[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1532-1534]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-636]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 95-CE-54-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Bellanca, Incorporated Models 17-30,
17-30A, 17-31, 17-31A, 17-31TC, and 17-31ATC 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 certain Bellanca, Incorporated (Bellanca)
Models 17-30, 17-30A, 17-31, 17-31A, 17-31TC, and 17-31ATC airplanes.
The proposed action would require repetitively inspecting, testing, and
possibly replacing the nose landing gear (NLG) strut and brackets. A
collapse of a Bellanca airplane's NLG during a landing prompted the
proposed AD action. The actions specified by the proposed AD are
intended to prevent possible failure of the nose landing gear, which,
if not detected and corrected, could result in loss of control of the
airplane during landing operations.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 20, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-54-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 Bellanca, Incorporated, P.O. Box 964, Alexandria, Minnesota 56308;
telephone (612) 762-1501. This information also may be examined at the
Rules Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven J. Rosenfeld, Aerospace
Engineer, Airframe Branch, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, 2300
East Devon Avenue, Rm. 232, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; (708) 294-
7030; facsimile (708) 294-7834.
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. 95-CE-54-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. 95-CE-54-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
FAA has received a report of the nose landing gear (NLG) on a
Bellanca Model 17-30A airplane collapsing during a landing. The
collapse was caused by the NLG right drag strut bracket, part number
(P/N) 194383-10, separating from the fire wall. A metallurgic
examination found that this bracket broke into three pieces at two
fracture locations and evidence showed that the fractures resulted from
fatigue cracking originating from multiple sites along the forward and
aft faces of the bracket. The cracks are occurring because of high
loads feeding into the brackets due to incorrect landing gear rigging
and the NLG wheel contacting the NLG wheel well before the NLG actuator
reaches its stroke limit. An investigation revealed that these cracks
could lead to the collapse of the NLG during ground operations and
during landing operations. Similar reports of cracks and bends in the
drag strut brackets (P/N 194383-0 Left and 194383-10 Right) have been
received, but none of these owner/operators reported collapsing during
landing operations.
Bellanca, Inc. has issued Service Letter (SL) B-107 which
specifies procedures for inspecting the NLG drag strut and brackets for
cracks, conducting a rigging and landing gear ``In-the Well'' test, and
modifying the NLG cylinder.
After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available
information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has
determined that AD action should be taken to prevent possible failure
of the nose landing gear, which, if not detected and corrected, could
result in loss of control of landing operations.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Bellanca Models 17-30, 17-30A, 17-31, 17-31A,
17-31TC, and 17-31ATC of the same type design, the proposed AD would
require inspecting, testing, and possibly replacing and modifying the
nose landing gear strut brackets. Accomplishment of the proposed
actions would be in accordance with Bellanca SL B-107, dated September
20, 1995.
The FAA estimates that 1,109 airplanes in the U.S. registry would
be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 24
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost
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approximately $160 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be
$1,774,400 or approximately $1,600 per airplane. Bellanca has informed
the FAA that no parts have been distributed to owner/operators for this
replacement; therefore, this figure is based on the assumption that no
owners/operators have accomplished the proposed inspection, testing,
and replacement. In addition, the FAA has no way of determining the
number of repetitive inspections each owner/operator will incur prior
to replacing the bracket.
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 USC 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
Bellanca Incorporated: Docket No. 95-CE-54-AD.
Applicability: The following airplane models and serial numbers,
certificated in any category:
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Model Serial Nos.
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17-30............................... (Serial number 30123 through
30262.)
17-30A.............................. (Serial number 30263 through 78-
30905, except 76-30824.)
17-31............................... (Serial number 32-1 through 32-
14.)
17-31A.............................. (Serial number 32-15 through 78-
32172.)
17-31TC............................. (Serial number 31001 through
31003.)
17-31ATC............................ (Serial number 31004 through 79-
31155.)
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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 (g) 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 initially upon accumulating 500 hours time-
in-service (TIS) or within the next 50 hours TIS after the effective
date of this AD, whichever occurs later, unless already
accomplished, and thereafter as indicated in the body of this AD.
To prevent failure of the nose landing gear (NLG), which, if not
detected and corrected, could result in loss of control of the
airplane during landing operations.
(a) Inspect the NLG drag strut brackets for cracks or bends in
accordance with the instructions in section 4 NLG DRAG STRUT BRACKET
INSPECTION of Bellanca Service Letter (SL) B-107, dated September
20, 1995. Prior to further flight, replace any cracked or bent
bracket with a part number (P/N) 194650-0 (right side) bracket or a
P/N 194383-0 (left side) bracket in accordance with instructions in
section 5. INSTALLATION NEW BRACKETS of Bellanca SL B-107, dated
September 20, 1995.
(b) Inspect the NLG installation, including the upper and lower
leg assemblies, upper and lower drag struts, over-center spring
assembly, and engine mount; for corroded or worn bolts in accordance
with the instructions in Section 6. NLG DRAG STRUT INSPECTION of
Bellanca SL B-107, dated September 20, 1995. Prior to further
flight, replace any corroded or worn bolts.
(c) Check the NLG drag strut rigging, the overcenter of the drag
strut, and the NLG cylinder actuator stroke limit, and adjust any
discrepancies in accordance with the applicable instructions
contained in the following:
(1) Section 7. PRELIMINARY NLG DRAG STRUT RIGGING CHECK
(including section 7.1 Preliminary Nose-Wheel-In-The-Well Test and
section 7.2 Preliminary NLG Cylinder Down Test) of Bellanca SB B-
107, dated September 20, 1995.
(2) Section 8. DRAG STRUT OVERCENTER TEST AND ADJUSTMENT of
Bellanca SL B-107, dated September 20, 1995.
(3) Section 9. NLG CYLINDER DOWN TEST AND ADJUSTMENT of Bellanca
SL B-107, dated September 20, 1995.
(d) If any discrepancies were found during any of the checks
accomplished as required by paragraph (c) of this AD and the right
side NLG drag strut bracket has not been replaced with P/N 194650-0
(accomplished as possible requirement of paragraph (a) of this AD),
accomplish the following:
(1) Reinspect the NLG drag strut brackets for cracks or bends at
intervals not to exceed 50 hours TIS in accordance with Section 4
NLG DRAG STRUT BRACKET INSPECTION of Bellanca SL B-107, dated
September 20, 1995.
(2) Prior to further flight, replace any cracked or bent bracket
with a P/N 194650-0 (right side) bracket or a P/N 194383-0 (left
side) bracket in accordance with the instructions in section 5.
INSTALLATION NEW BRACKETS of Bellanca SL B--107, dated September 20,
1995. Installing the P/N 194650-0 (right side) bracket eliminates
the repetitive inspection requirement of this AD.
(3) The P/N 194650-0 (right side) bracket may be installed at
any time to eliminate the repetitive inspection requirement of this
AD.
(e) Check the NLG retraction (NLG-In-The-Well Test) in
accordance with the instruction in Section 10. NLG-IN-THE-WELL TEST
AND NLG CYLINDER MODIFICATION of Bellanca SL B-107, dated September
20, 1995. If the nose gear cylinder rod motion is greater than 0.015
inches, prior to further flight, replace the cylinder internal
stroke limiting sleeve with a new sleeve, P/N 195577-4, in
accordance with the instructions in Section 10. NLG-IN-THE-WELL TEST
AND NLG CYLINDER MODIFICATION of Bellanca SL B-107, dated September
20, 1995.
(f) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviations Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the airplane to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(g) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
initial or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent
level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Chicago Aircraft
Certification Office, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Rm. 232, Des Plaines,
Illinois 60018. The request shall be forwarded through an
appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then
send it to the Manager, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of
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compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Chicago
Aircraft Certification Office.
(h) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the document referred to herein upon request to Bellanca,
Incorporated, P. O. Box 964, Alexandria, Minnesota 56308; 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 January 10, 1996.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 96-636 Filed 1-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U