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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 164 (Friday, August 27, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48086-48088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18444]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0711; Project Identifier 2019-CE-024-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace Limited Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes. This 
proposed AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another 
country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as chafing of the 
engine fuel feed line hoses. This proposed AD would require inspecting 
the engine fuel feed line hoses and the electrical wiring and rerouting 
all fuel lines. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 12, 
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 NPRM, contact the Civil 
Aviation Authority of New Zealand, Level 15, Asteron Centre, 55 
Featherston Street, Wellington 6011; phone: + 64 4 560 9400; fax: + 64 
4 569 2024; email: [email protected]. 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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0711; 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 NPRM, the MCAI, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Kiesov, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, 
FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-
4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0711; Project Identifier 
2019-CE-024-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM

[[Page 48087]]

contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated 
as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or 
responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the 
submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission 
containing CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked 
submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed 
in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be 
sent to Mike Kiesov, Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & 
Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, 
Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106. Any commentary that the FAA receives 
which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the 
public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the aviation authority 
for New Zealand, has issued AD No. DCA/750XL/37, effective April 25, 
2019 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe 
condition for certain Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes. 
The MCAI states:

    DCA/750XL/37 is prompted by a review of the installation of the 
engine fuel lines and the electrical installation forward of the 
engine firewall on aircraft fitted with an air conditioner and/or a 
standby alternator, including those aircraft configured for the 
installation of an air conditioner and/or a standby alternator. It 
was found that the engine fuel feed lines hoses could possibly chafe 
against the adjacent electrical wiring and the ignition exciter, 
which could result in a fuel leak and possible fire. The [CAA] AD is 
issued to introduce the corrective actions in Pacific Aerospace 
Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) PACSB/XL/113 issue 2, dated 8 March 
2019.

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0711.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Pacific Aerospace Mandatory Service Bulletin 
PACSB/XL/113, Issue 2, dated March 8, 2019. The service information 
contains procedures for inspecting the engine fuel feed line hoses and 
the electrical wiring for chafing or damage, rerouting all fuel lines 
and the fuel transducer and pressure switch wiring (including 
installing P clips), and inspecting the fuel hose for chafing and 
replacing chafed fire sleeves or fuel hoses if 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 the ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to 
the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it 
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM 
after determining the unsafe condition described previously is likely 
to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously, except as discussed 
under ``Differences Between this Proposed AD and the MCAI.''

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI

    The MCAI requires an inspection at the next 150 hour maintenance 
inspection or within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS), whichever 
occurs later, while this proposed AD would require those actions within 
50 hours TIS or at the next annual inspection after the effective date 
of this AD, whichever occurs later. If there is no chafing and damage 
found during the inspection, the MCAI requires certain follow-on 
actions at the next 300 hour maintenance inspection or within the next 
50 hours TIS, whichever is later. This proposed AD would require those 
actions within 50 hours TIS or at the next annual inspection, whichever 
occurs later, because there is no regulatory requirement for operators 
in the U.S. to have 150-hour or 300-hour maintenance inspections.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 23 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it 
would take about 5 work-hours per airplane and require parts costing 
$20 per airplane to comply with the inspection and re-routing that 
would be required by this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 
per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the inspection and re-
routing cost of this proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $10,235, or 
$445 per airplane.
    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this 
proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost 
impact on affected operators.

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

    The FAA 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 this proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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:

[[Page 48088]]

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec.  39.13   [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

Pacific Aerospace Limited: Docket No. FAA-2021-0711; Project 
Identifier 2019-CE-024-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by October 12, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL 
airplanes, serial numbers 101 through 215 inclusive, 220, 8001, and 
8002, certificated in any category, that are fitted with an air 
conditioner and/or a standby alternator, including airplanes 
configured for the installation of an air conditioner and/or a 
standby alternator, as shown in Figure 1 of Part A in Pacific 
Aerospace Mandatory Service Bulletin PACSB/XL/113, Issue 2, dated 
March 8, 2019 (MSB PACSB/XL/113, Issue 2).

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2820, Aircraft Fuel 
Distribution, and 2497, Electrical Power System Wiring.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another 
country to identify and address an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as chafing of the 
engine fuel feed line hoses. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent 
chafing of the engine fuel feed line hoses with electrical wiring 
and the ignition exciter located forward of the engine firewall. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in a fuel leak and 
fire.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) or at the next annual 
inspection after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
later, inspect the engine fuel feed line hoses and the electrical 
wiring for chafing and damage in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions, Part A steps 3) and 4), in MSB PACSB/XL/113, Issue 2.
    (1) If there is any chafing or damage that penetrates the orange 
outer covering of the fuel line fire sleeve or if there is any 
chafed or damaged electrical wiring, before further flight, inspect 
the fuel hose for chafing, replace any chafed fire sleeve or fuel 
hose, and reroute all fuel lines in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions, Part B, in MSB PACSB/XL/113, Issue 2.
    (2) If there are no chafed or damaged engine fuel feed line 
hoses and no chafed or damaged electrical wiring, within 50 hours 
TIS or at the next annual inspection, whichever occurs later, 
reroute all fuel lines in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions, Part B, in MSB PACSB/XL/113, Issue 2.

(h) 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 certification office, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in Related Information or email: 
[email protected].
    (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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Mike Kiesov, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, 
International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of New Zealand AD 
DCA/750XL/37, effective April 25, 2019, for more information. You 
may examine the CAA AD in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0711.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact the 
CAA of New Zealand, Level 15, Asteron Centre, 55 Featherston Street, 
Wellington 6011; phone: + 64 4 560 9400; fax: + 64 4 569 2024; 
email: [email protected]. You may view this service information at 
the Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 
901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

    Issued on August 23, 2021.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18444 Filed 8-26-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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