[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6934-6935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3886]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-59-AD; Amendment 39-9520; AD 96-04-08]


Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Incorporated Models AT-802 
and AT-802A 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 Air Tractor, Incorporated (Air Tractor) Models AT-802 and 
AT-802A airplanes. This action requires repetitively replacing the main 
landing gear legs. Failure of the main landing gear legs on an AT-802A 
prompted this action. The actions specified by this AD are intended to 
prevent possible failure of the main landing gear legs, which, if not 
detected and corrected, could result in loss of control of the airplane 
during landing operations.

DATES: Effective April 12, 1996.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of April 12, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained 
from Air Tractor Incorporated, P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374; 
telephone (817) 564-5616, facsimile (817) 564-2348. 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-59-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: Bob May, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Aircraft Certification Office, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, 
Texas 76193-0150; telephone (817) 222-5155, 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 Air Tractor, Incorporated (Air Tractor) Models AT-802 and AT-802A 
airplanes was published in the Federal Register on October 5, 1995 (60 
FR 52130). The action proposed to require repetitively replacing the 
main landing gear legs in accordance with Snow Engineering Company 
Service Letter (SL) 104A, dated July 29, 1995.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the 
proposed rule or 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 18 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 12 hours per 
airplane to accomplish this action, and that the average labor rate is 
approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost approximately $2,816 per 
airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD on 
U.S. operators is estimated to be $63,648 ($3,536 per airplane). This 
figure is based on the assumption that no affected airplane owner/
operator has replaced the main landing gear legs and does not take into 
account the number of repetitive replacements each operator would incur 
over the life of the airplane. The FAA has no way of determining how 
many main landing gear replacements each owner/operator will incur.
    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 

[[Page 6935]]
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 U.S.C. 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:

Ad No. 96-04-08  Air Tractor Incorporated: Amendment 39-9520; Docket 
No. 95-CE-59-AD.

    Applicability: Model AT-802 and AT-802A Airplanes (all serial 
numbers), certificated in any category:

    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 upon the accumulation of 3,000 
landings or within the next 25 landings after the effective date of 
this AD, whichever occurs later, unless already accomplished, and 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 3,000 landings.

    Note 2: If the number of landings is not known, calculate by 
multiplying three landings per one hour time-in-service (TIS).

    To prevent possible failure of the main landing gear legs, which 
could result in loss of control of landing operations and possible 
loss of the airplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) Replace the main landing gear legs, Air Tractor part number 
(P/N) 40091-2, in accordance with Air Tractor Service Bulletin (SB) 
104A, dated July 29, 1995.
    (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 
initial or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent 
level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Fort Worth Aircraft 
Certification Office, FAA, Aircraft Certification Office, 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 
Aircraft Certification Office.

    Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Fort Worth Aircraft Certification Office.

    (d) The replacements required by this AD shall be done in 
accordance with Air Tractor Service Bulletin 104A, dated July 29, 
1995. 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 Air Tractor Incorporated, P.O. 
Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374. 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 (39-9520) becomes effective on April 12, 
1996.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 13, 1996.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 96-3886 Filed 2-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U