Document ID: FAA-2015-3956-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Alpha Aviation Concept Limited Airplanes
Posted Date: 2015-09-25T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 186 (Friday, September 25, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57753-57755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24149]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-3956; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-032-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Alpha Aviation Concept Limited 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Alpha Aviation Concept Limited Model R2160 airplanes that would 
supersede AD 2008-09-01. This proposed AD results from 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 a need to revise the maintenance program to include the 
revised airworthiness limitations for the internal wing structure and 
wing attachment inspections. We are issuing this proposed AD to require 
actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 9, 
2015.

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 proposed AD, contact 
Alpha Aviation Holdings Limited, Steele Road, RD 2 Hamilton Airport, 
Hamilton 3282, New Zealand, telephone: +64 7 843 9877; fax: +64 7 929 
2878; Internet: http://www.alphaaviation.co.nz/. You may review copies 
of the referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You may review 
copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate, 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-2015-
3956; 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 proposed 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: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4123; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
karl.schletzbaum@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-2015-3956; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-032-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://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

    On April 11, 2008, we issued AD 2008-09-01, Amendment 39-15481 (73

[[Page 57754]]

FR 21519; April 22, 2008) (``AD 2008-09-01''). That AD required actions 
intended to address an unsafe condition on certain Alpha Aviation 
Concept Limited Model R2160 airplanes and was based on mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation 
authority of another country.
    Since we issued AD 2008-09-01, Alpha Aviation Concept Limited 
developed a longer life limit for the wing structure and wing 
attachments and transferred the life limit information from the related 
service information to the airplane maintenance manual. Subsequently, 
Alpha Aviation Concept Limited discovered that the analysis that 
allowed the life limit increase was incorrect and the previous life 
limit and inspection provisions of the related service bulletin should 
be retained.
    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the aviation authority 
for New Zealand, has issued AD DCA/R2000/43, dated August 7, 2015 
(referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe 
condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

    This AD introduces a change to the airworthiness limitations for 
the internal wing structure and wing attachment inspections. These 
inspection intervals were increased and added to Section 3.2--
Airworthiness Limitations of the applicable Service Manual in 
January 2015. Section 3.2 of the respective Service Manuals has now 
been revised to revert to the original inspection intervals.

    You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
3956.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Alpha Aviation Concept Limited has issued Alpha Aviation APEX R2000 
Service Manual, S/N 001 to 378, and Alpha Aviation R2000 Service 
Manual. These service manuals include a revision to Section 3: 
Airworthiness Limitations, Time Limits, & Maintenance Inspections, 
Issued August 2015. These revisions now include periodic internal wing 
structure and wing attachment inspections. A copy of these revisions to 
the Airworthiness Limitations section of the applicable service manuals 
are 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 of this NPRM.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they 
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because 
we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition exists 
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type 
design.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 9 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 3 work-hours per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $2,295, or $255 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 12 work-hours and require parts costing $1,326, for a cost 
of $2,346 per product. We have no way of determining the number of 
products that may need these actions.

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.

Regulatory Findings

    We 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) 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

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 removing Amendment 39-15481 (73 FR 
21519; April 22, 2008), and adding the following new AD:

Alpha Aviation Concept Limited: Docket No. FAA-2015-3956; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-032-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by November 9, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2008-09-01, Amendment 39-15481 (73 FR 
21519; April 22, 2008) (``AD 2008-09-01'').

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Alpha Aviation Concept Limited Model R2160 
airplanes, serial numbers (S/Ns) 001 through 378, and 160A-06001 and 
subsequent, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 5: Time Limits.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another 
country to identify and correct an unsafe

[[Page 57755]]

condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 
condition as a need to revise the maintenance program to include the 
revised airworthiness limitations for the internal wing structure 
and wing attachment inspections. We are issuing this AD to prevent 
failure of the wing structure and fuselage attachment due to 
undetected fatigue and corrosion.

 (f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, before further flight after the effective 
date of this AD, insert the following into the Airworthiness 
Limitations section of the FAA-approved maintenance program (e.g., 
maintenance manual). These revisions to the Limitations sections 
incorporate the wing spar inspection upon the accumulation of 3,500 
hours time-in-service (TIS) and requires a repetitive inspection 
thereafter every 750 hours TIS (the requirements of AD 2008-09-01):
    (1) For S/Ns 001 through 378: Insert paragraph 3.4.9, Wing 3500 
hr Inspection, on pages 3-3 and 3-4, dated August 2015, of Section 
3: Airworthiness Limitations, Time Limits, & Maintenance 
Inspections, dated August 2015, of the APEX R2000 Service Manual S/N 
001 to 378, Alpha Aviation Ltd.
    (2) For S/Ns 160A-06001 and subsequent: Insert paragraph 3.4.9, 
Wing 3500 hr Inspection, on pages 3-3 and 3-4, dated August 2015, of 
Section 3: Airworthiness Limitations, Time Limits, & Maintenance 
Inspections, all dated August 2015, of the R2000 Service Manual, 
Alpha Aviation Ltd.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

    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; 
email: karl.schletzbaum@faa.gov. 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.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) AD DCA/R2000/43, 
dated August 7, 2015, for related information. You may examine the 
MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-3956. For service information 
related to this AD, contact Alpha Aviation Holdings Limited, Steele 
Road, RD 2 Hamilton Airport, Hamilton 3282, New Zealand, telephone: 
+64 7 843 9877; fax: +64 7 929 2878; Internet: http://www.alphaaviation.co.nz/. You may review copies of the referenced 
service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 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 September 17, 2015.
Melvin Johnson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-24149 Filed 9-24-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P