Airworthiness Directives; Aerostar Aircraft Corporation Airplanes

Published date26 June 2020
Citation85 FR 38338
Record Number2020-13662
SectionProposed rules
CourtFederal Aviation Administration
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 124 (Friday, June 26, 2020)
[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: [email protected].
                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: [email protected].
                 (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:
                [email protected].
                 (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
                

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