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

1311 

Vol. 83, No. 8 

Thursday, January 11, 2018 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0003; Directorate 

Identifier 2017–CE–033–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; American 

Champion Aircraft Corp. 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede 

Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017–07– 

10, which applies to certain American 

Champion Aircraft Corp. (ACAC) Model 

8KCAB airplanes. AD 2017–07–10 

requires fabrication and installation of a 

placard to prohibit aerobatic flight, 

inspection of the aileron hinge rib and 

support, and a reporting requirement of 

the inspection results to the FAA. This 

AD was prompted by a report of a 

cracked hinge support and cracked 

hinge ribs, which resulted in partial loss 

of control with the aileron binding 

against the cove. Since we issued AD 

2017–07–10, ACAC redesigned the 

aileron hinge supports with a 

reinforcement kit to strengthen the 

supports and prevent future damage 

from developing. This proposed AD 

would require repetitive inspections of 

the aileron hinge support, installation of 

the aileron hinge support reinforcement 

kit, and incorporation of revised pages 

into the service manual. We are 

proposing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by February 26, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, 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: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this NPRM, contact American 

Champion Aircraft Corp., P.O. Box 37, 

32032 Washington Ave., Rochester, 

Wisconsin 53167; telephone: (262) 534– 

6315; fax: (262) 534–2395; email: acaengineering@tds.net; internet: http://

www.americanchampionaircraft.com/ 

service-letters.html. You may review 

copies of the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Policy and 

Innovation Division, 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 by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2018– 

0003; or in person at the Docket 

Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. The AD docket contains this 

NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any 

comments received, and other 

information. The street address for the 

Docket Operations (phone: 800–647– 

5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Wess Rouse, Small Airplane Program 

Manager, 2300 East Devon Avenue, 

Room 107, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; 

telephone: (847) 294–8113; fax: (847) 

294–7834; email: wess.rouse@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–2018–0003; Directorate Identifier 

2017–CE–033–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this NPRM. We will consider 

all comments received by the closing 

date and may amend this NPRM 

because of those comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http://

www.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 

We issued AD 2017–07–10, 

Amendment 39–18849 (82 FR 17542, 

April 12, 2017), (‘‘AD 2017–07–10’’), for 

certain American Champion Aircraft 

Corp. (ACAC) Model 8KCAB airplanes. 

AD 2017–07–10 requires fabrication and 

installation of a placard to prohibit 

aerobatic flight, inspection of the aileron 

hinge rib and support, and a reporting 

requirement of the inspection results to 

the FAA. AD 2017–07–10 resulted from 

a report of a cracked hinge support and 

cracked hinge ribs, which resulted in 

partial loss of control with the aileron 

binding against the cove. We issued AD 

2017–07–10 to prevent failure of the 

aileron support structure, which may 

lead to excessive deflection, binding of 

the control surface, and potential loss of 

control. 

Actions Since AD 2017–07–10 Was 

Issued 

Since we issued AD 2017–10, ACAC 

redesigned the aileron hinge supports 

with a reinforcement kit. This kit, when 

incorporated, strengthens the supports 

and prevents future damage from 

developing. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

We reviewed American Champion 

Aircraft Corp. Service Letter (SL) 442, 

Revision A, dated August 18, 2017 

(ACAC SL No. 442); American 

Champion Aircraft Corp. Service Letter 

444 Initial Revision, dated August 18, 

2017 (ACAC SL No. 444); and page 4– 

1 of the Airworthiness Limitations 

section and page 5–9 of the Time and 

Maintenance Checks, both dated 

October 3, 2017, and included in 

American Champion Aircraft 

Corporation SM–601 8KCAB Service 

Manual, Reissue B, dated October 3, 

2017. ACAC SL No. 442 describes 

procedures and inspection intervals for 

inspection of the aileron hinge rib and 

hinge support. ACAC SL No. 444 

provides instructions for the installation 

of the aileron hinge reinforcement kit. 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS
1312 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 8 / Thursday, January 11, 2018 / Proposed Rules 

Page 4–1 and page 5–9 are revised pages 

that add a repetitive inspection to the 

8KCAB Service Manual, SM–601, 

Reissue B, dated October 3, 2017. This 

service information is reasonably 

available because the interested parties 

have access to it through their normal 

course of business or by the means 

identified in the ADDRESSES section. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are proposing this AD because we 

evaluated all the relevant information 

and determined the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop in other products of the same 

type design. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would retain the 

placarding requirement of AD 2017–07– 

10 to prohibit aerobatic flight until 

completion of the initial 10-hour 

inspection. This proposed AD would 

also require repetitive 100-hour 

inspections until a maximum of 400 

hours is reached, installation of the 

aileron hinge reinforcement kit, and 

incorporation of pages into the 

Airworthiness Limitations and Time 

and Maintenance Checks sections of the 

service manual. The existing AD 

contained a reporting requirement for 

the inspection results. This proposed 

NPRM will not include a reporting 

requirement. 

Provided no damage is found during 

the inspections, an airplane could have 

up to five inspections before 

incorporating the reinforcement kit 

(initially at 10 hours TIS with the 

retained inspection from AD 2017–07– 

10, and then four 100-hour inspections 

up to a maximum of 400 hours TIS). 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the Service Information 

ACAC SL No. 442 and ACAC SL No. 

444 both require installation of the 

aileron hinge support reinforcement kit 

within 100 hours TIS for airplanes used 

for competitive aerobatics. Since the 

FAA has no way of tracking airplanes 

used for competitive aerobatics, we 

require installation of the reinforcement 

kit within 400 hours TIS. ACAC SL No. 

444 requires 100-hour repetitive 

inspections after installation of the 

reinforcement kit. This proposed AD 

does not write those actions into the AD 

requirements; however, the revised 

pages of the Airworthiness Limitations 

section in the service manual include 

that inspection requirement. Both ACAC 

SL No. 442 and ACAC SL No. 444 have 

reporting requirements, but this AD 

does not include a reporting 

requirement. The actions of this AD take 

precedence over the service 

information. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 64 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Fabrication of placard, inspection of aileron 

hinge rib and support.

2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170.00 ........ $100 $270.00 $17,280 

Repetitive 100-hour TIS inspections ............... 1.5 work-hours × $85 per hour = $127.50 ..... N/A 127.50 8,160 

Installation of aileron hinge support reinforcement kit.50 work-hours × $85 per hour = $4,250 ........ 2,200 6,450 412,800 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

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. 

This AD is issued in accordance with 

authority delegated by the Executive 

Director, Aircraft Certification Service, 

as authorized by FAA Order 8000.51C. 

In accordance with that order, issuance 

of ADs is normally a function of the 

Compliance and Airworthiness 

Division, but during this transition 

period, the Executive Director has 

delegated the authority to issue ADs 

applicable to small airplanes, gliders, 

domestic business jet transport 

airplanes, and associated appliances to 

the Director of the Policy and 

Innovation Division. 

Regulatory Findings 

We have 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 that the 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 Airworthiness Directive (AD) 

2017–07–10, Amendment 39–18849 (82 

FR 17542, April 12, 2017), and adding 

the following new AD: 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 8 / Thursday, January 11, 2018 / Proposed Rules 1313 

American Champion Aircraft Corp.: Docket 

No. FAA–2018–0003; Product Identifier 

2017–CE–033–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

AD action by February 26, 2018. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD replaces AD 2017–07–10, 

Amendment 39–18849 (82 FR 17542, April 

12, 2017) (‘‘AD 2017–07–10’’). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to any American 

Champion Aircraft Corp. Model 8KCAB 

airplane, certificated in any category, that 

either has: 

(i) A serial number in the range of 1116– 

2012 through 1120–2012 or 1122–2012 

through 1170–2017; or 

(ii) is equipped with part number 4–2142 

exposed balance ailerons. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/ 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of America 

Code 57, Wings. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

AD 2017–07–10 was prompted by a report 

of a cracked hinge support and cracked hinge 

ribs, which resulted in partial loss of control 

with the aileron binding against the cove. 

This AD incorporates a newly designed 

aileron hinge support reinforcement kit. We 

are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 

aileron support structure, which may lead to 

excessive deflection, binding of the control 

surface, and potential loss of control. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Restrict Airplane Operation 

(1) As of April 12, 2017 (the effective date 

retained from AD 2017–07–10), the airplane 

is restricted to non-aerobatic flight until the 

actions required in paragraphs (g)(2) through 

(3) of this AD are done. 

(2) Before further flight after April 12, 2017 

(the effective date retained from AD 2017– 

07–10), fabricate a placard using at least 

1⁄8 inch letters with the words ‘‘AEROBATIC 

FLIGHT PROHIBITED’’ on it and install the 

placard on the instrument panel within the 

pilot’s clear view. 

(3) This action may be performed by the 

owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a 

private pilot certificate and must be entered 

into the aircraft records showing compliance 

with this AD in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9 

(a)(1)–(4) and 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2)(v). The 

record must be maintained as required by 14 

CFR 91.417, 121.380, or 135.439. 

(h) Inspection and Reinforcement 

(1) Within the next 10 hours time-inservice (TIS) after April 12, 2017 (the 

effective date retained from AD 2017–07–10), 

inspect the aileron hinge rib and support for 

cracks or other damage following American 

Champion Aircraft Corporation Service Letter 

(SL) 442, dated February 16, 2017, or 

American Champion Aircraft Corp. Service 

Letter (SL) 442, Revision A, dated August 18, 

2017 (ACAC SL No. 442). 

(2) If no cracks or other damage is found 

during the initial inspection required in 

paragraph (h)(1) of this AD, the placard 

prohibiting aerobatic flight required in 

paragraph (g)(2) of this AD can be removed. 

(3) Within 100 hours TIS from the initial 

inspection required in paragraph (h)(1) of 

this AD or within 10 hours TIS after the 

effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 

later, and repetitively thereafter at intervals 

not the exceed 100 hours TIS, inspect the 

aileron hinge rib and support for cracks or 

other damage following ACAC SL No. 442. 

(4) If cracks or other damage is found 

during any inspection required in paragraph 

(h)(1) or (3) of this AD, before further flight, 

replace any retained parts or structure that 

are cracked or damaged, and install the 

aileron hinge reinforcement kit following 

American Champion Aircraft Corp. Service 

Letter 444, dated August 18, 2017 (ACAC SL 

No. 444). 

(5) Within 400 hours after the initial 

inspection required in paragraph (h)(1) of 

this AD, if not already done as required in 

paragraph (h)(4) of this AD, install the aileron 

hinge reinforcement kit following the 

procedures in ACAC SL No. 444. 

(6) After installation of the aileron hinge 

reinforcement kit required in paragraph (h)(4) 

or (5) of this AD, as applicable, insert page 

4–1 of the Airworthiness Limitations section 

and page 5–9 of the Time and Maintenance 

Checks section, both dated October 3, 2017, 

from the American Champion Aircraft 

Corporation SM–601 8KCAB Service Manual, 

Reissue B, dated October 3, 2017, into the 

maintenance program (service manual). 

(7) Installing the aileron hinge 

reinforcement kit as required in paragraph 

(h)(4) or (h)(5) of this AD and the insertion 

of page 4–1 of the Airworthiness Limitations 

section and page 5–9 of the Time and 

Maintenance Checks section, both dated 

October 3, 2017, of the American Champion 

Aircraft Corporation SM–601 8KCAB Service 

Manual, Reissue B, dated October 3, 2017, 

into the maintenance program (service 

manual), as required in paragraph (h)(6) of 

this AD is terminating action to this AD. The 

revised Airworthiness Limitations section 

includes a 100-hour/annual inspection 

requirement for the aileron hinge supports. 

(i) Reporting Requirement 

Although ACAC SL No. 442 and ACAC SL 

No. 444 specify submitting certain 

information to the manufacturer, this AD 

does not require that action. 

(j) Special Flight Permit 

No aerobatic flight permitted with a special 

flight permit. 

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Chicago ACO Branch, 

FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 

for this AD, if requested using the procedures 

found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 

14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 

principal inspector or local Flight Standards 

District Office, as appropriate. If sending 

information directly to the manager of the 

ACO, send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (l) of this AD. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

(l) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Wess Rouse, Small Airplane Program 

Manager, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Room 

107, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone: 

(847) 294–8113; fax: (847) 294–7834; email: 

wess.rouse@faa.gov. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact American Champion 

Aircraft Corp., P.O. Box 37, 32032 

Washington Ave., Rochester, Wisconsin 

53167; telephone: (262) 534–6315; fax: (262) 

534–2395; email: aca-engineering@tds.net; 

internet: http://www.americanchampion

aircraft.com/service-letters.html. You may 

view this referenced service information at 

the FAA, Policy and Innovation Division, 901 

Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call (816) 329–4148. 

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 

3, 2018. 

Melvin J. Johnson, 

Deputy Director, Policy & Innovation Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–00178 Filed 1–10–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–1217; Product 

Identifier 2016–SW–080–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Air Comm 

Corporation Air Conditioning Systems 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for Air 

Comm Corporation (Air Comm) air 

conditioning systems installed on 

various model helicopters. This 

proposed AD would require replacing 

electrical connectors and would 

prohibit the installation of other parts. 

This proposed AD is prompted by 

reports of overheated connectors. The 

proposed actions are intended to 

address an unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by March 12, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS