[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]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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