Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 130 / Monday, July 12, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 36487 

unsafe condition that is likely to exist or 

develop on products identified in this 

rulemaking action. 

Regulatory Findings 

This AD will not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This AD will 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 this AD: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, 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. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 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 adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive: 

2021–13–09 Airbus Helicopters: 

Amendment 39–21614; Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0297; Project Identifier 

2019–SW–062–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective August 16, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters 

Model SA330J helicopters, certificated in any 

category, all serial numbers. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 6200, Main Rotor System. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by reports of the 

failure of the lower bearing cage of the main 

rotor hub (MRH) flapping hinges and of the 

presence of metallic particles at the bottom 

of a drag hinge. The FAA is issuing this AD 

to address failure of the lower bearing cage 

of the MRH flapping hinges and presence of 

metallic particles at the bottom of a drag 

hinge, which could lead to loss of flapping 

hinge function, resulting in MRH unbalance 

and loss of control of the helicopter. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Requirements 

Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this 

AD: Comply with all required actions and 

compliance times specified in, and in 

accordance with, European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2019–0157, dated 

July 3, 2019 (EASA AD 2019–0157). 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2019–0157 

(1) Where EASA AD 2019–0157 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(2) The ‘‘Remarks’’ section of EASA AD 

2019–0157 does not apply to this AD. 

(3) Where EASA AD 2019–0157 refers to 

flight hours (FH), this AD requires using 

hours time-in-service. 

(4) Although the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2019–0157 specifies 

to discard certain parts, this AD requires 

removing those parts from service. 

(i) Special Flight Permit 

Special flight permits may be issued in 

accordance with 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199 

to operate the helicopter to a location where 

the helicopter can be modified (if the 

operator elects to do so), provided the 

helicopter is operated during the day under 

visual flight rules with no passengers are 

onboard. 

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, International Validation 

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 International Validation 

Branch, send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (k) of this AD. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR730-AMOC@faa.gov. 

(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. 

(k) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Mahmood G. Shah, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, Fort Worth ACO Branch, FAA, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 

76177; phone: 817–222–5538; email: 

mahmood.g.shah@faa.gov. 

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the service information listed in this 

paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. 

(2) You must use this service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2019–0157, dated July 3, 2019. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For EASA AD 2019–0157, contact the 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; 

email: ADs@easa.europa.eu; Internet: 

www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

EASA AD on the EASA website at https://

ad.easa.europa.eu. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., 

Room 6N–321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 817–222–5110. This 

material may be found in the AD docket on 

the internet at https://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0297. 

(5) You may view this material that is 

incorporated by reference at the National 

Archives and Records Administration 

(NARA). For information on the availability 

of this material at NARA, email fedreg.legal@

nara.gov, or go to https://www.archives.gov/ 

federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. 

Issued on July 2, 2021. 

Gaetano A. Sciortino, 

Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–14688 Filed 7–9–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0022; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–00395–E; Amendment 

39–21648; AD 2021–15–01] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce 

Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Type 

Certificate Previously Held by RollsRoyce plc) Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG 

(RRD) Trent XWB–75, Trent XWB–79, 

Trent XWB–79B, Trent XWB–84, and 

Trent XWB–97 model turbofan engines. 

This AD was prompted by the 

manufacturer revising the time limits 


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36488 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 130 / Monday, July 12, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

manual (TLM) to incorporate repairs to 

the low-pressure compressor (LPC) 

blades and introduce a new fan blade 

inspection. This AD requires revisions 

to the airworthiness limitations section 

(ALS) of the Rolls-Royce (RR) Trent 

XWB TLM and the operator’s existing 

approved aircraft maintenance program 

(AMP). The FAA is issuing this AD to 

address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: This AD is effective August 16, 

2021. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this final rule, contact 

Rolls-Royce plc, Corporate 

Communications, P.O. Box 31, Derby, 

DE24 8BJ, United Kingdom; phone: +44 

(0)1332 242424; website: https://

www.rolls-royce.com/contact-us.aspx. 

You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Airworthiness Products 

Section, Operational Safety Branch, 

1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 

01803. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call (781) 238–7759. It is also available 

at https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0022. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0022; or in person at Docket 

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

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. The AD docket contains this 

final rule, the mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI), any 

comments received, and other 

information. The address for Docket 

Operations is U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Scott Stevenson, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 

District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 

phone: (781) 238–7132; fax: (781) 238– 

7199; email: Scott.M.Stevenson@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to all RRD Trent XWB–75, Trent 

XWB–79, Trent XWB–79B, Trent XWB– 

84, and Trent XWB–97 model turbofan 

engines. The NPRM published in the 

Federal Register on February 23, 2021 

(86 FR 10878). The NPRM was 

prompted by the manufacturer revising 

the TLM to incorporate repairs to the 

LPC blades and introduce a new fan 

blade inspection. In the NPRM, the FAA 

proposed to require revisions to the ALS 

of the RR Trent XWB TLM, as 

applicable to each engine model, and to 

the operator’s existing approved AMP, 

to include new or more restrictive 

sections of the applicable RR Trent 

XWB TLM for each affected engine 

model. The FAA is issuing this AD to 

address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

The European Union Aviation Safety 

Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 

Agent for the Member States of the 

European Community, has issued EASA 

AD 2020–0066, dated March 23, 2020 

(referred to after this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to 

address the unsafe condition on these 

products. The MCAI states: 

The Airworthiness Limitations Section 

instructions for Trent XWB engines, which 

are approved by EASA, are defined and 

published in TLM TRENTXWB–K0680– 

TIME0–01. These instructions have been 

identified as mandatory for continued 

airworthiness. Failure to accomplish these 

instructions could result in an unsafe 

condition. 

Rolls-Royce recently revised the TLM, 

introducing new and/or more restrictive 

instructions. 

For the reason described above, this 

[EASA] AD requires accomplishment of the 

instructions specified in the TLM, as defined 

in this AD. 

You may obtain further information 

by examining the MCAI in the AD 

docket at https://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0022. 

Discussion of Final Airworthiness 

Directive Comments 

The FAA received comments from 

two commenters. The commenters were 

Air Line Pilots Association, 

International (ALPA) and Delta Air 

Lines, Inc. (DAL). The following 

presents the comments received on the 

NPRM and the FAA’s response to each 

comment. 

Request To Revise Required Actions 

DAL commented that revising the 

AMP to include the specific 

requirements contained in Figure 1 to 

paragraph (g)(1) or Figure 2 to paragraph 

(g)(2) is difficult. DAL requested that the 

FAA revise paragraph (g) of this AD to 

allow incorporation of the specific 

language referenced in Figure 1 to 

paragraph (g)(1) or Figure 2 to paragraph 

(g)(2) into the AMP instead of only 

allowing incorporation of the figures 

into the AMP. 

The FAA agrees and has revised Note 

1 to paragraph (g) of this AD to clarify 

that operators may choose to 

incorporate the language referenced in 

Figure 1 to paragraph (g)(1) or Figure 2 

to paragraph (g)(2) directly into their 

existing approved AMP instead of 

incorporating the respective figures into 

the existing approved AMP. 

Request To Include Modification 

Specifications of the Ultra Long Range 

Operation 

DAL noted that paragraph (g)(1) of the 

NPRM includes a proposed requirement 

that applies to Trent XWB–84 Ultra 

Long Range (ULR) operation. However, 

the RR Trent XWB TLM does not define 

the specification of a ULR operation. 

DAL commented that ULR operation 

requires modification to the airplane. 

The Trent XWB–84 can be installed on 

both A350–900 standard or ULR 

operations without any modification to 

the engine. DAL added that the airplane 

type certification data sheet does not 

specify the modification standards of a 

ULR operation. Since the TLM does not 

include any specifications of ULR 

operation and the aircraft type 

certificate data sheet does not define 

this specific standard, DAL requested 

that the FAA include the modification 

specifications of the ULR operation in 

the final rule. 

The FAA disagrees. Although the 

airplane requires modification for ULR 

operation, the Trent XWB–84 model 

turbofan engine does not require 

modification for ULR operation and can 

be installed on a standard airplane or a 

ULR airplane. The FAA did not change 

this AD. 

Support for the AD 

ALPA expressed support for the 

NPRM as written. 

Conclusion 

The FAA reviewed the relevant data, 

considered any comments received, and 

determined that air safety requires 

adopting this AD as proposed. 

Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD 

to address the unsafe condition on these 

products. Except for minor editorial 

changes, and any other changes 

described previously, this AD is 

adopted as proposed in the NPRM. 

None of the changes will increase the 

economic burden on any operator. 

Related Service Information 

The FAA reviewed Rolls-Royce 

Airworthiness Limitations (Mandatory 

Inspections), TRENTXWB–A–05–20– 

01–00A01–030A–D, Revision 013, dated 

September 1, 2019, of the Rolls-Royce 

Trent XWB TLM TRENTXWB–K0680– 

TIME0–01, and Rolls-Royce 

Airworthiness Limitations (Mandatory 

Inspections), TRENTXWB–B–05–20– 

01–00A01–030A–D, Revision 005, dated 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 130 / Monday, July 12, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 36489 

April 1, 2020, of the Rolls-Royce Trent 

XWB TLM TRENTXWB–K0680–TIME0– 

01. These two sections of the TLM 

specify inspection intervals, 

differentiated by engine model, for 

critical rotating parts. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 22 engines installed on airplanes 

of U.S. registry. 

The FAA estimates the following 

costs to comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Revise the ALS of the RR Trent XWB TLM 

and the operator’s existing approved AMP.

1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 ................. $0 $85 $1,870 

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. 

The FAA is 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. 

Regulatory Findings 

This AD will not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This AD will 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 this AD: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, 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. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 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 adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive: 

2021–15–01 Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & 

Co KG (Type Certificate previously held 

by Rolls-Royce plc): Amendment 39– 

21648; Docket No. FAA–2021–0022; 

Project Identifier MCAI–2020–00395–E. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective August 16, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Rolls-Royce 

Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) (Type 

Certificate previously held by Rolls-Royce 

plc) Trent XWB–75, Trent XWB–79, Trent 

XWB–79B, Trent XWB–84, and Trent XWB– 

97 model turbofan engines. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 7200, Engine Turbine/Turboprop. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by the 

manufacturer revising the time limits manual 

(TLM) to incorporate repairs to the lowpressure compressor (LPC) blades and 

introduce a new fan blade inspection. The 

FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the failure 

of critical rotating parts. The unsafe 

condition, if not addressed, could result in 

failure of one or more engines, loss of thrust 

control, and loss of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

Within 120 days after the effective date of 

this AD, revise the Rolls-Royce (RR) Trent 

XWB TLM, as applicable to each engine 

model, and the operator’s existing approved 

aircraft maintenance program (AMP) by 

incorporating the following: 

(1) For Trent XWB–75, Trent XWB–79, 

Trent XWB–79B, and Trent XWB–84 model 

turbofan engines, add Figure 1 to paragraph 

(g)(1) of this AD to the airworthiness 

limitations section (ALS) of RR Trent XWB 

TLM TRENTXWB–K0680–TIME0–01 and to 

the operator’s existing approved AMP. 


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36490 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 130 / Monday, July 12, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

(2) For Trent XWB–97 model turbofan 

engines, add Figure 2 to paragraph (g)(2) of 

this AD to the ALS of RR Trent XWB TLM 

TRENTXWB–K0680–TIME0–01 and to the 

operator’s existing approved AMP. 

Note 1 to paragraph (g): Figure 1 to 

paragraph (g)(1) and Figure 2 to paragraph 

(g)(2) contain language from the original 

equipment manufacturer’s TLM. Operators 

may incorporate the language referenced in 

Figure 1 to paragraph (g)(1) or Figure 2 to 

paragraph (g)(2) directly into their AMP 

instead of adding the respective figures into 

their AMP. 

(h) Definition 

For the purpose of this AD, the operator’s 

existing approved AMP is defined as the 

basis for which the operator or the owner 

ensures the continuing airworthiness of each 

operated airplane. 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, ECO 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 ECO Branch, send it to 

the attention of the person identified in 

Related Information. You may email your 

request to: ANE-AD-AMOC@faa.gov. 

(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. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Scott Stevenson, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District 

Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 

238–7132; fax: (781) 238–7199; email: 

Scott.M.Stevenson@faa.gov. 

(2) Refer to European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020–0066, dated 

March 23, 2020, for more information. You 

may examine the EASA AD in the AD docket 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULESER12JY21.000</GPH> ER12JY21.001</GPH>

Figure 1 to Paragraph (g)(l) 

2.4.8 LP Compressor blades CSN 72311301250, refer to TRENTXWB-A-72-31-13-

02A01-300A-C 

Inspection interval (EFC) 

Part number Standard Operation Ultra Long Range Operation 

KH14304 Remove the LP Compressor Remove the LP Compressor 

blades and repair in blades and repair in 

accordance with FRSA424, accordance with FRSA424, 

refer to TRENTXWB-A-72- refer to TRENTXWB-A-72-31-

31-13-02A08-600A-C at 13-02A08-600A-C at every 

every engine refurbishment engine refurbishment where a 

where a Level 3 workscope Level 3 workscope or above is 

or above is instructed on the instructed on the HP System 

HP System Module. Module. 

KH56535 Remove the LP Compressor Remove the LP Compressor 

blades and repair in blades and repair in 

accordance with FRSA424, accordance with FRSA424, 

refer to TRENTXWB-A-72- refer to TRENTXWB-A-72-31-

31-13-02A08-600A-C at 13-02A08-600A-C at every 

every engine refurbishment engine refurbishment where a 

where a Level 3 workscope Level 3 workscope or above is 

or above is instructed on the instructed on the HP System 

HP System Module. Module. 

Figure 2 to Paragraph (g)(2) 

2.2.13 LP compressor fan blade CSN 72311301250, refer to DMC-TRENTXWB-B72-31-13-02A01-300A-C 

Part number Interval 

KH74127 Examine the fan blade leading edge at every engine 

refurbishment. 
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 130 / Monday, July 12, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 36491 

at https://www.regulations.gov by searching 

for and locating Docket No. FAA–2021–0022. 

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference 

None. 

Issued on July 6, 2021. 

Gaetano A. Sciortino, 

Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–14701 Filed 7–9–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0541; Project 

Identifier AD–2021–00453–A; Amendment 

39–21639; AD 2021–14–12] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; True Flight 

Holdings LLC Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all True 

Flight Holdings LLC Models AA–1, AA– 

1A, AA–1B, AA–1C, and AA–5 

airplanes. This AD was prompted by the 

report of an accident of an airplane 

exhibiting bondline corrosion and 

delamination of the horizontal 

stabilizers. This AD requires inspecting 

the horizontal stabilizers, including the 

bondlines, for cracks, buckles, 

corrosion, delamination, rust, and 

previous repair and repairing or 

replacing parts and applying corrosion 

inhibitor as necessary. The FAA is 

issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective July 27, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of July 27, 2021. 

The FAA must receive comments on 

this AD by August 26, 2021. 

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 

https://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 final rule, contact True Flight 

Holdings LLC, 2300 Madison Highway, 

Valdosta, GA 31601; phone: (229) 242– 

6337; email: info@

trueflightaerospace.com. You may view 

this service information at the FAA, 

Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, 

Kansas City, MO 64106. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call (816) 329–4148. It is also 

available at https://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0541. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0541; or in person at Docket 

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

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. The AD docket contains this 

final rule, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

the Docket Operations is listed above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred 

Caplan, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 

Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 

30337; phone: (404) 474–5507; fax: (404) 

474–5606; email: frederick.n.caplan@

faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The FAA received a report of an 

accident involving a True Flight 

Holdings LLC Model AA–5 airplane that 

occurred on January 19, 2021. During 

flight, the outboard elevator attach 

bracket on the horizontal stabilizer 

detached causing loss of elevator control 

and significant damage to the airplane. 

An investigation identified corrosion 

and delamination of the airplane skin 

bondlines around the area of the 

horizontal stabilizer where the elevator 

attach bracket was attached. Multiple 

field reports have identified additional 

instances of corrosion and delamination 

of skin bondlines around the horizontal 

stabilizer and other primary structures. 

All Models AA–1, AA–1A, AA–1B, 

AA–1C, and AA–5 Traveler airplanes 

have horizontal stabilizers that are 

similar in design and use the same 

attachment method for the elevators. 

The affected airplanes are constructed 

using a metal-to-metal bonding process. 

While the bond adhesive remains 

structurally sound throughout the aging 

process, factors such as corrosion and 

freezing moisture may compromise the 

structural integrity of some of the bond 

joints. This can lead to delamination of 

the skin from the primary structure. 

Field reports indicate that bondline 

inspections are not being adequately 

performed during routine inspections. 

The FAA has determined that a more 

thorough inspection is necessary to 

reliably identify corrosion and 

delamination of bondlines in these 

critical areas, including the horizontal 

stabilizer. 

This condition, if not addressed, 

could result in reduced structural 

integrity with consequent loss of control 

of the airplane. The FAA is issuing this 

AD to address the unsafe condition on 

these products. 

FAA’s Determination 

The FAA is issuing this AD because 

the agency has determined the unsafe 

condition described previously is likely 

to exist or develop in other products of 

the same type design. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed True Flight 

Aerospace Service Bulletin SB–195, 

Revision A, dated June 1, 2021 (True 

Flight SB–195, Revision A). This service 

information specifies procedures for 

inspecting the primary structure and 

flight controls for cracks, buckles, 

corrosion, delamination, rust, and 

previous repair and repairing or 

replacing parts and applying corrosion 

inhibitor as necessary. 

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 ADDRESSES. 

Other Related Service Information 

The FAA also reviewed True Flight 

Aerospace Service Kit 125, Revision B. 

This service information specifies 

procedures for repairing bondline 

delamination of flight controls and 

structures. 

AD Requirements 

This AD requires accomplishing the 

actions specified in the service 

information already described, except as 

discussed under ‘‘Differences Between 

the AD and the Service Information.’’ 

Differences Between the AD and the 

Service Information 

True Flight SB–195, Revision A 

applies to Models AA1, AA–1A, AA– 

1B, AA–1C, AA5, AA–5A, and AA–5B 

airplanes. However, this AD only 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES