Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2001 / Proposed Rules 21699

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–NM–380–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Aerospatiale

Model ATR42–200, –300, –320, –500,

and ATR72 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to all

Aerospatiale Model ATR42–200, –300,

–320, –500, and ATR72 series airplanes.

This proposal would require a revision

of the Airplane Flight Manual to add

instructions that prohibit the flightcrew

from selecting the reverse position on

the engines in the event of propeller

thrust dissymmetry. This action is

necessary to ensure that the flightcrew

is advised of the hazard associated with

selecting reverse thrust during propeller

thrust dissymmetry, which could result

in reduced controllability of the

airplane during landing. This action is

intended to address the identified

unsafe condition.

DATES: Comments must be received by

May 31, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000–NM–

380–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays. Comments may be

submitted via fax to (425) 227–1232.

Comments may also be sent via the

Internet using the following address: 9-

anm-nprmcomment@faa.gov. Comments

sent via fax or the Internet must contain

‘‘Docket No. 2000–NM–380–AD’’ in the

subject line and need not be submitted

in triplicate. Comments sent via the

Internet as attached electronic files must

be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for

Windows or ASCII text.

The service information referenced in

the proposed rule may be obtained from

Aerospatiale, 316 Route de Bayonne,

31060 Toulouse, Cedex 03, France. This

information may be examined at the

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,

Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601

Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington

98055–4056; telephone (425) 227–1175;

fax (425) 227–1149.

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 shall

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 action may be changed in light

of the comments received.

Submit comments using the following

format:

• Organize comments issue-by-issue.

For example, discuss a request to

change the compliance time and a

request to change the service bulletin

reference as two separate issues.

• For each issue, state what specific

change to the proposed AD is being

requested.

• Include justification (e.g., reasons or

data) for each request.

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

summarizing 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 action

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket No. 2000–NM–380–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, Transport Airplane Directorate,

ANM–114, Attention: Rules Docket

2000–NM–380–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue,

SW., Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Discussion

The Direction Ge ́ne ́rale de l’Aviation

Civile (DGAC), which is the

airworthiness authority for France,

notified the FAA that an unsafe

condition may exist on all Aerospatiale

Model ATR42–200, –300, –320, –500,

and ATR72 series airplanes. The DGAC

advises of an incident in which a Model

ATR42–320 series airplane swerved off

the runway. At the time of the incident,

the ‘‘low pitch’’ condition was not

equally effective for both engines. The

resulting propeller thrust dissymmetry,

combined with the flightcrew’s

concurrent selection of reverse thrust,

resulted in the reduced controllability of

the airplane during landing.

The design of Model ATR42 and

ATR72 series airplanes is similar, and

these airplanes incorporate similar

equipment including engines and

propellers; therefore, these airplanes are

subject to the identified unsafe

condition.

FAA’s Determination

In light of this information, the FAA

finds that certain procedures should be

amended in the FAA-approved airplane

flight manual (AFM) for the affected

airplanes prohibiting the flightcrew

from selecting the reverse position on

the engines in the event of propeller

thrust dissymmetry. We have

determined that the current AFMs for

these airplanes do not adequately define

such procedures.

The DGAC has mandated this AFM

revision and issued French

airworthiness directives 2000–436–

080(B) and 2000–437–052(B), both

dated October 18, 2000, to ensure the

continued airworthiness of these

airplanes in France.

FAA’s Conclusions

These airplane models are

manufactured in France and are typecertificated for operation in the United

States under the provisions of § 21.29 of

the Federal Aviation Regulations (14

CFR 21.29) and the applicable bilateral

airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to

this bilateral airworthiness agreement,

the DGAC has kept us informed of the

situation described above. We have

examined the findings of the DGAC,

reviewed all available information, and

determined that AD action is necessary

for products of this type design that are

certificated for operation in the United

States.

FAA’s Determination and Requirements

of the Proposed AD

We have identified an unsafe

condition that is likely to exist or

develop on other products of this same

type design. Therefore, we are

proposing to adopt this AD, which

21700 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2001 / Proposed Rules

would require revising the Normal

Procedures section of the AFM.

Cost of Compliance

We estimate that this AD would affect

69 airplanes of U.S. registry. The

proposed actions would take

approximately 1 work hour per airplane,

at an average labor rate of $60 per work

hour. Based on these figures, we

estimate the cost of the proposed AD on

U.S. operators to be $4,140, or $60 per

airplane.

We base these cost estimates on

assumptions that no operator has yet

done any of the actions in this proposed

AD, and that no operator would do

those actions in the future unless this

proposed AD is adopted. The cost

figures discussed in AD rulemaking

actions represent only the time

necessary to do the specific actions

required by the AD. These figures

typically do not include incidental

costs, such as the time required for

access and close, or for planning or

other administrative actions.

Regulatory Impact

The regulations proposed herein

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. Therefore,

it is determined that this proposal

would not have federalism implications

under Executive Order 13132.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this 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); 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 is contained 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 the following new airworthiness

directive:

Aerospatiale: Docket 2000–NM–380–AD.

Applicability: All Model ATR42–200,

–300, –320, –500, and ATR72 series

airplanes; certificated in any category.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To ensure that the flightcrew is advised of

the hazard associated with selecting reverse

thrust during propeller thrust dissymmetry,

which could result in reduced controllability

of the airplane during landing, accomplish

the following:

Revision of Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)

(a) Within 5 days after the effective date of

this AD, revise the Normal Procedures

section of the FAA-approved AFM, under

‘‘APPROACH AND LANDING,’’ to include

the following. This may be accomplished by

inserting a copy of this AD into the AFM.

‘‘NORMAL LANDING

• After nose wheel touchdown

Both PL—GI

Both LO PITCH lights—Check illuminated

CAUTION: If a thrust dissymmetry occurs

or if one LO PITCH light is not illuminated,

the use of any reverse is not allowed.’’

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(b) 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,

International Branch, ANM–116, FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate. Operators

shall submit their requests through an

appropriate FAA Principal Operations

Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, International Branch,

ANM–116.

Note 1: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the International Branch,

ANM–116.

Special Flight Permits

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with §§ 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.

Note 2: French airworthiness directives

2000–436–080(B) and 2000–437–052(B), both

dated October 18, 2000, also address the

subject of this AD.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 24,

2001.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–10725 Filed 4–30–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99–NM–367–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing

Model 737 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to

certain Boeing Model 737 series

airplanes. This proposal would require

initial and repetitive inspections of

certain areas of the wing spars to detect

cracking or corrosion; and follow-on

corrective actions and repair, if

necessary. This proposal is prompted by

reports of cracks and corrosion in the

upper chord of the front and rear spars

of the wing and reports of cracks

propagating from previously repaired

areas. The actions specified in the

proposed AD are intended to detect and

correct such cracking or corrosion of the

upper and lower chords of the wing

spars, which could result in reduced

structural integrity of the wing.

DATES: Comments must be received by

June 15, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), ANM–114,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 99–NM–

367–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays. Comments may be

submitted via fax to (425) 227–1232.

Comments may also be sent via the

Internet using the following address: 9-

anm-nprmcomment@faa.gov. Comments

sent via fax or the Internet must contain

‘‘Docket No. 99–NM–367–AD’’ in the

subject line and need not be submitted

in triplicate. Comments sent via the

Internet as attached electronic files must

be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for

Windows or ASCII text.