[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 20, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48628-48630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-23219]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 94-CE-15-AD; Amendment 39-9377; AD 95-19-15]
Airworthiness Directives; American General Aircraft Corporation
Models AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B, and AG-5B Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that
applies to American General Aircraft Corporation (American General)
Models AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B, and AG-5B airplanes. This action requires
inspecting the wing attach shoulder bolts for fretting, scoring, wear,
or enlarged or elongated mounting holes (known as damage from hereon),
and replacing any damaged parts and repairing any damaged areas; and
inspecting the wing spar at the center spar clearance gap for excessive
clearance, and shimming the spar if excessive clearance is found. The
actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent wing attach
shoulder bolt failure, which, if not detected and corrected, could lead
to structural damage to the wing/fuselage to the point of failure.
DATES: Effective November 17, 1995.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as
of November 17, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this 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 may also be examined at the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or
at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW.,
suite 700, Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ozzie Lopez, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, Campus Building, 1701
Columbia Avenue, suite 2-160, College Park, Georgia 30337-2748;
telephone (404) 305-7359; facsimile (404) 305-7348.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply
to certain American General Models AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B, and AG-5B
airplanes was published in the Federal Register on September 28, 1994
(59 FR 49359). The action proposed to require inspecting the wing
attach shoulder bolts for fretting, scoring, wear, or enlarged or
elongated mounting holes (known as damage from hereon), and replacing
any damaged parts and repairing any damaged areas; inspecting the wing
spar at the center spar clearance gap for excessive clearance, and
shimming the spar if excessive clearance is found; and reporting to the
FAA the results of the inspections. Accomplishment of the proposed
inspections would be in accordance with American General Critical
Service Bulletin SB-185, dated July 6, 1994. Accomplishment of the
proposed possible repairs, replacements, and excessive clearance
shimming would be in accordance with the applicable maintenance manual.
Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to
the comments received from one commenter.
The commenter states that the NPRM calls out an incorrect part
number (901044-3 and 901044-2) for serial numbers AA-5-0001 through AA-
5-0714 of the AA-5 series airplanes. The commenter suggests that the AD
be changed to reflect wing attach bolt, part number 901044-1, for the
referenced airplanes. The FAA concurs and has incorporated reference to
wing attach bolt, part number 901044-1, into the applicable portion of
the AD.
The commenter also explains that serial numbers AA-5-0001 through
AA-5-0714 of the AA-5 series airplanes have a 38-gallon gas tank
capacity, which is smaller than the 52-gallon capacity of the rest of
the fleet. The commenter recommends that this action not affect these
airplanes because the bolts are subjected to different loads. The FAA
concurs that these earlier models of the AA-5 series airplanes contain
smaller fuel tanks and that the airplanes incur different loads than
the rest of the fleet. However, failure of these bolts is also
attributable to excessive wing spar to center spar
[[Page 48629]]
clearance. This excessive clearance could occur through failure to
check and shim to the proper clearance after a major wing repair. In
fact, since issuing the NPRM, the FAA has received a report from Outlaw
Aviation in Clarksville, Tennessee, that details nine airplanes (out of
a total of 11 inspected) having excessive wing spar to center spar
clearance. Each of these nine airplanes had wing replacement
accomplished at American General. No changes to the AD have been made
as a result of this comment; however, the FAA has removed the reporting
requirement from the AD since the above-referenced report confirms the
FAA's belief that the affected airplanes could have excessive wing spar
to center spar clearance.
No comments were received on the FAA's determination of the cost to
the public.
After careful review of all available information, the FAA has
determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption
of the rule as proposed except for the incorporation of the wing attach
bolt part number, the removal of the reporting requirement, and minor
editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that this part number
incorporation, reporting requirement removal, and the minor editorial
corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any
additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.
The FAA estimates that 3,700 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 10 workhours per
airplane to accomplish the required action, and that the average labor
rate is approximately $60 an hour. Based on these figures, the total
cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $2,220,000
($600 per airplane x 3,700 airplanes). This figure is based on the
assumption that no affected airplane owner/operator has accomplished
the proposed inspection, and does not take into account the cost for
replacing any damaged bolts. The FAA has no way of determining the
number of bolts that may need to be replaced based on the results of
the inspections.
The regulations adopted herein will 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 final
rule does 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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this
action is contained 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, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to 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
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 USC 106(g), 40101, 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
95-19-15 American General Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-9377;
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.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability revision, regardless of whether it has been
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
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, if not
detected and corrected, 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), part numbers as
specified in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) below, for fretting,
scoring, wear, or enlarged or elongated mounting holes (known as
damage from hereon) in accordance with 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 with new or serviceable parts and repair any damaged
areas in accordance with the applicable maintenance manual.
(1) The wing attach shoulder bolt part number for serial numbers
AA-5-0001 through AA-5-0714 of the AA-5 series airplanes is 901044-
1.
(2) The wing attach shoulder bolt part numbers for all serial
numbers of the AA-5 series airplanes, except for serial numbers AA-
5-0001 through AA-5-0714, is either 901044-3 or 901044-2.
(b) Inspect the wing spar at the center spar clearance gap for
excessive clearance in accordance with the procedures included in
the INSPECTION section of American General Critical Service Bulletin
SB-185, dated July 6, 1994. If any gap exceeds .016-inch, prior to
further flight, shim the spar to reduce the gap to a level not to
exceed .008 inches in accordance with the instructions in the
applicable maintenance manual.
(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 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 Aircraft Certification Office
(ACO), Campus Building, 1701 Columbia Avenue, suite 2-160, College
Park, Georgia 30337-2748. 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 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Atlanta ACO.
(e) The inspection required by this AD shall be done in
accordance with American General Critical Service Bulletin SB-185,
dated July 6, 1994. This incorporation by reference was approved by
the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C.
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from Fletch Air,
Inc., 9000 Randolph Street, Houston, Texas 77061. Copies may be
inspected at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at
the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street NW.,
suite 700, Washington, DC.
(f) This amendment (39-9377) becomes effective on November 17,
1995.
[[Page 48630]]
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 13, 1995.
Gerald W. Pierce,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 95-23219 Filed 9-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U