Document ID: FAA-2015-2435-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: M7 Aerospace LLC Airplanes
Posted Date: 2015-07-06T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 128 (Monday, July 6, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38391-38394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16171]

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  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 128 / Monday, July 6, 2015 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 38391]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-2435; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-020-AD; 
Amendment 39-18197; AD 2015-13-10]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; M7 Aerospace LLC Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-17-07 for 
certain M7 Aerospace LLC (type certificate previously held by M7 
Aerospace LP) Models SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-TC, and SA226-AT 
airplanes. AD 2011-17-07 required repetitive replacement and inspection 
of certain elevator, rudder, aileron, and aileron-to-rudder 
interconnect primary control cables, and checking and setting of flight 
control cable tension. This AD requires repetitively inspecting and 
replacing the primary flight control rudder cables, repetitively 
replacing all other primary flight control and trim tab cables, and 
checking/setting the flight control cable tension. This AD was prompted 
by a report of extensive damage found on the left hand primary flight 
control rudder cable located under the cockpit floor on one of the 
airplanes affected by AD 2011-17-07. We are issuing this AD to correct 
the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective July 21, 2015.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 21, 
2015.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of 
September 1, 2011 (76 FR 50881, August 17, 2011).
    We must receive any comments on this AD by August 20, 2015.

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 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 M7 Aerospace 
LLC, 10823 NE Entrance Road, San Antonio, Texas 78216; phone: (210) 
824-9421; fax: (210) 804-7766; Internet: http://www.elbitsystems-us.com; email: MetroTech@M7Aerospace.com. You may review this 
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. It is 
also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-2435.

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-
2435; 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 (phone: 
800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available 
in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, ASW-143 (c/o San Antonio MIDO), 10100 Reunion Place, Suite 650, 
San Antonio, Texas 78216; phone: (210) 308-3365; fax: (210) 308-3370; 
email: andrew.mcanaul@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On August 2, 2011, we issued AD 2011-17-07, Amendment 39-16771 (76 
FR 50881, August 17, 2011), (``AD 2011-17-07''), for certain M7 
Aerospace LLC (type certificate previously held by M7 Aerospace LP) 
Models SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-TC, and SA226-AT airplanes. AD 2011-
17-07 required repetitive replacement and inspection of certain 
elevator, rudder, aileron, and aileron-to-rudder interconnect primary 
control cables, and checking and setting of flight control cable 
tension. AD 2011-17-07 resulted from a report that the left-hand 
primary rudder control cable on a Model SA226-T airplane failed where 
the cable makes a 30 degree angle over a small pulley to accommodate 
re-routing of the control cable alongside the camera system installed 
in the center of the cabin.
    We issued AD 2011-17-07 to prevent failure of a rudder, aileron 
and/or elevator control cable.

Actions Since AD 2011-17-07 Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 2011-17-07, extensive damage to the left hand 
(LH) primary flight control rudder cable was found under the cockpit 
floor on one of the airplanes affected by AD 2011-17-07. Inspection of 
the cable revealed five of the seven wires that make up the LH cable 
were broken adjacent to the pulley at FS126.06. A follow-on inspection 
of the right hand (RH) primary flight control rudder cable also showed 
several strands of some of the 7 x 19 cable wires were broken at the 
same RH FS126.06 pulley location. Both cables had been replaced at 
1,513 hours time-in-service (TIS) before the finding of the broken 
cables to comply with the 3,500-hour TIS replacement time required in 
AD 2011-17-07.
    We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these 
products.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed M7 Aerospace SA226 Series Service Bulletin 226-27-072, 
issued June 27, 2011, and M7 Aerospace SA226 Series Service Letter 226-
SL-050, issued April 15, 2015. The service

[[Page 38392]]

information describes procedures for repetitively inspecting and 
replacing all elevator, rudder, aileron, and aileron-to-rudder 
interconnect primary control cables. 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 of this AD.

FAA's Determination

    We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

AD Requirements

    This AD retains the actions previously required in AD 2011-17-07 
and adds new inspection and replacement requirements for the LH and RH 
primary flight control rudder cables.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    M7 Aerospace SA226 Series Service Bulletin 226-27-072, issued June 
27, 2011, requires replacing the LH and the RH primary flight control 
rudder cables every 3,500 hours TIS. This AD requires inspecting the LH 
and the RH primary flight control rudder cables every 200 hours TIS and 
requires replacing the LH and the RH primary flight control rudder 
cables every 800 hours TIS.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies 
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because there 
are no airplanes currently on the U.S. registry and thus, does not have 
any impact upon the public. Therefore, we find that notice and 
opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary and that good 
cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments before it becomes effective. However, we invite 
you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send 
your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include 
Docket No. FAA-2015-2435 and Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-020-AD at 
the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the 
overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this 
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may 
amend this AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    There are no affected airplanes currently on the U.S. registry. 
However, if an airplane affected by this AD were to become a U.S.-
registered airplane, we estimate the following costs to comply with 
this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Cost per       Cost on U.S.
            Action                  Labor cost              Parts cost              product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection of all elevator,     100 work-hours x   Not Applicable.............          $8,500  None to date.
 rudder, aileron, and aileron-   $85 per hour =
 to-rudder interconnect          $8,500.
 primary control cables.
Replacement of all elevator,    180 work-hours x   $18,800....................          34,100  None to date.
 rudder, aileron, and aileron-   $85 per hour =
 to-rudder interconnect          $15,300.
 primary control cables.
Check (set) flight control      25 work-hours x    Not Applicable.............           2,125  None to date.
 cable tension.                  $2,125.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (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 Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2011-17-07, Amendment 39-16771 (76

[[Page 38393]]

FR 50881, August 17, 2011) and adding the following new AD:

2015-13-10 M7 Aerospace LLC (type certificate previously held by M7 
Aerospace LP): Amendment 39-18197; Docket No. FAA-2015-2435; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-020-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective July 21, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    (1) This AD supersedes AD 2011-17-07, Amendment 39-16771 (76 FR 
50881, August 17, 2011) (``AD 2011-17-07'').
    (2) AD 87-02-02, Amendment 39-5518 (52 FR 2511, January 23, 
1987) relates to the subject of this AD.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the following M7 Aerospace LLC airplanes, 
certificated in any category, as identified in table 1 of paragraph 
(c) of this AD:

           Table 1 of Paragraph (c) of This AD--Applicability
------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Model                           Serial numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SA226-T...........................  T265, T267
SA226-T(B)........................  T(B)348
SA226-TC..........................  TC277
SA226-AT..........................  AT071, AT072, AT073
------------------------------------------------------------------------

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 27, Flight Controls.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of extensive damage found to 
the left hand primary flight control rudder cable located under the 
cockpit floor on one of the airplanes affected by AD 2011-17-07. We 
are issuing this AD to prevent failure of a rudder, aileron and/or 
elevator control cable.

(f) Compliance

    Unless already done, comply with paragraphs (g) through (k) of 
this AD. If the hours time-in-service (TIS) of the control cables 
cannot be positively determined by the logbook, then you must use 
hours TIS of the airplane to comply with the requirements of this 
AD.

(g) Primary Flight Control Rudder Cable Inspection

    Within the next 10 hours TIS after July 21, 2015 (the effective 
date of this AD) or within the next 60 days after July 21, 2015 (the 
effective date of this AD), whichever occurs first, and repetitively 
thereafter at or before reaching 200 hours TIS from the last 
inspection or replacement, do a detailed visual inspection of the 
left hand (LH) and right hand (RH) primary flight control rudder 
cables under the floor between FS 116.56 and FS 138.56, with 
specific focus on the cable and the pulley at FS126.06. Do the 
inspection as stated in paragraph 4. ACTION of M7 Aerospace SA226 
Series Service Letter 226-SL-050, issued April 15, 2015, following 
the procedures specified in paragraph 2. ACCOMPLISHMENT 
INSTRUCTIONS, section B., subparagraph (2) of M7 Aerospace SA226 
Series Service Bulletin 226-27-072, issued June 27, 2011.

(h) Primary Flight Control Rudder Cable On-Condition Replacement

    Before further flight after any inspection required in paragraph 
(g) of this AD, if any one of the conditions described in paragraph 
2. ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS, section B., subparagraphs (3)(a) 
through (3)(d) of M7 Aerospace SA226 Series Service Bulletin 226-27-
072, issued June 27, 2011, is found, replace the affected primary 
flight control rudder cable or cables with a new cable. Do the 
replacements following paragraph 2. ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS, 
sections C. through E., including all subparagraphs of M7 Aerospace 
Service Bulletin 226-27-072, issued June 27, 2011.

(i) Primary Flight Control Rudder Cable Mandatory Life Limit 
Replacement

    Within the next 800 hours TIS after the last replacement or 
within the next 50 hours TIS after July 21, 2015 (the effective date 
of this AD), whichever occurs later, and repetitively thereafter 
every 800 hours TIS, replace the LH and RH primary flight control 
rudder cables with new cables. Do the replacements following 
paragraph 2. ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS, sections C. through E., 
including all subparagraphs of M7 Aerospace SA226 Series Service 
Bulletin 226-27-072, issued June 27, 2011.

(j) Primary Flight Control and Trim Tab Cable (Other Than Rudder 
Cables) Mandatory Life Limit Replacement

    (1) For cables with more than 6,000 hours TIS: Inspect cables 
for deficiencies within 10 hours TIS after September 1, 2011, (the 
effective date retained from AD 2011-17-07).
    (2) If any deficiencies are found during the inspection required 
in paragraph (j)(1) of this AD, before further flight replace the 
cable(s).
    (3) Replace all other primary control and trim tab cables (pilot 
and co-pilot aileron cables, rudder/aileron interconnect cables, 
aileron trim tab cables, rudder trim tab cables, and elevator 
cables) within the initial compliance times as listed in paragraphs 
(j)(3)(i) through (j)(3)(iii) below and repetitively thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 3,500 hours TIS. Do the replacements 
following paragraph 2. ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS, sections C. 
through E., including all subparagraphs of M7 Aerospace SA226 Series 
Service Bulletin 226-27-072, issued June 27, 2011.
    (i) For cables with less than or equal to 3,500 hours TIS: 
replace cables when the control cables reach a total of 3,500 hours 
TIS or 150 hours TIS after September 1, 2011, (the effective date 
retained from AD 2011-17-07), whichever occurs later.
    (ii) For cables with less than or equal to 5,000 hours TIS but 
greater than 3,500 hours TIS: replace cables within 150 hours TIS 
after September 1, 2011, (the effective date retained from AD 2011-
17-07).
    (iii) For cables with more than 5,000 hours TIS: replace cables 
within 50 hours TIS after September 1, 2011, (the effective date 
retained from AD 2011-17-07).

(k) Set Flight Control Cable Tension

    Between 50 hours TIS and 200 hours TIS after installing any new 
control cable as required in paragraphs (g) through (j) of this AD, 
including all subparagraphs, check (set) flight control cable 
tension following paragraph 2. ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS, sections 
C. through E. of M7 Aerospace SA226 Series Service Bulletin 226-27-
072, issued June 27, 2011.

(l) Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement

    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty 
for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to 
the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that 
collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control 
Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 
2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is 
estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the 
time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this 
burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to 
the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

(m) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office, 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 ACO, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in paragraph (n) of this AD.
    (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.
    (3) AMOCs approved for AD 2011-17-07, Amendment 39-16771 (76 FR 
50881, August 17, 2011) are not approved as AMOCs for the 
corresponding provisions of this AD.

(n) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Andrew McAnaul, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, ASW-143 (c/o San Antonio MIDO), 10100 
Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio, Texas 78216; phone: (210) 
308-3365; fax: (210) 308-3370; email: andrew.mcanaul@faa.gov.

(o) 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.

[[Page 38394]]

    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (3) The following service information was approved for IBR on 
July 21, 2015.
    (i) M7 Aerospace SA226 Series Service Letter 226-SL-050, issued 
April 15, 2015.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (4) The following service information was approved for IBR on 
September 1, 2011 (76 FR 50881, August 17, 2011).
    (i) M7 Aerospace SA226 Series Service Bulletin 226-27-072, 
issued June 27, 2011.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (5) For M7 Aerospace LLC service information identified in this 
AD, contact M7 Aerospace LLC, 10823 NE Entrance Road, San Antonio, 
Texas 78216; phone: (210) 824-9421; fax: (210) 804-7766; Internet: 
http://www.elbitsystems-us.com; email: MetroTech@M7Aerospace.com.
    (6) You may view this service information at FAA, 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.
    (7) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference 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/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 25, 2015.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-16171 Filed 7-2-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P