[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 58 (Thursday, March 26, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14658-14660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7888]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-121-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH Models 228-100, 
228-101, 228-200, 228-201, 228-202, and 228-212 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 certain Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH (Dornier) 
Models 228-100, 228-101, 228-200, 228-201, 228-202, and 228-212 
airplanes. The proposed AD would require modifying the logic in the 
failure detection circuits of the landing gear uplock switches. 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 
false warning indication of landing gear failure because of the design 
of the landing gear warning system, which could result in incorrect 
actions from the pilot based on the warning indications.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 27, 1998.


[[Page 14659]]


ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-121-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 Daimler-Benz Aerospace, Dornier, Product Support, P.O. Box 1103, 
D-82230 Wessling, Federal Republic of Germany; telephone: (08153) 300; 
facsimile: (08153) 302985. 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, 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-121-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-121-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), which is the airworthiness authority 
for Germany, recently notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may 
exist on certain Dornier Models 228-100, 228-101, 228-200, 228-201, 
228-202, and 228-212 airplanes. The LBA reports an incident of a false 
landing gear warning indication on one of the above-referenced 
airplanes. The current design of the landing gear warning system is 
such that the three uplock switches could actuate in a parallel 
connection. If one or two switches fail or failure in the wiring cables 
occurs, the system would not identify the failed system. The third 
switch may then initiate a false gear warning indication.
    These conditions, if not corrected in a timely manner, could result 
in incorrect actions from the pilot based on false landing gear warning 
indications.

Relevant Service Information

    Dornier has issued Service Bulletin No. SB-228-215, Revision No. 1, 
dated January 31, 1995, which specifies procedures for modifying the 
logic in the failure detection circuits of the landing gear uplock 
switches.
    The LBA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued 
German AD No. 95-246, dated August 23, 1995, 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 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 Dornier Models 228-100, 228-101, 228-200, 
228-201, 228-202, and 228-212 airplanes of the same type design 
registered in the United States, the FAA is proposing AD action. The 
proposed AD would require modifying the logic in the failure detection 
circuits of the landing gear uplock switches. Accomplishment of the 
proposed installation would be in accordance with Dornier Service 
Bulletin No. SB-228-215, Revision No. 1, dated January 31, 1995.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 26 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 32 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Based on these 
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $49,920, or $1,920 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:

[[Page 14660]]

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:

Dornier Luftfahrt GmBH: Docket No. 97-CE-121-AD.

    Applicability: Models 228-100, 228-101, 228-200, 228-201, 228-
202, and 228-212 airplanes, serial numbers 0001 through 8235, 
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 (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 100 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already 
accomplished.
    To prevent a false warning indication of landing gear failure 
because of the design of the landing gear warning system, which 
could result in incorrect actions from the pilot based on the 
warning indications, accomplish the following:
    (a) Modify the logic in the failure detection circuits of the 
landing gear uplock switches in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT 
INSTRUCTIONS section of Dornier Service Bulletin No. SB-228-215, 
Revision No. 1, dated January 31, 1995.
    (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 airplane 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, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut, 
suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64016. 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.

    (d) Questions or technical information related to Dornier 
Service Bulletin No. SB-228-215, Revision No. 1, dated January 31, 
1995, should be directed to Daimler-Benz Aerospace, Dornier, Product 
Support, P.O. Box 1103, D-82230 Wessling, Federal Republic of 
Germany; telephone: (08153) 300; facsimile: (08153) 302985. 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 95-246, 
dated August 23, 1995.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 19, 1998.
Marvin R. Nuss,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-7888 Filed 3-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P