Document ID: FAA-2013-0997-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Slingsby Aviation Ltd. Airplanes
Posted Date: 2013-11-21T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 225 (Thursday, November 21, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 69785-69787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27919]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0997; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-044-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Slingsby Aviation Ltd. 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 
Slingsby Aviation Ltd. Model T67M260 airplanes. 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 cracked horizontal stabilizer attachment 
brackets, which could lead to separation of the

[[Page 69786]]

horizontal stabilizer and result in loss of control. 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 January 6, 2014.

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 
Slingsby Advanced Composites, Ings Lane, Kirbymoorside, York, YO62 6EZ, 
United Kingdom, telephone: +44 (0) 1751 432474; fax +44 (0) 1751 
433016, Internet: www.marshall-slingsby.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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-
2013-0997; 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: Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
mike.kiesov@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-2013-0997; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-044-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

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued AD 
No. 2012-0169, dated August 31, 2012 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    Several cases have been reported of cracked horizontal 
stabiliser attachment brackets on Slingsby T67 aeroplanes.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
separation of the horizontal stabiliser and consequent loss of 
control of the aeroplane.
    Prompted by these reports, Slingsby issued Service Bulletin (SB) 
179 to provide instructions for repetitive inspections. The CAA UK, 
the State of Design authority at the time, issued AD 001-12-
2002,which was later superseded by AD G-2005-0004 (EASA approval 
2005-564) to require repetitive inspections and, depending on 
findings, replacement of the affected brackets.
    Since that AD was issued, Slingsby published SB 179 issue 4, 
which removed the Model T67M260-T3A from the Applicability (all 
aeroplanes of this Model are confirmed to have been scrapped) and 
clarified that replacement of the affected aluminum brackets with 
titanium brackets (Slingsby Modification M988A or B) constitutes 
terminating action for the repetitive inspections.
    For the reasons described above, this AD retains the 
requirements of CAA UK AD G-2005-0004, which is superseded, removes 
the Model T67M260-T3A from the Applicability and confirms that 
installing titanium brackets constitutes terminating action for the 
repetitive inspection requirements of this AD.

    You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-
2013-0997.

Relevant Service Information

    Slingsby Advanced Composites Ltd. has issued Service Bulletin No. 
179, Issue 4, dated March 15, 2007. The actions described in this 
service information are intended to correct the unsafe condition 
identified in the MCAI.

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 11 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 2 work-hours per 
product to comply with the basic inspection of the aluminum horizontal 
stabilizer attachment brackets requirement 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 $1,870, or $170 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 8 work-hours and require parts costing $7,250 (for all four 
titanium horizontal stabilizer attachment brackets), for a cost of 
$7,930 per product, or parts costing $9,557 (for all four aluminum 
horizontal stabilizer attachment brackets), for a cost of $10,237. 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

[[Page 69787]]

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 adding the following new AD:

Slingsby Aviation Ltd.: Docket No. FAA-2013-0997; Directorate 
Identifier 2013-CE-044-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by January 6, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Slingsby Aviation Ltd. Model T67M260 
airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 55: Stabilizers.

(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 condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as cracked 
horizontal stabilizer attachment brackets. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent separation of the horizontal stabilizer, which could result 
in loss of control.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the actions specified in paragraphs 
(f)(1) through (f)(4) of this AD:
    (1) Within the next 150 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD or at the next annual inspection after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, and repetitively 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 150 hours TIS, inspect the 
aluminum horizontal stabilizer attachment brackets for cracks. Do 
the inspections following the ACTION instructions in Slingsby 
Advanced Composites Ltd. Service Bulletin S.B. No: 179, Issue 4, 
dated March 15, 2007.
    (2) If, during any inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of 
this AD, any cracks are found, before further flight, replace the 
cracked bracket with a serviceable part. Do the replacement 
following the ACTION instructions in Slingsby Advanced Composites 
Ltd. Service Bulletin S.B. No: 179, Issue 4, dated March 15, 2007. 
If a serviceable aluminum horizontal stabilizer attachment bracket 
is used as a replacement part, repetitively inspect as specified in 
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD.
    (3) To terminate the repetitive inspections required in 
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, all four aluminum horizontal stabilizer 
attachment brackets must be replaced with titanium horizontal 
stabilizer attachment brackets.
    (4) After installing titanium horizontal stabilizer attachment 
brackets, installing aluminum horizontal stabilizer attachment 
brackets are prohibited.

(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: Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
mike.kiesov@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.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, 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.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2012-
0169, dated August 31, 2012, for related information. You may 
examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2013-0997. For 
service information related to this AD, contact Slingsby Advanced 
Composites, Ings Lane, Kirbymoorside, York, YO62 6EZ, United 
Kingdom, telephone: +44 (0) 1751 432474; fax +44 (0) 1751 433016, 
Internet: www.marshall-slingsby.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.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 15, 2013.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-27919 Filed 11-20-13; 8:45 am]
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