Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 106 /Wednesday, June 3, 1998 /Rules and Regulations 30121

Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 22,

1998.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–14219 Filed 6–2–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98–NM–60–AD; Amendment

39–10550; AD 98–11–25]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; de Havilland

Model DHC–8–311 and –315 Series

Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD),

applicable to certain de Havilland

Model DHC–8–311 and –315 series

airplanes, that requires replacement of

the nitrogen cylinder assemblies that

inflate the airplane’s ditching dams with

improved nitrogen cylinder assemblies.

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 failure of the

ditching dams to inflate fully during an

emergency water landing, which could

result in water entering the airplane.

DATES: Effective July 8, 1998.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of July 8, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The service information

referenced in this AD may be obtained

from Bombardier Inc., Bombardier

Regional Aircraft Division, Garratt

Boulevard, Downsview, Ontario M3K

1Y5, Canada. 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 FAA, Engine and

Propeller Directorate, New York Aircraft

Certification Office, 10 Fifth Street,

Third Floor, Valley Stream, New York;

or at the Office of the Federal Register,

800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite

700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ezra

Sasson, Aerospace Engineer, Systems

and Flight Test Branch, ANE–172, FAA,

Engine and Propeller Directorate, New

York Aircraft Certification Office, 10

Fifth Street, Third Floor, Valley Stream,

New York 11581; telephone (516) 256–

7520; fax (516) 568–2716.

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 certain de

Havilland Model DHC–8–311 and –315

series airplanes was published in the

Federal Register on April 2, 1998 (63 FR

16169). That action proposed to require

replacement of the nitrogen cylinder

assemblies that inflate the airplane’s

ditching dams with improved nitrogen

cylinder assemblies.

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.

Conclusion

The FAA has determined that air

safety and the public interest require the

adoption of the rule as proposed.

Cost Impact

The FAA estimates that 2 airplanes of

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

that it will take approximately 4 work

hours per airplane to accomplish the

required modification, and that the

average labor rate is $60 per work hour.

Required parts will be provided by the

manufacturer of the nitrogen cylinder

assembly at no cost to the operator.

Based on these figures, the cost impact

of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated

to be $480, or $240 per airplane.

The cost impact figure discussed

above is 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:

98–11–25 De Havilland Inc.: Amendment

39–10550. Docket 98–NM–60–AD.

Applicability: Model DHC–8–311 and –315

series airplanes in the medium and high

gross weight configuration, on which

Bombardier Change Request CR803SO00001,

CR803SO00002, CR803CH00046,

CR803CH00079, CR803CH00105,

CR825CH00847, or CR803CH00051 has been

incorporated; certificated in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

otherwise 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 (c) 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 failure of the ditching dams to

inflate fully during an emergency water

landing, which could result in water entering

the airplane, accomplish the following:
30122 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 106 /Wednesday, June 3, 1998 /Rules and Regulations

(a) Within 6 months after the effective date

of this AD, replace the existing nitrogen

cylinder assembly on the ditching dams with

a new nitrogen cylinder assembly that

incorporates an improved valve assembly

(reference de Havilland Modification 8/

3154), in accordance with Bombardier

Service Bulletin S.B. 8–25–122, dated

October 10, 1997.

(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no

person shall install on any airplane any

nitrogen cylinder assembly having part

number 410870(BSC) or 410870–1.

(c) 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, New York

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA,

Engine and Propeller Directorate. Operators

shall submit their requests through an

appropriate FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, New York ACO.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the New York ACO.

(d) 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.

(e) The replacement shall be done in

accordance with Bombardier Service Bulletin

S.B. 8–25–122, dated October 10, 1997. 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

Bombardier Inc., Bombardier Regional

Aircraft Division, Garratt Boulevard,

Downsview, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada.

Copies may be inspected at the FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the

FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, New

York Aircraft Certification Office, 10 Fifth

Street, Third Floor, Valley Stream, New York;

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 Canadian airworthiness directive CF–97–

21, dated November 13, 1997.

(f) This amendment becomes effective on

July 8, 1998.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on May 22,

1998.

Darrell M. Pederson,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–14222 Filed 6–2–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–ANE–60–AD; Amendment

39–10557, AD 98–11–32]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Allison

Engine Company AE 3007A and AE

3007C Series Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for

comments.

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a

new airworthiness directive (AD) that is

applicable to Allison Engine Company

AE 3007A and AE 3007C series turbofan

engines. This action supersedes priority

letter AD 98–02–09, that currently

requires certain checks of the center

sump magnetic chip collector plug for

paste. Engines found with paste are

required to be removed from service.

This action references revisions of the

applicable Alert Service Bulletins (ASB)

providing clarifications of check

procedures. This amendment is

prompted by a change in the part

number applicability, a change in the

check interval, and the publication of

these revised ASBs. The actions

specified by this AD are intended to

prevent No. 4 bearing failure due to

excessive bearing wear, which can

result in an inflight engine shutdown.

DATES: Effective June 18, 1998.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations is approved by the Director

of the Federal Register as of June 18,

1998.

Comments for inclusion in the Rules

Docket must be received on or before

August 3, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), New England

Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–ANE–

60–AD, 12 New England Executive Park,

Burlington, MA 01803–5299. Comments

may also be sent via the Internet using

the following address: ‘‘9-adengineprop@faa.dot.gov’’. Comments

sent via the Internet must contain the

docket number in the subject line.

The service information referenced in

this AD may be obtained from Allison

Engine Company, P.O. Box 420, Speed

Code U–15, Indianapolis, IN 46206–

0420; telephone (317) 230–6674. This

information may be examined at the

FAA, New England Region, Office of the

Regional Counsel, 12 New England

Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or at

the Office of the Federal Register, 800

North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700,

Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kyri

Zaroyiannis, Aerospace Engineer,

Chicago Aircraft Certification Office,

FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 2300

East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL

60018; telephone (847) 294–7836, fax

(847) 294–7834.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On

January 16, 1998, the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) issued priority

letter airworthiness directive (AD) 98–

02–09, applicable to Allison Engine

Company AE 3007A and AE 3007C

series turbofan engines, which requires

each calendar day, for Allison Engine

Company AE 3007A series engines, and

every three calendar days, or prior to the

next flight, whichever occurs later, for

Allison Engine Company AE 3007C

series engines, alternating between the

left hand and right hand engines, checks

of the center sump magnetic chip

collector plug. After checking the center

sump magnetic chip collector plug , that

AD requires, if paste is found, collecting

paste, examining the O-ring for damage,

cleaning the plug once during the first

check only and not subsequently,

performing an engine ground run-up

and again examining the plug for paste.

If paste is found on this second

examination or subsequent

examinations, the engine must be

removed from service. There have been

five inflight engine shutdowns

associated with these bearing failures

since December 1, 1997, on Allison

Engine Company AE 3007A and AE

3007C series turbofan engines, which

occurred with total time in service since

new (TSN) ranging from 36 to 1,284

hours. The investigation revealed that

the No. 4 bearings deteriorate due to

manufacturing anomalies, which lead to

excessive bearing wear. Analysis of

failed bearings and service history has

narrowed the unsafe condition to one

particular bearing part number. That

condition, if not corrected, could result

in No. 4 bearing failure due to excessive

bearing wear, which can result in an

inflight engine shutdown.

Since the issuance of that priority

letter AD, Allison Engine Company has

issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No.

AE 3007A–A–79–014, Revision 4, dated

April 14, 1998, and ASB No. AE 3007C–

A–79–018, Revision 3, dated April 21,

1998, which provide clarifications of

check procedures. In addition, this final

rule has added oil leak checks after each

magnetic chip detector inspection, in

order to minimize the possibility of