[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 58 (Thursday, March 26, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14660-14662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7889]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-126-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Avions Mudry & Cie Model CAP 10B 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document proposes to supersede airworthiness directive 
(AD) 93-10-11, which currently requires the following actions on Avions 
Mudry & Cie (Avions) Model CAP 10B airplanes: installing an inspection 
opening in the wing, repetitively inspecting the upper wing spar cap 
for cracks, and repairing any cracks. The proposed action would retain 
the same actions already required by AD 93-10-11, but would add 
inspecting, and repairing if necessary, the lower surface of the wing 
spar. The proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority 
for France. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to 
prevent structural cracks in the wing spar, which, if not corrected, 
could lead to loss of a wing and loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 27, 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-126-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 Avions Mudry & Cie, B.P. 214, 27300 Bernay, France: telephone (33) 
32.43.47.34; facsimile (33) 32.43.47.90. This information also may be 
examined at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl M. Schletzbaum, Aerospace 
Engineer, 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-126-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-126-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    Airworthiness Directive (AD) 93-10-11, Amendment 39-8592, (58 FR 
31342, June 2, 1993) currently requires

[[Page 14661]]

installing a permanent inspection opening and repetitively inspecting 
the upper wing spar caps for cracks on Avions Model CAP 10B airplanes, 
and if any cracks are found, prior to further flight, repairing the 
cracks in accordance with a repair scheme provided by the manufacturer.

Actions Since Issuance of Previous Rule

    The Direction Generale De L'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the 
airworthiness authority for France, has notified the FAA that an unsafe 
condition may still exist on certain Avions Mudry & Cie (Avions) Model 
CAP 10B airplanes.
    The DGAC advises that they are still receiving reports of cracks on 
the upper surfaces of the wing, and cracks have now been showing up on 
the underside of the wing spar. The DGAC reports that this cracking 
occurs as a result of exceeding the load limit determined for the 
airplane, executing snap roll maneuvers outside the envelope for which 
the airplane is certificated, and repetitive hard landings.
    Avions has used the information received from field reports to 
revise the service information regarding the inspection procedures for 
detecting cracks in the critical structure of the wings. Some reports 
have noted cracks along the No. 1 spar ribs, on the roots left and 
right of the wing, and cracks caused by over stress on the spar. Some 
damage has been extending to the lower surface of the spar and has 
occurred along the undercarriage attachment fitting. Cracks in these 
areas lead to separation of the spruce filler, delamination of the 
lower surfaces of the spar, and splits in the plywood skin of the lower 
wing spar surface.

Relevant Service Information

    Avions has issued Service Bulletin CAP10B-57-003, Revision 1, dated 
April 3, 1996, which specifies procedures for inspecting the upper and 
lower wing spar for cracks, and determining whether any cracks found 
are compression cracks or lengthwise wood fissures. The revised service 
information simplifies the inspection procedure for the upper surface 
of the wing spar, recommends contacting the manufacturer for a repair 
method to fix any cracks found, and adds a new inspection to the lower 
surface of the wing spar along the undercarriage attachment fitting.
    The inspections to the lower wing surface would also include 
determining what type of spruce filler is used at the underwing 
location, and depending on the type of spruce filler the wing is 
equipped with, a boroscope inspection would be performed. If any cracks 
are found, the service information recommends that the operator contact 
the manufacturer for the appropriate repair method. The manufacturer 
recommends repetitively inspecting for cracks in the same areas 
regardless of whether a repair was made.
    The DGAC classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued 
French AD 92-240(A)R1, dated October 22, 1997, in order to assure the 
continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France.

The FAA's Determination

    This airplane model is manufactured in France 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 DGAC has kept the FAA informed 
of the situation described above.
    The FAA has examined the findings of the DGAC, reviewed all 
available information, 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 Avions Model CAP 10B airplanes of the same 
type design registered for operation in the United States, the proposed 
AD would supersede AD 93-10-11 with a new AD that would require 
repetitively inspecting the upper and lower wing spars for structural 
cracking, and if any cracks are found, repairing the cracks in 
accordance with a repair method provided by the manufacturer through 
the FAA.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 37 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 5 
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the 
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. There is no cost for 
parts associated with the proposed AD. Based on these figures, the 
total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to 
be $11,100 or $300 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 removing Airworthiness Directive 
(AD) 93-10-11, Amendment 39-8592, and by adding a new AD to read as 
follows:

Avions Mudry & Cie: Docket No. 97-CE-126-AD; Supersedes AD 93-10-11, 
Amendment 39-8592.

    Applicability: Model CAP 10B 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

[[Page 14662]]

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, or within the next 1,000 
hours TIS after the last inspection required in accordance with AD 
93-10-11, Amendment 39-8592, whichever occurs later, unless already 
accomplished, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1,000 hours 
TIS.
    To prevent structural cracks in the wing spars, which, if not 
corrected, could lead to loss of a wing and loss of control of the 
airplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) Inspect the upper and lower wing surfaces of both wing spars 
for cracks in accordance with Avions Mudry & Cie (Avions) Service 
Bulletin (SB) CAP10B-57-003, Revision 1, dated April 3, 1996.
    (b) If any cracks are found, prior to further flight, repair the 
cracks with a repair scheme obtained from the manufacturer through 
the FAA Project Officer at the Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 
Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Note 2: The compliance times required in this AD take precedence 
over the compliance times stated in Avions SB CAP10B-57-003, 
Revision 1, dated April 3, 1996.

    (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 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. Alternative methods of compliance approved in 
accordance with AD 93-10-11 are not considered approved as 
alternative methods of compliance for this AD.

    Note 3: 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 Avions Mudry & 
Cie Service Bulletin CAP10B-57-003, Revision 1, dated April 3, 1996, 
should be directed to Avions Mudry & Cie, B.P. 214, 27300 Bernay, 
France: telephone (33) 32 43 47 34; facsimile (33) 32 43 47 90. 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.
    (f) This amendment supersedes AD 93-10-11, Amendment 39-8592.

    Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in French AD 92-
240(A)R1, dated October 22, 1997.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 19, 1998.
Marvin R. Nuss,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-7889 Filed 3-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P