31370 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 110 /Tuesday, June 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

in height, in accordance with Alexander

Schleicher Technical Note No. 21, dated May

12, 1980; and apply a corrosion preventative

(alodine or equivalent substitute); or

(2) Replace any canopy hood lock assembly

where the cam is less than 2 mm in height,

in accordance with the applicable

maintenance manual.

(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 sailplane

to a location where the requirements of this

AD can be accomplished.

(d) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an equivalent level of safety may be

approved by the Manager, Manager, Small

Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City,

Missouri 64106. The request shall be

forwarded through an appropriate FAA

Maintenance Inspector, who may add

comments and then send it to the Manager,

Small Airplane Directorate.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Small Airplane

Directorate.

(e) Questions or technical information

related to Alexander Schleicher Technical

Note No. 21, dated May 12, 1980, should be

directed to Alexander Schleicher

Segelflugzeugbau, 6416 Poppenhausen,

Federal Republic of Germany; telephone:

49.6658.890 or 49.6658.8920; facsimile:

49.6658.8923 or 49.6658.8940. This service

information may be examined at the FAA,

Central Region, Office of the Regional

Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in German AD No. 80–158, dated June 16,

1980.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 1,

1998.

Ronald K. Rathgeber,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–15204 Filed 6–8–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–CE–111–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus

Britten-Norman Ltd. BN–2, BN–2A, BN–

2B, and BN–2A MK.III Series Airplanes.

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes to

adopt a new airworthiness directive

(AD) that would apply to certain Pilatus

Britten-Norman Ltd. (PBN) BN–2, BN2A, BN–2B, and BN–2A MK.III series

airplanes that are equipped with a PBN

Modification NB/M/256, 50A generator

system. The proposed action would

require inspecting the airplanes that are

equipped with a 50A generator system

for a 70A generator. If a 70A generator

is installed, the proposed action would

require replacing the 70A generator with

a 50A generator, or (for the BN–2, BN–

2A, and BN–2B series only) upgrading

the airplane generator system to a 70A

system to match the 70A generator. The

proposed AD is the result of mandatory

continuing airworthiness information

(MCAI) issued by the airworthiness

authority for the United Kingdom. The

actions specified by the proposed AD

are intended to prevent damage to the

components of the electrical system,

which could result in electrical system

failure during critical phases of flight.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before July 17, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region,

Office of the Regional Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–CE–

111–AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments

may be inspected at this location

between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday

through Friday, holidays excepted.

Service information that applies to the

proposed AD may be obtained from

Pilatus Britten-Norman, Ltd.,

Bembridge, Isle of Wight, United

Kingdom, PO35 5PR. This information

also may be examined at the Rules

Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Roger Chudy, Project Officer, FAA,

Small Airplane Directorate, 1201

Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City,

Missouri, 64106; telephone (816) 426–

6932, facsimile (816) 426–2169.

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

should 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 that

summarizes 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 No. 97–CE–111–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, Central Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 97–CE–111–AD, Room 1558,

601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri

64106.

Discussion

The Civil Airworthiness Authority

(CAA), which is the airworthiness

authority for the United Kingdom,

notified the FAA that an unsafe

condition may exist on certain PBN BN–

2, BN–2A, BN–2B, and BN–2A MK.III

series airplanes. The CAA reports that

some operators have had 70A generators

installed on 50A systems, which may

damage the electrical system’s

components. The 50A generator system,

which is known as PBN Modification

NB/M/256, is not designed to work with

a higher ampere generator.

These conditions, if not corrected,

could result in damage to the electrical

systems with consequent failure during

critical phases of flight.

Relevant Service Information

PBN has issued Service Bulletin No.

BN–2/SB.229, dated October 17, 1996,

which specifies procedures for

inspecting for a 70A generator on PBN

BN–2, BN–2A, BN–2B, and BN–2A

MK.III series airplanes that are equipped

with PBN Modification NB/M/256 (a

50A generator system). If a 70A

generator is installed, the service

information specifies procedures for

replacing the 70A generator with a 50A

generator, or (for the BN–2, BN–2A, and

BN–2B series only) installing PBN

Modification NB/M/1148, which

incorporates a 70A generator system.

The CAA classified this service

bulletin as mandatory and issued British
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 110 /Tuesday, June 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules 31371

AD 007–10–96, not dated, in order to

assure the continued airworthiness of

these airplanes in United Kingdom.

The FAA’s Determination

This airplane model is manufactured

in the United Kingdom 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 CAA has

kept the FAA informed of the situation

described above.

The FAA has examined the findings

of the CAA; reviewed all available

information, including the service

information referenced above; and

determined that AD action is necessary

for products of this type design that are

certificated for operation in the United

States.

Explanation of the Provisions of the

Proposed AD

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop in other PBN BN–2, BN–2A,

BN–2B, and BN–2A MK.III series

airplanes of the same type design

registered in the United States, the FAA

is proposing AD action. The proposed

AD would require:

• Inspecting the airplane for a 70A

generator installed on a 50A generator

system;

• For PBN BN–2A MK.III series

airplanes, if a 70A generator is installed

on a 50A generator system, the proposed

AD would require replacing the 70A

generator with a 50A generator;

• For the BN–2, BN–2A, and BN–2B

series airplanes, the proposed AD would

require either replacing the 70A

generator with a 50A generator; or

upgrading the 50A generator system to

a 70A generator system by installing

PBN Modification NB/M/1148; and,

• If PBN Modification NB/M/1148 is

installed, the proposed action would

require the installation of PBN

Modification NB/M/1571 (which

improves the diodes on the 70A

generator system).

Accomplishment of the proposed

inspection and installation or

replacement would be in accordance

with PBN Service Bulletin No. BN–2/

SB.229, dated October 17, 1996.

The Proposed Action As It Relates to

Current AD’s

The FAA has recently issued AD 98–

04–17, Amendment 39–10329 (63 FR

7696, February 17, 1998), which

requires that any PBN BN–2, BN–2A,

and BN–2B series airplanes that are not

equipped with Modification NB/M/

1571, but are equipped with PBN

Modification NB/M/1148 (which

incorporates the 70A generator system)

should also be equipped with PBN

Modification NB/M/1571. AD 98–04–17

does not affect any airplane that is

equipped with a 50A generator system.

Since the proposed AD provides an

option that would require

accomplishment of AD 98–04–17, the

FAA is including reference of other

similar AD requirements. Operators of

BN–2, BN–2A, and BN–2B series

airplanes that have 70A generators

installed on 50A generator systems, and

choose the proposed option of

upgrading their 50A generator system to

a 70A generator system, would be

subject to the requirements in AD 98–

04–17. This proposed action would

concurrently require installing higher

amperage diodes in the 70A generator.

Pilatus Britten-Norman has informed

the FAA that Modification NB/M/1148

or Modification NB/M/1571 is not

approved for installation on the BN–2A

MK.III series airplanes.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 80 airplanes

in the U.S. registry would be affected by

the proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 7 workhours per airplane

to accomplish the proposed action, and

that the average labor rate is

approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost

approximately $500 per airplane. Based

on these figures, the total cost impact of

the proposed AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $73,600, or $920 per

airplane.

Proposed Calendar Compliance Time

The condition addressed by the

proposed AD is not caused by actual

hours time-in-service (TIS) of the

aircraft where the affected generators are

installed. The need for the generator

system modification or replacement has

no correlation to the number of times

the equipment is utilized or the age of

the equipment. For this reason, the

compliance time of the proposed AD is

presented in calendar time instead of

hours TIS.

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 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) 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 has been placed 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 a new airworthiness directive

(AD) to read as follows:

Pilatus Britten-Norman Ltd.: Docket No. 97–

CE–111–AD.

Applicability: Models BN–2, BN–2A, BN

–2A–2, BN–2A–3, BN–2A–6, BN–2A–8, BN–

2A–9, BN–2A–20, BN–2A–21, BN–2A–26,

BN–2A–27; BN–2B–20, BN–2B–21, BN–2B–

26, BN–2B–27, BN–2A MK.III, BN–2A

MK.111–2, and BN–2A MK.111–3 airplanes,

all serial numbers, certificated in any

category, that are equipped with PBN

Modification NB/M/256, a 50A Generator

System.

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 (d) 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
31372 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 110 /Tuesday, June 9, 1998 / Proposed Rules

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required within the next 3

calendar months after the effective date of

this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent damage to the components of

the generator system, which could result in

generator system failure during critical

phases of flight, accomplish the following:

(a) Inspect the generator system for the

installation of a 70A generator in accordance

with the Inspection section of Pilatus BrittenNorman (PBN) Service Bulletin (SB) No. BN–

2/SB.229, dated October 17, 1996.

(b) If a 70A generator is installed,

accomplish the following, as applicable:

(1) For Models BN–2, BN–2A, BN–2A–2,

BN–2A–3, BN–2A–6, BN–2A–8, BN–2A–9,

BN–2A–20, BN–2A–21, BN–2A–26, BN–2A–

27, BN–2B–20, BN–2B–21, BN–2B–26, and

BN–2B–27 airplanes, prior to further flight,

either:

(i) Replace the 70A generator with a 50A

generator in accordance with the

Replacement section of PBN SB No. BN–2/

SB.229, dated October 17, 1996; or

(ii) Incorporate PBN Modification NB/M/

1148 (a 70A generator system) in accordance

with the appropriate Pilatus Britten-Norman

maintenance manual; and, incorporate PBN

Modification NB/M/1571 (installation of

improved generator diodes) in accordance

with PBN SB No. BN–2/228, Issue 2, dated

January 17, 1996.

Note 2: Incorporating PBN Modification

NB/M/1571 is the same action required by

AD 98–04–17, Amendment 39–10329.

(2) For Models BN–2A MK.III, BN–2A

MK.111–2, and BN–2A MK.111–3 airplanes,

prior to further flight, replace the 70A

generator with a 50A generator in accordance

with the Replacement section of PBN SB No.

BN–2/SB.229, dated October 17, 1996.

(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) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an equivalent level of safety may be

approved by the Manager, Small Airplane

Directorate, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas

City, Missouri, 64106. The request shall be

forwarded through an appropriate FAA

Maintenance Inspector, who may add

comments and then send it to the Manager,

Small Airplane Directorate.

Note 3: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Small Airplane

Directorate.

(e) Questions or technical information

related to PBN Service Bulletin No. BN–2/

SB.229, dated October 17, 1996, or Pilatus

Britten-Norman Service Bulletin No. BN–2/

SB.228, dated January 17, 1996, should be

directed to Pilatus Britten-Norman, Ltd.,

Bembridge, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom,

PO35 5PR. This service information may be

examined at the FAA, Central Region, Office

of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E.

12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed

in British AD 007–10–96, not dated.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 1,

1998.

Ronald K. Rathgeber,

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–15203 Filed 6–8–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98–CE–49–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; S.N. Centrair

101 Series Sailplanes.

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes to

adopt a new airworthiness directive

(AD) that would apply to all S.N.

Centrair (Centrair) 101 series sailplanes.

The proposed AD would require

replacing the airbrake control circuit

with one of improved design. The

proposed AD is the result of mandatory

continuing airworthiness information

(MCAI) issued by the airworthiness

authority for France. The actions

specified by the proposed AD are

intended to prevent loss of the airbrake

control system, which could result in an

inadvertent forced landing.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before July 17, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Central Region,

Office of the Regional Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 98–CE–49–

AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments

may be inspected at this location

between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday

through Friday, holidays excepted.

Service information that applies to the

proposed AD may be obtained from S.N.

Centrair, Aerodrome, 36300 Le Blanc,

France; telephone: 02.54.37.07.96;

facsimile: 02.54.37.48.64. This

information also may be examined at

the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Mike Kiesov, Project Officer, Sailplanes/

Gliders, FAA, Small Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification

Service, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas

City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816)

426–6934; facsimile: (816) 426–2169.

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

should 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 that

summarizes 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 No. 98–CE–49–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, Central Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 98–CE–49–AD, Room 1558,

601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri

64106.

Discussion

The Direction Ge ́ne ́rale de l’Aviation

Civile (DGAC), which is the

airworthiness authority for France,

recently notified the FAA that an unsafe

condition may exist on Centrair 101

series sailplanes. The DGAC reports that

the airbrake control system has

malfunctioned on one of these Centrair

101 series sailplanes. Following an

investigation, the DGAC found that the

airbrake control circuit had cracked,

which consequently failed during flight.

This condition, if not corrected, could

result in an inadvertent forced landing.

Relevant Service Information

S.N. Centrair has issued Service

Bulletin (SB) No. 101–16, Revision 2,

dated September 10, 1997, which