Document ID: FAA-2020-0574-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Aerostar Aircraft Corporation Airplanes
Posted Date: 2020-06-26T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 124 (Friday, June 26, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38338-38340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13662]

 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 124 / Friday, June 26, 2020 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 38338]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0574; Product Identifier 2019-CE-015-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Aerostar Aircraft Corporation Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all Aerostar Aircraft Corporation Model PA-60-601P (Aerostar 601P), 
PA-60-602P (Aerostar 602P), and PA-60-700P (Aerostar 700P) airplanes. 
This proposed AD was prompted by reports of corrosion on the elevator 
and aileron balance tubes. This proposed AD would require repetitively 
inspecting the elevator and aileron balance tubes for corrosion and 
rust and replacing the tube. The FAA is issuing this proposed AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 10, 
2020.

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 https://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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Aerostar 
Aircraft Corporation, 2265 West Aerostar Way, Hayden Lake, ID 83835; 
telephone: (208) 762-0338; fax: (208) 762-8349; internet: https://aerostaraircraft.com. You may view this service information at the FAA, 
You may review this referenced service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 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 https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0574; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this NPRM, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for Docket Operations is listed above. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Herron, Aerospace Engineer, 
Seattle ACO Branch, FAA, 2200 S 216th St, Des Moines, WA 98198; phone: 
(206) 231-3544; email: david.herron@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-0574; 
Product Identifier 2019-CE-015-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
NPRM because of those comments.
    The FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. 
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this NPRM.

Discussion

    The FAA received reports of corrosion on the elevator and aileron 
balance tubes. Aerostar Aircraft Corporation (Aerostar) reported that, 
during repair of a Model PA-60-601P airplane, corrosion was found on 
the balance tubes used in the elevator and aileron systems. Corrosion 
on balance tubes in the elevator and aileron system may be hidden by 
rubber boots. These balance tubes counteract the effects of cabin 
pressurization. The majority of the Aerostar PA-60 airplane fleet have 
pressurized cabins. After the finding on the first airplane, Aerostar 
inspected four additional airplanes in the PA-60 fleet. Aerostar 
reported four out of these five airplanes had corrosion on both the 
aileron and elevator balance tubes. This condition, if not addressed, 
could result in failure of the aileron and elevator balance tubes. This 
failure could cause the aileron and/or elevator balance tubes to jam 
and result in loss of control of the airplane.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Aerostar Service Bulletin SB600-138, dated August 
30, 2018. The service bulletin contains procedures for repetitively 
inspecting the elevator and aileron balance tubes for corrosion and 
rust and replacing the tubes at a specified time and repetitively if 
necessary. 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.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is proposing this AD because it evaluated all relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    This proposed AD would not require completing the reply card and 
returning it to Aerostar as specified in Step 13 of Part II of the 
service information.

[[Page 38339]]

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 404 airplanes of 
U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Cost on U.S.
             Action                   Labor cost          Parts cost       Cost per product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspect elevator and aileron      1 work-hour x $85   Not Applicable....  $85 per inspection  $34,340 per
 balance tubes.                    per hour = $85                          cycle.              inspection cycle.
                                   per inspection
                                   cycle.
Replace elevator and aileron      8 work-hours x $85  $1,187............  $1,867............  $754,268.
 balance tubes.                    per hour = $680.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 
replacements that would be required based on the results of the 
proposed repetitive inspections, assuming separate replacement 
intervals. The FAA has no way of determining the number of airplanes 
that might need these replacements:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace elevator balance tube.................  8 work-hours x $85 per hour =               $594          $1,274
                                                 $680.
Replace aileron balance tube..................  8 work-hours x $85 per hour =                594           1,274
                                                 $680.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Aerostar Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2020-0574; Product 
Identifier 2019-CE-015-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by August 10, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Aerostar Aircraft Corporation Model PA-60-
601P (Aerostar 601P), PA-60-602P (Aerostar 602P), and PA-60-700P 
(Aerostar 700P) airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any 
category.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of corrosion on the elevator and 
aileron balance tubes. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect 
corrosion on the elevator and aileron balance tubes. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of the aileron 
and elevator balance tubes, jamming of the aileron and/or elevator 
balance tubes, and loss of control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Repetitive Inspections

    Within 10 hours time-in-service after the effective date of this 
AD, inspect the elevator and aileron balance tubes for corrosion 
(pitting and flaking) and rust (discoloration) by following steps 1. 
through 3. of Part I (Inspection) of the Instructions in Aerostar 
Aircraft Corporation Service Bulletin SB600-138, dated August 30, 
2018 (Aerostar SB600-138). For each tube replaced as required by 
paragraph (h) of this AD, using a borescope, repeat the inspection 
within 10 years after replacing the tube and thereafter as follows:
    (1) At intervals not to exceed 10 years as long as no rust is 
found.
    (2) At intervals not to exceed 2 years if only rust is found 
(without any signs of corrosion).

[[Page 38340]]

(h) Replacements

    At the following compliance times, replace each elevator and 
aileron balance tube by following Part II (Replacement) of the 
Instructions in Aerostar SB600-138, except you are not required to 
report information to the manufacturer:
    (1) Before further flight if corrosion or rust is found (inside 
or outside the tubes) during the initial inspection required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD.
    (2) At the next 100-hour inspection or at the next annual 
inspection, whichever occurs first, if no corrosion and no rust is 
found (inside or outside the tubes) during the initial inspection 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD.
    (3) Before further flight if corrosion is found (inside or 
outside the tubes) during any repetitive inspection required by 
paragraph (g) of this AD.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Seattle ACO Branch, 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 certification office, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in paragraph (j)(1) of this AD. Information may be 
emailed to: 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov.
    (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.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact David Herron, 
Aerospace Engineer, Seattle ACO Branch, FAA, 2200 S 216th St., Des 
Moines, WA 98198; phone: (206) 231-3544; email: 
david.herron@faa.gov.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Aerostar Aircraft Corporation, 2265 West Aerostar Way, Hayden Lake, 
ID 83835; telephone: (208) 762-0338; fax: (208) 762-8349; internet: 
https://aerostaraircraft.com. You may view this service information 
at the FAA, You may review this referenced service information at 
the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 
901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

    Issued on June 17, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-13662 Filed 6-25-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P