[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 227 (Monday, November 27, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58208-58209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28794]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 95-CE-01-AD; Amendment 39-9441; AD 95-24-11]
Airworthiness Directives; Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227
Series 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 certain Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227 series airplanes.
This action requires installing foreign object damage (FOD) barriers in
the floorboards of the cockpit between the pedestal and floor from
Fuselage Station (FS) 79.38 to FS 88.06 and on the outboard forward
edge of the left-hand and right-hand cockpit forward floorboards at FS
79.38. Two incidents of objects falling through openings in the cockpit
floor and jamming the elevator controls and the yoke prompted this
action. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent
airplane flight control jammings caused by objects falling through the
cockpit floor openings.
DATES: Effective January 3, 1996. The incorporation by reference of
certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the
Director of the Federal Register as of January 3, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained
from Fairchild Aircraft, P.O. Box 790490, San Antonio, Texas 78279-
0490; telephone (210) 824-9421. This information may also be examined
at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of
the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 95-CE-01-AD, 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. Werner Koch, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Airplane Certification Office, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth,
Texas 76193-0150; telephone (817) 222-5133; facsimile (817) 222-5960.
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 Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227 series airplanes was
published in the Federal Register on June 15, 1995 (60 FR 14235). The
action proposed to require installing foreign object damage (FOD)
barriers in the floorboards of the cockpit between the pedestal and
floor from Fuselage Station (FS) 79.38 to FS 88.06 and on the outboard
forward edge of the left-hand and right-hand cockpit forward
floorboards at FS 79.38. Accomplishment of the proposed action would be
in accordance with Fairchild Service Bulletin (SB) 226-53-012,
Fairchild SB 227-53-005, or Fairchild SB CC7-53-002, all Issued:
September 22, 1994, as applicable.
Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to
the one comment received.
The commenter is in favor of the substance of the proposed rule,
but feels that the FAA should have issued a final rule; request for
comments, instead of a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). Under
current regulations, the FAA must issue an NPRM prior to issuing a
final rule to allow the public the opportunity to comment, unless the
FAA demonstrates that the unsafe condition is an urgent safety of
flight condition. After reviewing all information related to this
subject, the FAA made the determination prior to issuing the NPRM that
the unsafe condition was not an urgent safety of flight conditon, and
thus did not require final rule; request for comments, AD action. The
AD is unchanged as a result of this comment.
No comments were received on the FAA's determination of the cost to
the public.
After careful review of all available information related to the
subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for
minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor
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 855 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 4 workhours per
airplane to accomplish the required action, and that the average labor
rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost approximately $50 per
airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD on
U.S. operators is estimated to be $247,950. This figure is based on the
assumption that no affected airplane owner/operator has incorporated
the required modification and that parts have not been distributed to
any owner/operator of the affected airplanes.
The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct
effects on the States, on the relationship between the
[[Page 58209]]
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. Section 39.13 [AMENDED]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
95-24-11 Fairchild Aircraft: Amendment 39-9441; Docket No. 95-CE-01-
AD.
Applicability: The following airplane models and serial numbers,
certificated in any category:
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Model Serial Nos.
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SA226-T................................ All serial numbers.
SA226-T(B)............................. All serial numbers.
SA226-AT............................... All serial numbers.
SA226-TC............................... All serial numbers.
SA227-AT............................... All serial numbers.
SA227-AC............................... All serial numbers.
SA227-BC............................... All serial numbers.
SA227-TT............................... All serial numbers.
SA227-CC............................... CC784 and CC790 through CC863
SA227-DC............................... DC784 and DC790 through DC863
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Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability provision, 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 (c) 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 600 hours time-in-
service after the effective date of this AD, unless already
accomplished.
To prevent airplane flight control jammings caused by objects
falling through the cockpit floor openings, accomplish the
following:
(a) Install foreign object damage (FOD) barriers in the
floorboards of the cockpit between the pedestal and floor from
Fuselage Station (FS) 79.38 to FS 88.06 and on the outboard forward
edge of the left-hand and right-hand cockpit forward floorboards at
FS 79.38. Accomplish this action in accordance with the
ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of either Fairchild Service
Bulletin (SB) 226-53-012, Fairchild SB 227-53-005, or Fairchild SB
CC7-53-002, all Issued: September 22, 1994, as applicable.
(b) 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.
(c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, Airplane Certification Office (ACO), FAA,
2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0150. The request
shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector,
who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Fort Worth
ACO.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Fort Worth ACO.
(d) The installation required by this AD shall be done in
accordance with Fairchild Service Bulletin 226-53-012, Fairchild
Service Bulletin 227-53-005, or Fairchild Service Bulletin CC7-53-
002, all Issued: September 22, 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
Fairchild Aircraft, P.O. Box 790490, San Antonio, Texas 78279-0490.
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., 7th Floor, suite 700, Washington, DC.
(e) This amendment (39-9441) becomes effective on January 3,
1996.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 17, 1995.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 95-28794 Filed 11-24-95; 8:45 am]
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