[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 21 (Monday, February 2, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5324-5325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2416]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-140-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; AERMACCI S.p.A. Models S208 and S208A 
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 all AERMACCI S.p.A. Models S.208 and S.208A 
airplanes. The proposed action would require inspecting the landing 
gear rod springs to assure they are made with a wire diameter of 4.5 
millimeters (mm), and replacing any that have a wire diameter of 4.0 
mm. The proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Italy. The 
actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of 
the landing gear caused by an insufficient wire diameter of the rod 
springs, which could result in loss of control of the airplane during 
landing operations.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 9, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-140-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 SIAI Marchetti S.p.A., Product Support Department, Via 
Indipendenza 2, 21018 Sesto Calende (VA), Italy; telephone: +39-331-
929117; facsimile: +39-331-922525. This information also may be 
examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David O. Keenan, Project Officer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 1201 
Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 426-
6934; 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-140-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-140-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The Registro Aeronautico Italiano (R.A.I.), which is the 
airworthiness authority for Italy, notified the FAA that an unsafe 
condition may exist on AERMACCI S.p.A. Models S.208 and S.208A 
airplanes. The R.A.I. reports that the above-referenced airplanes could 
have landing gear rod springs that have a wire diameter of 4.0 
millimeters (mm) instead of 4.5 mm.
    This condition, if not corrected in a timely manner, could result 
in failure of the landing gear with possible loss of control of the 
airplane during landing operations.

Relevant Service Information

    SIAI Marchetti S.p.A. has issued Service Bulletin No. 205B59, dated 
July 29, 1995, which includes procedures for inspecting the landing 
gear rod springs for the correct wire diameter on the above-referenced 
airplanes, and specifies replacing any landing gear rod springs with an 
incorrect wire diameter.
    The R.A.I. classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued 
Italian AD 97-143 dated May 20, 1997, in order to assure the continued 
airworthiness of these airplanes in Italy.

The FAA's Determination

    These airplane models are manufactured in Italy and are 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 R.A.I. has kept the FAA informed 
of the situation described above.
    The FAA has examined the findings of the R.A.I.; 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 AERMACCI S.p.A. Models S.208 and S.208A 
airplanes of the same type design registered in the United States, the 
FAA is proposing AD action. The proposed AD would require inspecting 
the landing gear rod springs to assure they are made with a wire 
diameter of 4.5 millimeters (mm), and replacing any that have a wire 
diameter of 4.0 mm. Accomplishment of the proposed inspection would be 
in accordance with the previously referenced service information. 
Accomplishment of the proposed replacement, if applicable, would be in 
accordance with the maintenance manual.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 6 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 9 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost

[[Page 5325]]

approximately $15 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $3,330, 
or $555 per airplane. This figure is based on the presumption that all 
of the affected airplanes would have landing gear rod springs with an 
incorrect diameter, and would require replacement of these rod springs.

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:

AERMACCI S.P.A.: Docket No. 97-CE-140-AD.

    Applicability: Models S.208 and S.208A 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 (d) 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 as indicated in the body of this AD, unless 
already accomplished.
    To prevent failure of the landing gear caused by an insufficient 
wire diameter of the rod springs, which could result in loss of 
control of the airplane during landing operations, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD, inspect the landing gear rod springs to 
assure they are made with a wire diameter of 4.5 millimeters (mm). 
Accomplish this inspection in accordance with SIAI Marchetti S.p.A. 
Service Bulletin No. 205B59, dated July 29, 1995.
    (b) If any landing gear rod springs are found to have a wire 
diameter of 4.0 mm, prior to further flight after the inspection 
required by paragraph (a) of this AD, replace these rod springs with 
rod springs that have a wire diameter of 4.5 mm. Accomplish this 
replacement in accordance with the applicable maintenance manual.
    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Secs. 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.
    (d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance times that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 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 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.

    (e) Questions or technical information related to SIAI Marchetti 
S.r.1 Service Bulletin No. 205B59, dated July 29, 1995, should be 
directed to SIAI Marchetti S.p.A., Product Support Department, Via 
Indipendenza 2, 21018 Sesto Calende (VA), Italy; telephone: +39-331-
929117; facsimile: +39-331-922525. This service information may be 
examined 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 is addressed in Italian AD 97-
143, dated May 20, 1997.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 26, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-2416 Filed 1-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U