination for each parachuting 

operation. 

(g) New Actions and Compliance for Turbine 

Engine Airplanes 

Within the next 15 days after the effective 

date of this AD, do the following: 

(1) Add fuselage station (F.S.) reference 

line placards inside the rear cabin walls 

following the instructions in Section 2.5, 

Placards, of the CAA Approved AFM 

Supplement for Aircraft Modified for 

Parachuting Operations, PT6 Fletcher-EX 

Document Reference: AIR 2817–FMS–P1, 

dated October 15, 2012, or Walter Fletcher 

Document Reference: AIR 2672–FMS–P1, 

dated October 15, 2012, as applicable. 

(2) Insert Section 2.4, Weight and Balance, 

of the CAA Approved AFM Supplement for 

Aircraft Modified for Parachuting Operations, 

PT6 Fletcher-EX Document Reference: AIR 

2817–FMS–P1, dated October 15, 2012, or 

Walter Fletcher Document Reference: AIR 

2672–FMS–P1, dated October 15, 2012, as 

applicable, into the AFM. 

(h) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Office, 

FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 

for this AD, if requested using the procedures 

found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to 

ATTN: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace 

Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 

901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 

64106; telephone: (816) 329–4146; fax: (816) 

329–4090; email: karl.schletzbaum@faa.gov. 

Before using any approved AMOC on any 

airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify 

your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in 

the FAA Flight Standards District Office 

(FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO. 

(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. 

(3) Reporting Requirements: For any 

reporting requirement in this AD, a federal 

agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a 

person is not required to respond to, nor 

shall a person be subject to a penalty for 

failure to comply with a collection of 

information subject to the requirements of 

the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that 

collection of information displays a current 

valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 

Control Number for this information 

collection is 2120–0056. Public reporting for 

this collection of information is estimated to 

be approximately 5 minutes per response, 


wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with 
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 231 / Friday, November 30, 2012 / Proposed Rules 71359 

including the time for reviewing instructions, 

completing and reviewing the collection of 

information. All responses to this collection 

of information are mandatory. Comments 

concerning the accuracy of this burden and 

suggestions for reducing the burden should 

be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence 

Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 

Information Collection Clearance Officer, 

AES–200. 

(i) Related Information 

Refer to MCAI Civil Aviation Authority of 

New Zealand AD DCA/FU24/182, dated 

October 25, 2012; CAA Approved Flight 

Manual Supplement PT6 Fletcher-EX for 

Aircraft Modified for Parachuting Operations, 

Document Reference: AIR 2817–FMS–P1, 

dated October 15, 2012; and CAA Approved 

Flight Manual Supplement Walter Fletcher 

for Aircraft Modified for Parachuting 

Operations, Document Reference: AIR 2672– 

FMS–P1, dated October 15, 2012, for related 

information. 

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on 

November 21, 2012. 

Earl Lawrence, 

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–29026 Filed 11–29–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–1250; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–CE–043–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; DG 

Flugzeugbau GmbH Gliders 

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 DG 

Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG–1000T 

gliders equipped with Solo 

Kleinmotoren Model 2350 C engines. 

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 a 

material defect of the propeller shaft, 

most likely caused by a manufacturing 

error. We are issuing this proposed AD 

to require actions to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by January 14, 2013. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Solo 

Kleinmotoren GmbH, Postfach 60 01 52, 

D 71050 Sindelfingen, Germany; 

telephone: +49 07031–301–0; fax: +49 

07031–301–136; email: aircraft@sologermany.com; Internet: http:// 

aircraft.solo-online.com/. You may 

review copies of the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Small Airplane 

Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, 

Missouri 64106. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call (816) 329–4148. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.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) 647–5527) is in the 

ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim 

Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 

Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 

Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; 

telephone: (816) 329–4165; fax: (816) 

329–4090; email: 

jim.rutherford@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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–2012–1250; Directorate Identifier 

2012–CE–043–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:// 

regulations.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 European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, has issued AD No.: 2012– 

0197, dated September 25, 2012 

(referred to after this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to 

correct an unsafe condition for the 

specified products. The MCAI states: 

Two reports have been received of a broken 

P/N 20 31 211 propeller shaft on a Solo 2350 

C engine. The results of the investigation 

showed that the failures were due to a 

material defect, most likely caused by a 

manufacturing error. 

This condition, if not detected and 

corrected, could lead to failure of the shaft 

and detachment of the propeller from the 

aeroplane, which, depending on the flight 

conditions, could result in reduced control of 

the aeroplane, or injury to persons on the 

ground. 

For the reasons described above, this AD 

requires a one-time inspection (magnetic 

particle or dye penetrant) of the affected 

propeller shafts to detect cracks and, 

depending on findings, replacement of the 

propeller pulley assembly (module) with a 

serviceable module. 

You may obtain further information by 

examining the MCAI in the AD docket. 

Relevant Service Information 

Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH has issued 

Service Bulletin Nr. 4603–13, Issue 1, 

dated September 24, 2012. The actions 

described in this service information are 

intended to correct the unsafe condition 

identified in the MCAI. 

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. 


wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with