28482 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 100 /Tuesday, May 26, 1998 /Rules and Regulations

de Transport Regional Service Bulletin

ATR42–71–0010, Revision 4, dated October

23, 1996 (for Model ATR42 series airplanes),

or Avions de Transport Regional Service

Bulletin ATR72–71–1006, Revision 1, dated

October 21, 1996 (for Model ATR72 series

airplanes), as applicable.

(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.

(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.

(d) The modifications shall be done in

accordance with the following Avions de

Transport Regional service bulletins, which

contain the following list of effective pages:

Service bulletin referenced and date

Page number

shown on

page

Revision level

shown on page

Date shown on

page

ATR72–71–1006, Revision 1, October 21, 1996 ............................................................. 1, 2 1 ....................... October 21, 1996.

3–15 Original ............. September 29,

1995.

ATR42–71–0010, Revision 4, October 23, 1996 ............................................................. 1, 2, 4, 7 4 ....................... October 23, 1996.

3, 15 1 ....................... September 4,

1990.

5, 8–10, 14 Original ............. July 3, 1989.

6, 11–13 2 ....................... January 30, 1991.

This incorporation by reference was

approved by the Director of the Federal

Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a)

and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained

from Aerospatiale, 316 Route de Bayonne,

31060 Toulouse, Cedex 03, France. Copies

may be inspected 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.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in French airworthiness directives 96–109–

063 (B) and 96–110–030 (B), both dated June

5, 1996.

(e) This amendment becomes effective on

June 30, 1998.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 13,

1998.

John J. Hickey,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–13291 Filed 5–22–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–NM–331–AD; Amendment

39–10538; AD 98–11–11]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives;

Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.

(CASA) Model CN–235 Series

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to all CASA Model CN–235

series airplanes, that requires

modification of the passenger and crew

doors and repetitive visual inspections,

adjustments, and tests of the passenger

and crew door latching and locking

systems to ensure correct operation.

This amendment is prompted by

issuance of mandatory continuing

airworthiness information by a foreign

civil airworthiness authority. The

actions specified by this AD are

intended to prevent inadvertent opening

of a door during flight of the airplane,

which could result in rapid

decompression of the passenger cabin.

DATES: Effective June 30, 1998.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of June 30,

1998.

ADDRESSES: The service information

referenced in this AD may be obtained

from Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.,

Getafe, Madrid, Spain. This information

may be examined at the Federal

Aviation Administration (FAA),

Transport Airplane Directorate, Rules

Docket, 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:

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: A

proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to

include an airworthiness directive (AD)

that is applicable to all CASA Model

CN–235 series airplanes was published

in the Federal Register on March 27,

1998 (63 FR 14861). That action

proposed to require modification of the

passenger and crew doors and repetitive

visual inspections, adjustments, and

tests of the passenger and crew door

latching and locking systems to ensure

correct operation.

Comments

Interested persons have been afforded

an opportunity to participate in the

making of this amendment. No

comments were submitted in response

to the proposal or the FAA’s

determination of the cost to the public.

Explanation of Editorial Changes

In the proposed AD, the FAA

inadvertently omitted a reference to

Annex I, Revision 2, and Annex II,

Revision 2, of CASA Communication

COM 235–098, Revision 02, dated

October 19, 1995. Therefore, the FAA

has revised paragraph (a)(2) of the final

rule accordingly.

Additionally, the FAA has revised

paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this final rule to

include a reference to the CASA COM

mentioned previously, which was

inadvertently omitted from the

proposed AD.

Conclusion

The FAA has determined that air

safety and the public interest require the

adoption of the rule with the changes

previously described. The FAA has
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 100 /Tuesday, May 26, 1998 /Rules and Regulations 28483

determined that this change will neither

increase the economic burden on any

operator nor increase the scope of the

AD.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 2 airplanes of

U.S. registry will be affected by this AD.

It will take approximately 4 work

hours per airplane to accomplish the

required inspection, at an average labor

rate of $60 per work hour. Based on

these figures, the cost impact of the

inspection required by this AD on U.S.

operators is estimated to be $480, or

$240 per airplane, per inspection cycle.

It will take approximately 60 work

hours per airplane to accomplish the

required modification, at an average

labor rate of $60 per work hour.

Required parts will cost approximately

$406 per airplane. Based on these

figures, the cost impact of the

modification required by this AD on

U.S. operators is estimated to be $8,012,

or $4,006 per airplane.

The cost impact figures discussed

above are based on assumptions that no

operator has yet accomplished any of

the 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 adopted herein will

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 final rule does

not have sufficient federalism

implications to warrant the preparation

of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this action (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); and (3)

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 final evaluation has

been prepared for this action and it is

contained in the Rules Docket. A copy

of it may be obtained from the Rules

Docket at the location provided under

the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Incorporation by reference,

Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration amends 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:

98–11–11 Construcciones Aeronauticas,

S.A. (CASA): Amendment 39–10538.

Docket 97–NM–331–AD.

Applicability: All Model CN–235 series

airplanes, including serial number (S/N) C–

011, 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 inadvertent opening of a door

during flight, which could result in rapid

decompression of the passenger cabin,

accomplish the following:

(a) Within 3 months or 300 flight hours

after the effective date of this AD, whichever

occurs later, accomplish the requirements of

paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this AD.

(1) Modify the passenger and crew doors in

accordance with CASA Service Bulletin SB–

235–52–54, Revision 1, dated October 24,

1995; and

(2) Perform follow-on actions (i.e.,

inspections for discrepancies, adjustments,

and tests) in accordance with CASA COM

235–098, Revision 02, dated October 19,

1995, including Annex I, Revision 2, and

Annex II, Revision 2. If any discrepancy is

found, prior to further flight, accomplish the

applicable corrective action in accordance

with the COM. Thereafter accomplish the

requirements of paragraphs (a)(2)(i) and

(a)(2)(ii) of this AD.

(i) Repeat the visual inspection for

discrepancies of the passenger door and crew

door latching and locking systems, in

accordance with paragraph 1. of CASA COM

235–098, Revision 02, dated October 19,

1995, at intervals not to exceed 300 flight

hours. If any discrepancy is found, prior to

further flight, accomplish the applicable

corrective action in accordance with the

COM.

(ii) Repeat adjustments and tests of the

door latching and locking systems, in

accordance with paragraphs 2. and 3. of

CASA COM 235–093, Revision 02, dated

October 19, 1995; and paragraph V of Annex

II of CASA COM 235–098, Revision 02, dated

October 19, 1995; at intervals not to exceed

1,200 flight hours. If any discrepancy is

found during any adjustment or test, prior to

further flight, accomplish the applicable

corrective action in accordance with the

COM.

(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.

(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.

(d) The actions shall be done in accordance

with CASA Service Bulletin SB–235–52–54,

Revision 1, dated October 24, 1995, and

CASA Communication COM 235–098,

Revision 02, dated October 19, 1995,

including Annex I, Revision 2, and Annex II,

Revision 2. This incorporation by reference

was approved by the Director of the Federal

Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a)

and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained

from Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.,

Getafe, Madrid, Spain. Copies may be

inspected 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.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in Spanish airworthiness directive 3/95,

Revision 1, dated October 1, 1995.

(e) This amendment becomes effective on

June 30, 1998.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 14,

1998.

John J. Hickey,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–13395 Filed 5–22–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U