Airworthiness Directives; Alpha Aviation Concept Limited Airplanes
Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 186 (Friday, September 25, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Number 186 (Friday, September 25, 2015)
Proposed Rules
Pages 57753-57755
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov
FR Doc No: 2015-24149
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Docket No. FAA-2015-3956; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-032-AD
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Alpha Aviation Concept 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 certain Alpha Aviation Concept Limited Model R2160 airplanes that would supersede AD 2008-09-01. 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 a need to revise the maintenance program to include the revised airworthiness limitations for the internal wing structure and wing attachment inspections. 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 November 9, 2015.
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 Alpha Aviation Holdings Limited, Steele Road, RD 2 Hamilton Airport, Hamilton 3282, New Zealand, telephone: +64 7 843 9877; fax: +64 7 929 2878; Internet: http://www.alphaaviation.co.nz/. You may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You may review copies of the 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-2015-
3956; 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-2015-3956; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-032-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
On April 11, 2008, we issued AD 2008-09-01, Amendment 39-15481 (73
Page 57754
FR 21519; April 22, 2008) (``AD 2008-09-01''). That AD required actions intended to address an unsafe condition on certain Alpha Aviation Concept Limited Model R2160 airplanes and was based on mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country.
Since we issued AD 2008-09-01, Alpha Aviation Concept Limited developed a longer life limit for the wing structure and wing attachments and transferred the life limit information from the related service information to the airplane maintenance manual. Subsequently, Alpha Aviation Concept Limited discovered that the analysis that allowed the life limit increase was incorrect and the previous life limit and inspection provisions of the related service bulletin should be retained.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the aviation authority for New Zealand, has issued AD DCA/R2000/43, dated August 7, 2015 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:
This AD introduces a change to the airworthiness limitations for the internal wing structure and wing attachment inspections. These inspection intervals were increased and added to Section 3.2--
Airworthiness Limitations of the applicable Service Manual in January 2015. Section 3.2 of the respective Service Manuals has now been revised to revert to the original inspection intervals.
You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
3956.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
Alpha Aviation Concept Limited has issued Alpha Aviation APEX R2000 Service Manual, S/N 001 to 378, and Alpha Aviation R2000 Service Manual. These service manuals include a revision to Section 3: Airworthiness Limitations, Time Limits, & Maintenance Inspections, Issued August 2015. These revisions now include periodic internal wing structure and wing attachment inspections. A copy of these revisions to the Airworthiness Limitations section of the applicable service manuals are 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 of this NPRM.
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 9 products of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would take about 3 work-hours 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 $2,295, or $255 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would take about 12 work-hours and require parts costing $1,326, for a cost of $2,346 per product. 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 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 removing Amendment 39-15481 (73 FR 21519; April 22, 2008), and adding the following new AD:
Alpha Aviation Concept Limited: Docket No. FAA-2015-3956; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-032-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by November 9, 2015.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD supersedes AD 2008-09-01, Amendment 39-15481 (73 FR 21519; April 22, 2008) (``AD 2008-09-01'').
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Alpha Aviation Concept Limited Model R2160 airplanes, serial numbers (S/Ns) 001 through 378, and 160A-06001 and subsequent, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 5: Time Limits.
(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
Page 57755
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as a need to revise the maintenance program to include the revised airworthiness limitations for the internal wing structure and wing attachment inspections. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the wing structure and fuselage attachment due to undetected fatigue and corrosion.
(f) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, before further flight after the effective date of this AD, insert the following into the Airworthiness Limitations section of the FAA-approved maintenance program (e.g., maintenance manual). These revisions to the Limitations sections incorporate the wing spar inspection upon the accumulation of 3,500 hours time-in-service (TIS) and requires a repetitive inspection thereafter every 750 hours TIS (the requirements of AD 2008-09-01):
(1) For S/Ns 001 through 378: Insert paragraph 3.4.9, Wing 3500 hr Inspection, on pages 3-3 and 3-4, dated August 2015, of Section 3: Airworthiness Limitations, Time Limits, & Maintenance Inspections, dated August 2015, of the APEX R2000 Service Manual S/N 001 to 378, Alpha Aviation Ltd.
(2) For S/Ns 160A-06001 and subsequent: Insert paragraph 3.4.9, Wing 3500 hr Inspection, on pages 3-3 and 3-4, dated August 2015, of Section 3: Airworthiness Limitations, Time Limits, & Maintenance Inspections, all dated August 2015, of the R2000 Service Manual, Alpha Aviation Ltd.
(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) 329-4146; 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/R2000/43, dated August 7, 2015, for related information. You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-3956. For service information related to this AD, contact Alpha Aviation Holdings Limited, Steele Road, RD 2 Hamilton Airport, Hamilton 3282, New Zealand, telephone: +64 7 843 9877; fax: +64 7 929 2878; Internet: http://www.alphaaviation.co.nz/. You may review copies of the 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 September 17, 2015.
Melvin Johnson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
FR Doc. 2015-24149 Filed 9-24-15; 8:45 am
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