Airworthiness directives: Air Tractor, Inc.,
[Federal Register: October 27, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 208)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 62910-62912]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27oc06-13]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
[Docket No. FAA-2006-24228; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-22-AD; Amendment 39-14805; AD 2006-22-08]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-602, AT- 802, and AT-802A Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A airplanes. This AD requires you to repetitively inspect the engine mount for any cracks, repair or replace any cracked engine mount, and report any cracks found to the FAA. This AD results from reports of cracked engine mounts. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the engine mount, which could result in failure of the engine mount. Such failure could lead to separation of the engine from the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective on December 1, 2006.
As of December 1, 2006, the Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulation.
ADDRESSES: To get the service information identified in this AD, contact Air Tractor, Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374; telephone: (940) 564-5616; facsimile: (940) 564-5612.
To view the AD docket, go to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-001 or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-2006-24228; Directorate
Identifier 2006-CE-22-AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, ASW-150 (c/o MIDO-43), 10100 Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio, Texas 78216; telephone: (210) 308-3365; facsimile: (210) 308-3370.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On April 26, 2006, we issued a proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to all Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A airplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on May 2, 2006 (71 FR 25793). The NPRM proposed to require you to repetitively inspect the engine mount for any cracks, repair or replace any cracked engine mount, and report any cracks found to the FAA.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. The following presents the comment received on the proposal and FAA's response to the comment:
Comment Issue: Flight Test and Analysis
Ronald G. Bush suggests that proper flight testing of a correctly instrumented engine mount and structure, combined with analysis of the data collected, may provide for a more efficient solution to the cracking problem than the repetitive inspections currently provide. He notes that the cost of each inspection is estimated at $120, and a properly substantiated terminating action may prove less costly over time.
We partially agree that a properly executed flight test and analysis is a method to provide substantiating data that can be used to validate an alternate method for addressing the engine mount fatigue cracking. The FAA has not received any data at this time that proposes and substantiates a terminating action for the required inspections. If and when such information is received, we will consider mandating it through AD action.
We are not changing the AD as a result of this comment.
Conclusion
We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for minor editorial corrections. We have determined that these minor corrections:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed in the NPRM.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 368 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to do each required inspection:
Total cost per Total cost on U.S. Labor cost
Parts cost
airplane per operators for initial inspection
inspection
1.5 work-hours x $80 per hour = $120... Not Applicable............
$120 368 x $120 = $44,160.
We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need replacement of the engine mount. We estimate the following costs to do the replacement:
Total cost per Labor cost
Parts cost airplane per Total cost on U.S. operators inspection
for initial inspection
81 work-hours x $80 per hour = $6,480........
$3,982
$10,462 368 x $10,462 = $3,850,016.
[[Page 62911]]
Any required ``upon-condition'' repairs would vary depending upon the damage found during each inspection. Based on this, we have no way of determining the potential repair costs for each airplane.
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 AD.
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that 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:
-
Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866;
-
Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
-
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.
We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD (and other information as included in the Regulatory Evaluation) and placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2006-24228; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-22-AD'' in your request.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0 Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration 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. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:
2006-22-08 Air Tractor, Inc.: Amendment 39-14805; Docket No. FAA- 2006-24228; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-22-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This AD becomes effective on December 1, 2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD affects all Models AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A airplanes, all serial numbers, that are certificated in any category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from reports of cracked engine mounts. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the engine mount, which could result in failure of the engine mount. Such failure could lead to separation of the engine from the airplane.
Compliance
(e) To address this problem, you must do the following:
Actions
Compliance
Procedures
(1) Visually inspect the Initially inspect Follow Snow engine mount for any cracks. upon accumulating Engineering Co. 4,000 hours time-in- Service Letter service (TIS) or 253, dated within the next 100 December 12, 2005. hours TIS after December 1, 2006 (the effective date of this AD), whichever occurs later, unless already done. Thereafter, repetitively inspect every 300 hours TIS. (2) If you find any crack Before further
For obtaining a damage, do one of the
flight after any repair scheme: following:
inspection required Follow Snow (i) Obtain an FAA-approved by paragraph (e)(1) Engineering Co. repair scheme and
of this AD where Service Letter incorporate this repair crack damage is 253, dated scheme; or
found. If you
December 12, 2005. (ii) Replace the engine
repair the cracked For the mount with a new engine engine mount, then replacement: The mount.
continue to
maintenance manual reinspect at
includes intervals not to instructions for exceed 300 hours the replacement. TIS, unless the repair scheme states differently. If you replace the engine mount, then initially inspect upon accumulating 4,000 hours TIS and repetitively at intervals not to exceed 300 hours TIS thereafter. (3) Report any cracks that Within the next 10 The Office of you find to the FAA at the days after you find Management and address specified in
the cracks or
Budget (OMB) paragraph (f) of this AD. within the next 10 approved the Include in your report: days after December information (i) Airplane serial number; 1, 2006 (the
collection (ii) Airplane and engine effective date of requirements mount hours TIS;
this AD), whichever contained in this (iii) Crack location(s) and occurs later.
regulation under size(s);
the provisions of (iv) Corrective action
the Paperwork taken; and
Reduction Act and (v) Point of contact name
assigned OMB and telephone number.
Control Number 2120- 0056.
[[Page 62912]]
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(f) The Manager, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office, FAA, Attn: Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, ASW-150 (c/o MIDO-43), 10100 Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio, Texas 78216; telephone: (210) 308-3365; facsimile: (210) 308-3370, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
Material Incorporated by Reference
(g) You must do the actions required by this AD following the instructions in Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter 253, dated December 12, 2005. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service bulletin in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. To get a copy of this service information, contact Air Tractor, Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374; telephone: (940) 564-5616; facsimile: (940) 564- 5612. To review copies of this service information, go to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html or call (202) 741-6030. To view the AD docket,
go to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL- 401, Washington, DC 20590-001 or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-2006-24228; Directorate
Identifier 2006-CE-22-AD.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 13, 2006. James E. Jackson, Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. E6-17828 Filed 10-26-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
