Document ID: FAA-2014-0532-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Pacific Aerospace Limited Airplanes
Posted Date: 2014-08-05T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 150 (Tuesday, August 5, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45383-45385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18449]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0532; Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-016-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace 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 
Pacific Aerospace Limited Models FU24-954 and FU24A-954 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 cracking of control column at 
the wiring access hole, which could lead to 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 September 19, 
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 
Pacific Aerospace Limited, Airport Road, Hamilton Private Bag 3027 
Hamilton 3240, New Zealand; telephone: +64 7 843 6144; fax: +64 7 843 
6134; email: pacific@aerospace.co.nz; Internet: http://www.aerospace.co.nz/. 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 Docket No. FAA-2014-
0532; 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-2014-0532; 
Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-016-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite

[[Page 45384]]

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 Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness 
authority for New Zealand, has issued AD DCA/FU24/183, dated May 29, 
2014 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe 
condition for Pacific Aerospace Limited Models FU24-954 and FU24A-954 
airplanes and was based on mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information originated by an aviation authority of another country. The 
MCAI states:

    This AD requires an inspection of the control column for 
mechanical damage, deformation and cracks per the instructions in 
Pacific Aerospace Limited (PAL) Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. 
PACSB/FU/095 issue 2 dated 28 May 2014. For control columns found 
with mechanical damage or deformation the AD requires a 50 hour 
repetitive NDT inspection until replacement. Control column 
replacement is required at the next maintenance inspection, or 
within the next 150 hours TIS, whichever is the later.

    You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0532.

Relevant Service Information

    Pacific Aerospace Limited has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin 
PACSB/FU/095, Issue 2, dated May 28, 2014. 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 1 product of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about .5 work-hour 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 $42.50, or $42.50 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 8 work-hours and require parts costing $1,000, for a cost of 
$1,680 per product. We have no way of determining the number of 
products that may need these actions.
    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this AD may be 
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected 
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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. Amend Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Pacific Aerospace Limited: Docket No. FAA-2014-0532; Directorate 
Identifier 2014-CE-016-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by September 19, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pacific Aerospace Limited Models FU24-954 and 
FU24A-954 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any 
category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 27: Flight 
Controls.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted from mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another 
country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as cracking of the 
control column at the wiring access hole. We are issuing this AD to 
detect and correct cracking of the control column at the wiring 
access hole which could cause control column failure and subsequent 
loss of control.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions in paragraphs 
(f)(1) through (f)(3) of

[[Page 45385]]

this AD, following the accomplishment instructions in Pacific 
Aerospace Limited Mandatory Service Bulletin PACSB/FU/095, Issue 2, 
dated May 28, 2014.
    (1) Within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD, inspect the control column part number 
(P/N) 08-45031/32 for cracks.
    (2) If any mechanical damage, deformation, or cracks are found, 
before further flight, replace the control column with an airworthy 
control column P/N 08-45031/32.
    (3) If no mechanical damage, deformation, or cracks are found 
after the inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, at the 
next scheduled maintenance inspection or within the next 150 hours 
TIS, whichever occurs later, replace the control column with an 
airworthy P/N 08-45031/32.

(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) 329-4123 ; 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/FU24/183, 
dated May 29, 2014, and Pacific Aerospace Limited Mandatory Service 
Bulletin PACSB/FU/095, Issue 2, dated May 28, 2014, for related 
information. You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-
2014-0532. For service information related to this AD, contact 
Pacific Aerospace Limited, Airport Road, Hamilton Private Bag 3027 
Hamilton 3240, New Zealand; telephone: +64 7 843 6144; fax: +64 7 
843 6134; email: pacific@aerospace.co.nz; Internet: http://www.aerospace.co.nz/. 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 July 29, 2014.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-18449 Filed 8-4-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P