[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 21 (Monday, February 2, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5318-5320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2421]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-144-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; AERMACCI S.p.A. S.205 Series and Models 
S.208 and S.208A Airplanes

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 AERMACCI S.p.A. S.205 series and Models S.208 
and S.208A airplanes. The proposed AD would require inspecting all 
flight control cables (elevator control, aileron control, rudder, 
flaps, nose gear steering, parking brake, safety belts, and autopilot 
systems) for cracks in the eye end, and replacing any control cable 
with any crack in the eye end. 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 loss of critical airplane functions 
because of cracked flight control cables, which could result in loss of 
control of the airplane if occurring during flight.

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-144-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.


[[Page 5319]]


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-144-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-144-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, recently notified the FAA that an 
unsafe condition may exist on AERMACCI S.p.A. S.205 series and Models 
S.208 and S.208A airplanes. The R.A.I. reports that manufacturing 
tooling may have caused cracks in the cable eyes on the flight control 
cables. This includes the control cables for the elevator control, 
aileron control, rudder, flaps, nose gear steering, parking brake, 
safety belts, and autopilot systems.
    Cracked flight control cables, if not corrected in a timely manner, 
could result in loss of critical airplane functions with possible loss 
of control of the airplane if occurring during flight.

Relevant Service Information

    SIAI Marchetti S.p.A. has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 
205B58, not dated, which includes procedures for inspecting the flight 
control cables for cracks in the eye end on the above-referenced 
airplanes. This service bulletin also specifies removing and discarding 
any cracked flight control cable.
    The R.A.I. classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued 
Italian AD 95-119, dated May 2, 1995, 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. S.205 series and 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 all flight control cables (elevator control, aileron 
control, rudder, flaps, nose gear steering, parking brake, safety 
belts, and autopilot systems) for cracks in the eye end, and replacing 
any control cable that has a crack in the eye end. Accomplishment of 
the proposed inspection would be in accordance with the previously 
referenced service information. Accomplishment of the proposed 
replacement(s), if applicable, would be in accordance with the 
maintenance manual.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 70 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 20 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the actions in the proposed AD, 
and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts 
cost approximately $100 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total 
cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$910,000, or $1,300 per airplane.

Differences Between Service Bulletin, Italian AD, and This Proposed 
AD

    SIAI Marchetti S.p.A. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 205B58, not 
dated, includes procedures for inspecting the flight control cables for 
cracks in the eye end. This service bulletin also specifies removing 
and discarding any cracked flight control cable. Italian AD 95-119, 
dated May 2, 1995, mandates the actions in this service bulletin for 
all S.205 series and Models S.208 and S.208A airplanes on the Italian 
register.
    No where in SIAI Marchetti S.p.A. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 
205B58 is there reference to replacing cracked flight control cables; 
only to removing and discarding these cables. The proposed AD differs 
from this service bulletin in that it proposes replacing cracked flight 
control cables with new cables of the same design.

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.

[[Page 5320]]

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:

Aermacci S.P.A.: Docket No. 97-CE-144-AD.

    Applicability: Models S.205-18/F, S.205-18/R, S.205-20/F, S.205-
20/R, .205-22/R, 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 (e) 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 loss of critical airplane functions because of 
cracked flight control cables, which could result in loss of control 
of the airplane if occurring during flight, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD, inspect all flight control cables 
(elevator control, aileron control, rudder, flaps, nose gear 
steering, parking brake, safety belts, and autopilot systems) for 
cracks in the eye end. Accomplish this inspection in accordance with 
SIAI Marchetti, S.p.A. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 205B58.
    (b) If any cracked flight control cable is found, prior to 
further flight after the inspection required by paragraph (a) of 
this AD, replace the cracked cable with a new cable of the same 
design that is found to be free of cracks in the eye end. The 
replacement(s) shall be accomplished in accordance with the 
applicable maintenance manual.
    (c) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install a 
flight control cable on an affected airplane, unless the cable has 
been found to be free of cracks in the eye end.
    (d) 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.
    (e) 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.

    (f) Questions or technical information related to SIAI 
Marchetti, S.p.A. Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 205B58, 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 95-
119, dated May 2, 1995.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 26, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-2421 Filed 1-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U