[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 28, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page ]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-23944]


[Federal Register: September 28, 1994]


                                                   VOL. 59, NO. 187

                                      Wednesday, September 28, 1994

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-CE-15-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; American General Aircraft Corporation 
Models AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B, and AG-5B Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) that would apply to American General Aircraft Corporation 
(American General) Models AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B, and AG-5B airplanes. The 
proposed action would require inspecting (one-time) the wing attach 
shoulder bolts for fretting, scoring, wear, excessive clearance, or 
enlarged or elongated mounting holes (known as damage from hereon), 
replacing any damaged parts and repairing any damaged areas, and 
reporting to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the results of 
the inspection. Four reports of wing attach shoulder bolt failure 
prompted the proposed action. The actions specified by the proposed AD 
are intended to prevent wing attach shoulder bolt failure, which could 
lead to structural damage of the wing/fuselage to the point of failure.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 9, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the FAA, Central Region, 
Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-
CE-15-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. 
Comments may be inspected at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.
    Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained 
from Fletch Air, Inc., 9000 Randolph Street, Houston, Texas 77061; 
telephone (713) 649-8700 or (800) 329-4647; facsimile (713) 643-0070. 
This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the 
address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ozzie Lopez, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, 1669 Phoenix Parkway, Suite 
210C, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone (404) 991-2910; facsimile (404) 
991-3606.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments, 
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the 
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned 
with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 94-CE-15-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-15-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The FAA has received four reports (three in England and one in the 
United States) of wing attach shoulder bolt failure on American General 
Models AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B, and AG-5B airplanes. Investigation reveals 
that excessive wing to center spar clearance could have contributed to 
the bolt failures; however, in each of the four instances, the bolts 
failed prior to reaching the service life of 7,250 hours time-in- 
service (TIS). The FAA has determined that, in order to assure the 
safety of these airplanes, the established service life of these bolts 
needs review.
    American General has issued Critical Service Bulletin SB-185, dated 
July 6, 1994, which specifies procedures for inspecting the wing attach 
shoulder bolts and the mounting holes in the wing spar and the center 
section spar on American General Models AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B, and AG-5B 
airplanes.
    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has 
determined that, in order to determine whether the established service 
life of the wing attach shoulder bolts is adequate, (1) a one-time 
inspection should be accomplished to reveal the condition of these 
bolts on the American General Models AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B, and AG-5B 
airplane fleet; and (2) AD action should be taken to prevent wing 
attach shoulder bolt failure, which could lead to structural damage of 
the wing/fuselage to the point of failure.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other American General Models AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B, 
and AG-5B airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would 
require inspecting (one-time) the wing attach shoulder bolts for 
fretting, scoring, wear, excessive clearance, or enlarged or elongated 
mounting holes (known as damage from hereon), replacing any damaged 
parts and repairing any damaged areas, and reporting to the FAA the 
results of the inspection. The proposed inspections would be 
accomplished in accordance with American General Critical Service 
Bulletin SB-185, dated July 6, 1994.
    The FAA will examine the inspection results and determine whether 
further rulemaking action is needed.
    The FAA estimates that 3,700 airplanes in the U.S. registry would 
be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 10 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspection, and that 
the average labor rate is approximately $55 an hour. Based on these 
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $2,035,000 ($550 per airplane X 3,700 airplanes). This 
figure is based upon the assumption that no affected airplane operator 
has accomplished the proposed inspection, and does not take into 
account the cost for replacement if damaged bolts are found. The FAA 
has no way of determining the number of bolts that may need to be 
replaced based upon the results of the inspections.
    The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct 
effects 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. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this 
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant 
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is 
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; 
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) if promulgated, 
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. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation 
prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of 
it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location 
provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as 
follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new AD to read as follows:

American General Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 94-CE-15-AD.

    Applicability: Models AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B, and AG-5B airplanes 
(all serial numbers), certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in- service 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already 
accomplished.
    To prevent wing attach shoulder bolt failure, which could lead 
to structural damage of the wing/fuselage to the point of failure, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) Inspect the wing attach shoulder bolts (4) for fretting, 
scoring, wear, excessive clearance, or enlarged or elongated 
mounting holes (known as damage from hereon) in accordance with all 
the procedures included in the INSPECTION section of American 
General Critical Service Bulletin SB-185, dated July 6, 1994. Prior 
to further flight, replace any damaged parts and repair any damaged 
areas in accordance with the applicable maintenance manual.
    (b) Send the results of the inspection required by paragraph (a) 
of this AD within 10 calendar days after the inspection to the 
Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1669 Phoenix 
Parkway, Suite 210C, Atlanta, Georgia 30349. Include the airplane 
serial number, and the condition and number of hours TIS of each 
bolt at the time of inspection. (Reporting approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget under OMB no. 2120-0056.)
    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Secs. 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 
21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the 
requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Atlanta ACO at the address specified in 
paragraph (b) of this AD. The request shall be forwarded through an 
appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then 
send it to the Manager, Atlanta ACO.

    Note: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Atlanta ACO.

    (e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the document referred to herein upon request to Fletch Air, Inc., 
9000 Randolph Street, Houston, Texas 77061; or may examine this 
document at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 22, 1994.
Barry D. Clements,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 94-23944 Filed 9-27-94; 8:45 am]
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