[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 

[[Page 1533]]
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:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Model                             Serial Nos.           
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.)                          
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 

[[Page 1534]]
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