[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 25, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 62725-62726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30866]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 97-CE-78-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Aeromot-Industria Mecanico Metalurgica
Ltda. Models AMT-100 and AMT-200 Powered Gliders
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
(AD) that would apply to certain Aeromot-Industria Mecanico Metalurgica
Ltda. (Aeromot) Models AMT-100 and AMT-200 powered gliders. The
proposed action would require replacing all main landing gear attaching
nuts and bolts with ones of improved design. The proposed AD is the
result of mandatory continued airworthiness information (MCAI) issued
by the airworthiness authority for Brazil. The actions specified by the
proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of the main landing gear,
which could cause loss of control of the sailplane during landing
operations.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 26, 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-78-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 Grupo Aeromot, Aeromot-Industria Mecanico Metalurgica Ltda., Av.
das Industries-1210, Bairro Anchieta, Caixa Postal 8031, 90200-Porto
Alegre-RS, Brazil. This information also may be examined at the Rules
Docket at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Curtis Jackson, Aerospace Engineer,
Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix
Blvd., suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone (770) 703-6083;
facsimile (770) 703-6097.
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. 9-CE-78-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-78-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas
City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The Centro Tecnico Aeroespacial (CTA), which is the airworthiness
authority for Brazil, recently notified the FAA that an unsafe
condition may exist on certain Aeromot Models AMT-100 and AMT-200
powered gliders. The CTA reports that the main landing gear on two
powered gliders failed. The failure is the result of hard landings
shearing the attaching bolts and causing collapse of the main landing
gear. After further investigation, the manufacturer has determined that
these bolts (part numbers (P/N) TH 6x30 PL11) and nuts (P/N 6PA-108)
may have intergranular defects and the design is not adequate to
withstand a very hard landing. These conditions, if not corrected,
could result in loss of the main landing gear during landing
operations.
Relevant Service Information
Aeromot has issued Service Bulletin (SB) No. SB-200-32-044, Issue
Date August 18, 1997, which specifies procedures for removing the
original attaching bolts and nuts, and installing attaching bolts and
nuts of an improved design.
The CTA classified these service bulletins as mandatory and issued
Brazilian AD 97-09-06, dated August 14, 1997, in order to assure the
continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Brazil.
The FAA's Determination
This airplane model is manufactured in Brazil 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 CTA has kept the FAA informed of
the situation described above. The FAA
[[Page 62726]]
has examined the findings of the CTA; 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 AD
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Aeromot Models AMT-100 and AMT-200 powered
gliders of the same type design registered in the United States, the
proposed AD would require replacing all main landing gear attaching
bolts and nuts with attaching bolts and nuts of improved design.
Accomplishment of the proposed action would be in accordance with
Aeromot SB No. SB-200-32-044, Issue Date August 18, 1997.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 18 powered gliders in the U.S. registry
would be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately
1 workhour per powered glider to accomplish the proposed action, and
that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts are
provided by the manufacturer at no cost. Based on these figures, the
total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to
be $1,080 for the fleet or $60 per glider.
Compliance Time
The compliance time of the proposed AD is in calendar time instead
of hours time-in-service (TIS). The average monthly usage of the
affected glider ranges throughout the fleet. For example, one owner may
operate the glider 25 hours TIS in one week, while another operator may
operate the glider 25 hours TIS in one year. In order to ensure that
all of the owners/operators of the affected gliders have replaced the
attaching bolts and nuts on the main landing gear within a reasonable
amount of time, the FAA is proposing a compliance time of 30 calendar
days.
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:
Aeromot-Industria Mecanico Metalurgica LTDA: Docket No. 97-CE-78-AD.
Applicability: Model AMT-100 powered gliders (serial numbers (S/
N) 100.001 through 100.039 and 100.041 through 100.044) and Model
AMT-200 powered gliders (S/N 200.040 and 200.045 through 200.080),
certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each glider 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 gliders 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 30 calendar days after the
effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.
To prevent failure of the main landing gear, which could cause
loss of control of the sailplane during landing operations,
accomplish the following:
(a) Replace all main landing gear attaching bolts (part number
(P/N) TH 6x30 PL11 or an FAA-approved equivalent part number) and
nuts (P/N 6 PA-108 or an FAA-approved equivalent part number) with
attaching bolts (P/N DIN 931 M6x30 (Pitch 1.0) Class 10.9 or an FAA-
approved equivalent part number) and nuts (P/N DIN 982 M6 (Pitch
1.0) or an FAA-approved equivalent part number) in accordance with
the Procedures section in AEROMOT-IND. MECANICO-METALURGICA LTDA.
Service Bulletin No. SB-200-32-044, Issue Date August 18, 1997.
(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 glider 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, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, One
Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Blvd., suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349.
The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the
Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office.
(d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
this document referred to herein upon request to Grupo Aeromot,
Aeromot-Industria Mecanico Metalurgica Ltda., Av. das Industries-
1210, Bairro Anchieta, Caixa Postal 8031, 90200-Porto Alegre-RS,
Brazil; or may examine these documents at the FAA, Central Region,
Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Note 3: The subject of this AD addresses Brazilian CTA AD 97-09-
06, dated August 14, 1997.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 17, 1997.
Larry E. Werth,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-30866 Filed 11-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U