[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