14368 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 58 / Wednesday, March 26, 1997 / Proposed Rules

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 96–NM–282–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream

American (Frakes Aviation) Model G–

73 (Mallard) Series Airplanes Modified

in Accordance With Supplemental

Type Certificate (STC) SA2323WE

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 Gulfstream American (Frakes

Aviation) Model G–73 (Mallard) series

airplanes. This proposal would require

revising the Airplane Flight Manual

(AFM) to prohibit positioning the power

levers below the flight idle stop, and to

provide a statement of consequences of

positioning the power levers below the

flight idle stop. The proposed AD is

prompted by incidents and accidents

involving airplanes equipped with

turboprop engines in which the

propeller beta was used improperly

during flight. The actions specified by

the proposed AD are intended to

prevent loss of airplane controllability,

or engine overspeed and consequent

loss of engine power caused by the

power levers being positioned below the

flight idle stop while the airplane is in

flight.

DATES: Comments must be received by

May 5, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–103,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 96–NM–

282–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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brian Hancock, Flight Test Pilot,

Airplane Certification Office, ASW–150,

FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, 1601

Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas

76137–4298; telephone (817) 222–5152;

fax (817) 222–5960.

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 96–NM–282–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.

96–NM–282–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

In recent years, the FAA has received

reports of 14 incidents and/or accidents

involving intentional or inadvertent

operation of the propellers in the beta

range during flight on airplanes

equipped with turboprop engines. (Beta

is the range of propeller operation

intended for use during taxi, ground

idle, or reverse operations as controlled

by the power lever settings aft of the

flight idle stop.)

Five of the fourteen in-flight beta

occurrences were classified as

accidents. In each of these five cases,

operation of the propellers in the beta

range occurred during flight. Operation

of the propellers in the beta range

during flight, if not prevented, could

result in loss of airplane controllability,

or engine overspeed with consequent

loss of engine power.

Communication between the FAA and

the public during a meeting held on

June 11–12, 1996, in Seattle,

Washington, revealed a lack of

consistency of information on in-flight

beta operation contained in the FAAapproved Airplane Flight Manual

(AFM) for airplanes that are not

certificated for in-flight operation with

the power levers below the flight idle

stop. (Airplanes that are certificated for

this type of operation are not affected by

the above-referenced conditions.)

The FAA’s Determination

The FAA has examined the

circumstances and reviewed all

available information related to the

incidents and accidents described

previously. The FAA finds that the

Limitations Section of the AFM’s for

certain airplanes must be revised to

prohibit positioning the power levers

below the flight idle stop while the

airplane is in-flight, and to provide a

statement of the consequences of

positioning the power levers below the

flight idle stop. The FAA has

determined that the affected airplanes

include those that are equipped with

turboprop engines and that are not

certificated for in-flight operation with

the power levers below the flight idle

stop. Since Gulfstream American

(Frakes Aviation) Model G–73 series

airplanes meet these criteria, the FAA

finds that the AFM for these airplanes

must be revised to include the

limitation and statement of

consequences described previously.

Explanation of the Requirements of the

Proposed AD

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop in other Gulfstream American

(Frakes Aviation) Model G–73 (Mallard)

series airplanes of the same type design,

the proposed AD would require revising

the Limitations Section of the AFM to

prohibit positioning the power levers

below the flight idle stop, and to

provide a statement of the consequences

of positioning the power levers below

the flight idle stop.

Interim Action

This is considered interim action

until final action is identified, at which

time the FAA may consider further

rulemaking.

Cost Impact

There are approximately 20

Gulfstream American (Frakes Aviation)

Model G–73 (Mallard) series airplanes

of the affected design in the worldwide

fleet. The FAA estimates that 10

airplanes of U.S. registry would be

affected by this proposed AD, that it

would take approximately 1 work hour

per airplane to accomplish the proposed

actions, and that the average labor rate

is $60 per work hour. Based on these

figures, the cost impact of the proposed

AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be

$600, or $60 per airplane.
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 58 / Wednesday, March 26, 1997 / Proposed Rules 14369

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:

Gulfstream American (Frakes Aviation):

Docket 96–NM–282–AD.

Applicability: Model G–73 (Mallard) series

airplanes modified in accordance with

Supplemental Type Certificate No.

SA2323WE, 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 loss of airplane controllability,

or engine overspeed and consequent loss of

engine power caused by the power levers

being positioned below the flight idle stop

while the airplane is in flight, accomplish the

following:

(a) Within 30 days after the effective date

of this AD, revise the Limitations Section of

the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual

(AFM) to include the following statements.

This action may be accomplished by

inserting a copy of this AD into the AFM.

‘‘Positioning of power levers below the

flight idle stop while the airplane is in flight

is prohibited. Such positioning may lead to

loss of airplane control or may result in an

overspeed condition and consequent loss of

engine power.’’

(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, Fort Worth

Airplane Certification Office (ACO), ASW–

150, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate. Operators

shall submit their requests through an

appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, Fort Worth ACO.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Fort Worth ACO.

(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.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on March

20, 1997.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 97–7684 Filed 3–25–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–NM–08–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Lockheed

Model 382 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

Lockheed Model 382 series airplanes.

This proposal would require revising

the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to

prohibit positioning the power levers

below the flight idle stop, and to

provide a statement of the consequences

of positioning the power levers below

the flight idle stop. The proposed AD is

prompted by incidents and accidents

involving airplanes equipped with

turboprop engines in which the

propeller beta was used improperly

during flight. The actions specified by

the proposed AD are intended to

prevent loss of airplane controllability,

or engine overspeed and consequent

loss of engine power caused by the

power levers being positioned below the

flight idle stop while the airplane is in

flight.

DATES: Comments must be received by

May 5, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–103,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–NM–

08–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

Lockheed Aeronautical Systems

Support Company (LASSC), Field

Support Department, Dept. 693, Zone

0755, 2251 Lake Park Drive, Smyrna,

Georgia 30080. This information may be

examined at the FAA, Transport

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at

the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate,

Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office,

Campus Building, 1701 Columbia

Avenue, Suite 2–160, College Park,

Georgia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Thomas Peters, Aerospace Engineer,

Systems and Flight Test Branch, ACE–

116A, FAA, Atlanta Aircraft