6592 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 5, 2008 / Rules and Regulations 

3356; telephone (425) 227–1112; fax (425) 

227–1149. Before using any approved AMOC 

on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector 

(PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District 

Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 

FSDO. 

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement 

in this AD to obtain corrective actions from 

a manufacturer or other source, use these 

actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective 

actions are considered FAA-approved if they 

are approved by the State of Design Authority 

(or their delegated agent). You are required 

to assure the product is airworthy before it 

is returned to service. 

(3) Reporting Requirements: For any 

reporting requirement in this AD, under the 

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 

the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 

has approved the information collection 

requirements and has assigned OMB Control 

Number 2120–0056. 

Related Information 

(h) Refer to MCAI EASA Airworthiness 

Directive 2007–0167, dated June 15, 2007; 

Saab Service Bulletin 2000–57–033, dated 

March 2, 2000; and Saab Service Bulletin 

2000–57–033, Revision 01, dated March 31, 

2000; for related information. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(i) You must use Saab Service Bulletin 

2000–57–033, dated March 2, 2000; or Saab 

Service Bulletin 2000–57–033, Revision 01, 

dated March 31, 2000; to do the actions 

required by this AD, unless the AD specifies 

otherwise. 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference of 

this service information under 5 U.S.C. 

552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Saab Aircraft AB, SAAB 

Aircraft Product Support, S–581.88, 

Linko ̈ping, Sweden. 

(3) You may review copies at the FAA, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, Washington; or at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on 

the availability of this material at NARA, call 

(202) 741–6030, or go to: http:// 

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 

24, 2008. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–1812 Filed 2–4–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2007–0249; Directorate 

Identifier 2007–CE–088–AD; Amendment 

39–15361; AD 2008–03–11] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Alpha 

Aviation Design Limited Model R2160 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are superseding an 

existing airworthiness directive (AD) for 

the products listed above. This AD 

results from mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI) 

issued 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 distortion of the rudder 

bars due to rudder control forces during 

aerobatic operation and nose wheel 

steering reaction forces. Rudder bar 

distortion could result in reduced 

control or loss of control. This AD 

requires actions that are intended to 

address the unsafe condition described 

in the MCAI. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective 

March 11, 2008. 

As of March 11, 2008, the Director of 

the Federal Register approved the 

incorporation by reference of certain 

publications listed in this AD. 

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD 

docket on the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov or in person at the 

Docket Management Facility, 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: Karl 

Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, 901 

Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 

Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329–

4146; fax: (816) 329–4090. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to include an AD that would 

apply to the specified products. That 

NPRM was published in the Federal 

Register on November 27, 2007 (72 FR 

66089) and proposed to supersede AD 

87–08–01, Amendment 39–5601, 

published in 1987 and AD 99–01–04, 

Amendment 39–10971, published in 

1999. That NPRM proposed to correct 

an unsafe condition for the specified 

products. The MCAI states that rudder 

control forces during aerobatic 

operation and nose wheel steering 

reaction forces may cause rudder bar 

distortion. Rudder bar distortion could 

result in reduced control or loss of 

control. 

The MCAI requires you to replace the 

left and right rudder bars with 

reinforced rudder bars. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. We 

received no comments on the NPRM or 

on the determination of the cost to the 

public. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the available data and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting the AD 

as proposed. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

MCAI or Service Information 

We have reviewed the MCAI and 

related service information and, in 

general, agree with their substance. But 

we might have found it necessary to use 

different words from those in the MCAI 

to ensure the AD is clear for U.S. 

operators and is enforceable. In making 

these changes, we do not intend to differ 

substantively from the information 

provided in the MCAI and related 

service information. 

We might also have required different 

actions in this AD from those in the 

MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. 

Any such differences are highlighted in 

a NOTE within the AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD will affect 9 

products of U.S. registry. We also 

estimate that it will take about 3 workhours per product to comply with basic 

requirements of this AD. The average 

labor rate is $80 per work-hour. 

Required parts will cost about $657 per 

product. 

Based on these figures, we estimate 

the cost of this AD to the U.S. operators 

to be $8,073 or $897 per product. 

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. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 5, 2008 / Rules and Regulations 6593 

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. 

Regulatory Findings 

We determined that 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) 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. 

We prepared a regulatory evaluation 

of the estimated costs to comply with 

this AD and placed it in the AD Docket. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov; or in person at the 

Docket Management Facility between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 

docket contains the NPRM, the 

regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for the Docket Office 

(telephone (800) 647–5527) is in the 

ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

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 

removing Amendment 39–5601 and 

Amendment 39–10971 and adding the 

following new AD: 

2008–03–11 Alpha Aviation Design 

Limited: Amendment 39–15361; Docket 

No. FAA–2007–0249; Directorate 

Identifier 2007–CE–088–AD. 

Effective Date 

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) 

becomes effective March 11, 2008. 

Affected ADs 

(b) This AD supersedes AD 87–08–01, 

Amendment 39–5601; and AD 99–01–04, 

Amendment 39–10971. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to Model R2160 

airplanes, serial numbers 1 through 378, that: 

(1) Are certificated in any category; and 

(2) Have not installed the improved design 

rudder bars part number (P/N) 27.40.31.010 

and P/N 27.40.31.020 following either 

Avions Pierre Robin Service Bulletin No. 

143, dated September 8, 1995, or Alpha 

Aviation Service Bulletin AA–SB–27–003, 

dated October 19, 2007. 

Subject 

(d) Air Transport Association of America 

(ATA) Code 27: Flight Controls. 

Reason 

(e) The mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI) states that 

rudder control forces during aerobatic 

operation and nose wheel steering reaction 

forces may cause rudder bar distortion. 

Rudder bar distortion could result in reduced 

or loss of control. The MCAI requires you to 

replace the left and right rudder bars with 

reinforced rudder bars. 

Restatement of Requirements of AD 99–01–

04 

(f) For airplanes with serial numbers 250 

through 378: Unless already done, within the 

next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after 

March 12, 1999 (the effective date of AD 99–

01–04) replace the left and right rudder bars, 

part number (P/N) 27.23.01.010 (left) and P/ 

N 27.23.01.020 (right), with the reinforced 

rudder bars, P/N 27.40.31.010 (left) and P/N 

27.40.31.020 (right) or FAA-equivalent part 

numbers, following Alpha Aviation Service 

Bulletin AA–SB–27–003, dated October 19, 

2007. 

New Requirements of This AD: Actions and 

Compliance 

(g) For airplanes with serial numbers 1 

through 249: Unless already done, within the 

next 50 hours TIS after the effective date of 

this AD or within the next 3 months after the 

effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 

first, replace the left and right rudder bars, 

P/N 27.23.05.010 (left) and P/N 27.23.05.020 

(right), with the reinforced rudder bars, P/N 

27.40.31.010 (left) and P/N 27.40.31.020 

(right) or FAA-equivalent part numbers, 

following Alpha Aviation Service Bulletin 

AA–SB–27–003, dated October 19, 2007. 

FAA AD Differences 

Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/ 

or service information as follows: No 

differences. 

Other FAA AD Provisions 

(h) The following provisions also apply to 

this AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Office, 

FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 

for this AD, if requested using the procedures 

found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to 

ATTN: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace 

Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 

901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 

64106; telephone: (816) 329–4146; fax: (816) 

329–4090. Before using any approved AMOC 

on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector 

(PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District 

Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 

FSDO. 

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement 

in this AD to obtain corrective actions from 

a manufacturer or other source, use these 

actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective 

actions are considered FAA-approved if they 

are approved by the State of Design Authority 

(or their delegated agent). You are required 

to assure the product is airworthy before it 

is returned to service. 

(3) Reporting Requirements: For any 

reporting requirement in this AD, under the 

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act 

(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) has 

approved the information collection 

requirements and has assigned OMB Control 

Number 2120–0056. 

Related Information 

(i) Refer to New Zealand Civil Aviation 

Authority AD DCA/R2000/23B, dated 

October 25, 2007; and Alpha Aviation 

Service Bulletin AA–SB–27–003, dated 

October 19, 2007, for related information. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(j) You must use Alpha Aviation Service 

Bulletin AA–SB–27–003, dated October 19, 

2007, to do the actions required by this AD, 

unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference of 

this service information under 5 U.S.C. 

552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Alpha Aviaton, Ingram 

Road, Hamilton Airport, RD 2, Hamilton 

2021, New Zealand; telephone: +64 7 843 

7070; fax: +64 7 843 8040; Internet: 

www.alphaaviation.co.nz. 

(3) You may review copies at the FAA, 

Central Region, Office of the Regional 

Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, 

Missouri 64106; or at the National Archives 

and Records Administration (NARA). For 


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6594 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 5, 2008 / Rules and Regulations 

information on the availability of this 

material at NARA, call 202–741–6030, or go 

to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/ 

code_of_federal_regulations/ 

ibr_locations.html. 

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 

23, 2008. 

John Colomy, 

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–1829 Filed 2–4–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2008–0121; Directorate 

Identifier 2007–NM–277–AD; Amendment 

39–15363; AD 2008–03–13] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; ATR Model 

ATR42–500 Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

ATR Model ATR42–500 series 

airplanes. This AD requires removing 

metallized polyethylene terephtalate 

(MPET) insulation blankets installed on 

the left and the right sides of the 

airplane over frame 24 between stringers 

5 and 14. This AD results from reports 

indicating that burnt spots were found 

on the MPET insulation blankets 

installed over frame 24. The actions 

specified by this AD are intended to 

ensure that MPET insulation blankets 

are removed over frame 24. Such MPET 

insulation blankets, if not removed, 

could propagate a small fire that is the 

result of an electrical arc and could lead 

to a much larger fire. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective 

February 20, 2008. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in the AD 

as of February 20, 2008. 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by March 6, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M–

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 

Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this AD, contact ATR, 316 Route de 

Bayonne, 31060 Toulouse, Cedex 03, 

France. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov; or in person at the 

Docket Management Facility between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 

docket contains this AD, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

the Docket Office (telephone 800–647–

5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom 

Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 227–1137; fax (425) 227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, notified us that an unsafe 

condition may exist on certain ATR 

Model ATR42–500 series airplanes. The 

EASA advises that there have been 

reports of two in-service aircraft where 

burnt spots were found on the 

insulation blankets installed over frame 

24. Investigations concluded that due to 

the presence of the bleed air duct, 

installation of the thermal-acoustical 

insulation blankets having a metallized 

polyethylene terephtalate (MPET) made 

the covering (also known as Mylar TM) at 

this location unsafe. Such MPET 

insulation blankets, if not removed, 

could propagate a small fire that is the 

result of an electrical arc and could lead 

to a much larger fire. This action is 

intended to address the identified 

unsafe condition. 

Relevant Service Information 

ATR has issued Service Bulletin 

ATR42–25–0155, dated April 10, 2007. 

The service bulletin describes 

procedures for removing the MPET 

insulation blankets installed on the left 

and the right sides of the airplane over 

frame 24 between stringers 5 and 14. 

Accomplishing the actions specified in 

the service information is intended to 

adequately address the unsafe 

condition. The EASA mandated the 

service information and issued 

emergency airworthiness directive 

2007–0106–E, dated April 18, 2007, to 

ensure the continued airworthiness of 

these airplanes in the European Union. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of This AD 

These airplanes are manufactured in 

France and are type certificated for 

operation in the United States under the 

provisions of section 21.29 of the 

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 

21.29) and the applicable bilateral 

airworthiness agreement. As described 

in FAA Order 8100.14A, ‘‘Interim 

Procedures for Working with the 

European Community on Airworthiness 

Certification and Continued 

Airworthiness,’’ dated August 12, 2005, 

the EASA has kept the FAA informed of 

the situation described above. We have 

examined the EASA’s findings, 

evaluated all pertinent information, and 

determined that we need to issue an AD 

for products of this type design that are 

certificated for operation in the United 

States. 

Therefore, we are issuing this AD to 

ensure that MPET insulation blankets 

are removed over frame 24. Such MPET 

insulation blankets, if not removed, 

could propagate a small fire that is the 

result of an electrical arc and could lead 

to a much larger fire. This AD requires 

accomplishing the actions specified in 

the service information described 

previously. 

Costs of Compliance 

None of the airplanes affected by this 

action are on the U.S. Register. All 

airplanes affected by this AD are 

currently operated by non-U.S. 

operators under foreign registry; 

therefore, they are not directly affected 

by this AD action. However, we 

consider this AD necessary to ensure 

that the unsafe condition is addressed if 

any affected airplane is imported and 

placed on the U.S. Register in the future. 

If an affected airplane is imported and 

placed on the U.S. Register in the future, 

the required action would take about 6 

work hours per airplane, at an average 

labor rate of $80 per work hour. Based 

on these figures, the estimated cost of 

the AD would be $480 per airplane. 

FAA’s Determination of the Effective 

Date 

No airplane affected by this AD is 

currently on the U.S. Register. 


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