[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 216 (Friday, November 7, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60183-60184]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29408]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 216 / Friday, November 7, 1997 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 60183]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 97-CE-84-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; HOAC Austria Model DV-20 Katana
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 HOAC Austria Model DV-20 Katana
airplanes. The proposed AD would require replacing the nose wheel leg
of the nose landing gear (NLG) with a part of improved design. The
proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Austria.
The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent NLG
collapse caused by cracks in the welding of the nose wheel tappet of
the NLG, which could result in the inability to control the airplane
during landing, takeoff, and other ground operations.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 8, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-84-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 Diamond Aircraft Industries, G.m.b.H., N.A. Otto-Strabe 5, A-2700,
Wiener Neustadt, Austria. This information also may be examined at the
Rules Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Roger P. Chudy, Aerospace
Engineer, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service,
FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone
(816) 426-5688; facsimile (816) 426-2169.
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. 97-CE-84-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 Regional Counsel, Attention:
Rules Docket No. 97-CE-84-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The Austro Control GmbH, which is the airworthiness authority for
Austria, recently notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist
on certain HOAC Austria Model DV-20 Katana airplanes. The Austro
Control GmbH reports that an incident of defective welding on the nose
wheel tappet of the nose landing gear (NLG) caused the NLG to collapse
during a hard landing on one of the referenced airplanes. These
conditions, if not corrected, could result in NLG collapse and the
inability to control the airplane during landing, takeoff, and other
ground operations.
Explanation of the Relevant Service Information
HOAC Austria has issued Diamond Aircraft Industries Service
Bulletin No. 20-32, dated April 5, 1996, which specifies procedures for
inspecting the weld on the nose wheel tappet of the NLG for cracks.
This service bulletin specifies replacement of the nose wheel leg of
the NLG with a part of improved design, leg version ``B'', in
accordance with the applicable maintenance manual.
The Austro Control GmbH classified this service bulletin as
mandatory and issued Austrian AD No. 86, dated May 29, 1996, in order
to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Austria.
FAA's Determination
This airplane model is manufactured in Austria and is type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the Austro Control GmbH has kept the
FAA informed of the situation described above.
The FAA has examined the findings of the Austro Control GmbH;
reviewed all available information, including the service information
referenced above; and determined that AD action is necessary for
products of this type design that are certificated for operation in the
United States.
Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed Rule
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other HOAC Austria Model DV-20 Katana airplanes of
the same type design registered in the United States, the FAA is
proposing AD action. The proposed AD would require replacing the nose
wheel leg of the NLG with a part of improved design, nose
[[Page 60184]]
wheel leg version ``B'', in accordance with the applicable maintenance
manual.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 20 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1
workhour per airplane to accomplish the proposed replacement, and that
the average labor rate is approximately $60 per hour. Parts cost
approximately $900 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $19,200
or $960 per airplane.
Differences Between the Austrian AD, the Service Bulletin, and This
Proposed AD
Austrian AD No. 86, dated May 29, 1996, and Diamond Aircraft
Industries Service Bulletin N. 20-32, dated April 5, 1996, both give
the owners/operators of certain HOAC Austria Model DV-20 Katana
airplanes the option of either (1) repetitively inspecting the weld of
the nose wheel tappet in the NLG until cracks are found, at which time
immediate modification or replacement (with parts of improved design)
would be required; or (2) immediately replacing the weld of the nose
wheel tappet in the NLG with parts of improved design.
The FAA's policy is to provide corrective action that will
eliminate the need for repetitive inspections. The FAA has determined
that long-term operational safety will be better assured by design
changes that remove the source of the problem, rather than by
repetitive inspections or other special procedures.
Because replacing the nose wheel leg (with parts of improved
design) eliminates the need for repetitive inspections, the proposed AD
differs from the service bulletin and the Austrian AD in that it would
mandate the replacement.
Regulatory Impact
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 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:
HOAC Austria: Docket No. 97-CE-84-AD.
Applicability: Model DV-20 Katana airplanes, serial numbers
20005 through 20160, 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 within the next 100 hours time-in-service
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already
accomplished.
To prevent nose landing gear (NLG) collapse caused by cracks in
the welding of the nose wheel tappet of the NLG, which could result
in the inability to control the airplane during landing, takeoff,
and other ground operations, accomplish the following:
(a) Replace the nose wheel leg of the NLG with a part of
improved design, nose wheel leg version ``B'', in accordance with
the applicable maintenance manual.
Note 2: Diamond Aircraft Industries Service Bulletin No. 20-32,
dated April 5, 1996, specifies the replacement required by this AD.
(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, Small Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1201
Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. The request shall be
forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may
add comments and then send it to the Manager, Small Airplane
Directorate.
Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.
(d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the document referred to herein upon request to HOAC Austria
Ges.m.b.H., N.A. Otto-Strabe 5, A-2700, Wiener Neustadt, Austria; or
may examine this document at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106.
Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in Austrian AD No.
86, dated May 29, 1996.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 31, 1997.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-29408 Filed 11-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U