[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6689-6690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3227]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-91-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; EXTRA Flugzeugbau GmbH Models EA-300 
and EA-300/S 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 EXTRA Flugzeugbau GmbH (EXTRA) Models EA-300 
and EA-300/S airplanes. The proposed AD would require inspecting the 
rudder control cables to assure that correctly swaged 
Nicopress type sleeves are installed at each end of the 
cables, and replacing any cable assembly where correctly swaged 
Nicopress type sleeves are not installed. The proposed AD 
is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
issued by the airworthiness authority for Germany. The actions 
specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent a control cable 
from pulling through an incorrectly swaged sleeve, which could result 
in loss of rudder control with consequent loss of control of the 
airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 10, 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-91-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 EXTRA Flugzeugbau GmbH, Flugplatz Dinslaken, D-4224 Hunxe, 
Germany. This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at 
the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut Street, 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-91-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-91-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), which is the airworthiness authority 
for Germany, notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on 
EXTRA Models EA-300 and EA-300/S airplanes. The LBA advises of an 
incident on one of the affected airplanes where loss of rudder control 
was reported. Preliminary investigation reveals that the rudder control 
cable pulled through an incorrectly swaged Nicopress type 
sleeve.
    These conditions, if not detected and corrected, could result in 
loss of rudder control with consequent loss of control of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    EXTRA has issued Service Bulletin No. 300-1-93, dated February 9, 
1993, which includes measurements and information for inspecting the 
rudder control cables for correctly swaged Nicopress type 
sleeves. Procedures for conducting this inspection are included in 
Advisory Circular (AC) 43.13-1A, Acceptable Methods, Techniques and 
Practices.
    The LBA classified EXTRA Service Bulletin No. 300-1-93, dated 
February 9, 1993, as mandatory and issued German AD No. 93-081, dated 
March 15, 1993, in order to assure the continued airworthiness of these 
airplanes in Germany.

The FAA's Determination

    This airplane model is manufactured in Germany 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 LBA has kept the FAA informed of 
the situation described above.
    The FAA has examined the findings of the LBA; reviewed all 
available

[[Page 6690]]

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 EXTRA Models EA-300 and EA-300/S airplanes of 
the same type design registered in the United States, the FAA is 
proposing AD action. The proposed AD would require inspecting the 
rudder control cables to assure that correctly swaged 
Nicopress type sleeves are installed at each end of the 
cables, and replacing any cable assembly where correctly swaged 
Nicopress type sleeves are not installed. Accomplishment of 
the proposed inspection would be required in accordance with EXTRA 
Service Bulletin No. 300-1-93, dated February 9, 1993, and AC 43.13-1A, 
Acceptable Methods, Techniques and Practices. The proposed replacement 
would be required in accordance with the maintenance manual.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 23 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 6 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost 
approximately $500 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $19,780, 
or $860 per airplane.

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:

Extra Flugzeugbau GMBH: Docket No. 97-CE-91-AD.

    Applicability: Models EA-300 and EA-300/S 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 a control cable from pulling through an incorrectly 
swaged sleeve, which could result in loss of rudder control with 
consequent loss of control of the airplane, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD, inspect the rudder control cables to 
assure that correctly swaged Nicopress type sleeves are 
installed at each end of the cables. Accomplish this inspection in 
accordance with EXTRA Service Bulletin No. 300-1-93, dated February 
9, 1993, and Advisory Circular (AC) 43.13-1A, Acceptable Methods, 
Techniques and Practices.
    (b) Prior to further flight, replace any cable assembly where 
correctly swaged Nicopress type sleeves are not installed 
with cable assemblies that have correctly swaged Nicopress 
type sleeves installed.
    (1) Accomplish the replacement in accordance with the 
maintenance manual.
    (2) Accomplish the installation in accordance with EXTRA Service 
Bulletin No. 300-1-93, dated February 9, 1993, and AC 43.13-1A, 
Acceptable Methods, Techniques and Practices.
    (c) 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.
    (d) 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 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 EXTRA Service 
Bulletin No. 300-1-93 dated February 9, 1993, should be directed to 
EXTRA Flugzeugbau GmbH, Flugplatz Dinslaken, D-4224 Hounxe, Germany. 
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 German AD No. 93-
081, dated March 15, 1993.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri on February 2, 1998.
Carolanne L. Cabrini,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-3227 Filed 2-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U