[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 218 (Thursday, November 12, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63132-63134]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30051]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-NM-143-AD; Amendment 39-10879; AD 98-23-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; de Havilland Model DHC-7 Series 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD), applicable to all de Havilland Model DHC-7 series airplanes, that 
currently requires certain structural inspections, and repair, if 
necessary. This amendment requires an additional structural inspection. 
This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. 
The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct 
fatigue cracking in certain significant structural areas, which could 
reduce the structural integrity of these airplanes.

DATES: Effective December 17, 1998.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications, as listed 
in the regulations, is approved by the Director of the Federal Register 
as of December 17, 1998.
    The incorporation by reference of a certain other publication, as 
listed in the regulations, was approved previously by the Director of 
the Federal Register as of April 21, 1997 (62 FR 12531, March 17, 
1997).

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from Bombardier, Inc., Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division, 
Garratt Boulevard, Downsview, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada. This information 
may be examined at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport 
Airplane Directorate, Rules Docket, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 
Washington; or at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, New York 
Aircraft Certification Office, 10 Fifth Street, Third Floor, Valley 
Stream, New York; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North 
Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Serge Napoleon, Aerospace Engineer, 
Airframe and Propulsion Branch, ANE-171, FAA, Engine and Propeller 
Directorate, New York Aircraft Certification Office, 10 Fifth Street, 
Third Floor, Valley Stream, New York 11581; telephone (516) 256-7512; 
fax (516) 568-2716.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) by superseding AD 97-06-08, 
amendment 39-9965 (62 FR 12531, March 17, 1997), which is applicable to 
all de Havilland Model DHC-7 series airplanes, was published in the 
Federal Register on September 3, 1998 (63 FR 46925). The action 
proposed to continue to require certain structural inspections, and 
repair, if necessary. The action also proposed to require an additional 
structural inspection.

Comments

    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were submitted in response 
to the proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    The FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest 
require the adoption of the rule as proposed.

Cost Impact

    There are approximately 50 airplanes of U.S. registry that will be 
affected by this AD.
    The inspections that are currently required by AD 97-06-08, and 
retained in this AD, take approximately 15 work hours per airplane to 
accomplish, at an average labor rate of $60 per work hour. Based on 
these figures, the cost impact of the currently required inspections on

[[Page 63133]]

U.S. operators is estimated to be $45,000, or $900 per airplane, per 
inspection cycle.
    The new inspection that is required by this AD will take 
approximately 3 work hours per airplane to accomplish, at an average 
labor rate of $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the cost 
impact of the new inspection required by this AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $9,000, or $180 per airplane, per inspection cycle.
    The cost impact figures discussed above are based on assumptions 
that no operator has yet accomplished any of the requirements of this 
AD action, and that no operator would accomplish those actions in the 
future if this AD were not adopted.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein will 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 final 
rule does 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) 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 final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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 amendment 39-9965 (62 FR 
12531, March 17, 1997), and by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD), amendment 39-10879, to read as follows:

98-23-12  De Havilland Inc.: Amendment 39-10879. 98-NM-143-AD. 
Supersedes AD 97-06-08, Amendment 39-9965.

    Applicability: All Model DHC-7 series airplanes, 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 (f) 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, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To ensure the continued structural integrity of these airplanes, 
accomplish the following:

Restatement of Requirements of AD 97-06-08, Amendment 39-9965:

    (a) Within 6 months after April 21, 1997 (the effective date of 
AD 97-06-08, amendment 39-9965), incorporate into the FAA-approved 
maintenance inspection program the inspections and inspection 
intervals defined in DHC-7 Maintenance Manual, Product Support 
Manual (PSM) 1-7-2, Chapter 5-60-00, Temporary Revision TR 5-84, 
dated June 15, 1994; and inspect the significant structural items 
prior to the thresholds specified in TR 5-84 of PSM 1-7-2. Repeat 
the inspections thereafter at the intervals specified in TR 5-84 of 
PSM 1-7-2.
    (b) Prior to further flight, repair any discrepancies detected 
during any inspection required by paragraph (a) of this AD in 
accordance with one of the following:
    (1) The DHC-7 Maintenance Manual; or
    (2) The DHC-7 Structural Repair Manual; or
    (3) Other data meeting the certification basis of the airplane 
approved by the Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate; or
    (4) Data meeting the certification basis of the airplane 
approved by Transport Canada Aviation.

New Requirements of this AD

    (c) Incorporate into the FAA-approved maintenance inspection 
program the inspections and inspection intervals defined in the de 
Havilland Inc. DASH 7 Maintenance Manual, Chapter 5, Section 5-60-
00, Product Support Manual (PSM) 1-7-2, Supplementary Inspection 
Program (SIP), Temporary Revision TR 5-99, dated December 22, 1997, 
at the applicable time specified in paragraph (c)(1) or (c)(2) of 
this AD; and inspect the significant structural items prior to the 
thresholds specified in TR 5-99 of PSM 1-7-2. Thereafter, repeat the 
inspection at the intervals specified in TR 5-99 of PSM 1-7-2.
    (1) For airplanes that have accumulated 38,000 or more total 
flight cycles as of the effective date of this AD: Incorporate 
within 2,000 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD.
    (2) For airplanes that have accumulated fewer than 38,000 total 
flight cycles as of the effective date of this AD: Incorporate prior 
to the accumulation of 40,000 total flight cycles.
    (d) Incorporate into the FAA-approved maintenance inspection 
program the inspections and inspection intervals as defined in the 
de Havilland Inc. DASH 7 Maintenance Manual, Chapter 5, Section 5-
60-00, PSM 1-7-2, Supplementary Inspection Program (SIP), Temporary 
Revision TR 5-97, dated December 22, 1997, at the applicable time 
specified in paragraph (d)(1) or (d)(2) of this AD; and inspect the 
significant structural items prior to the thresholds specified in TR 
5-97 of PSM 1-7-2. Thereafter, repeat the inspection at the 
intervals specified in TR 5-99 of PSM 1-7-2.
    (1) For airplanes that have accumulated 19,000 or more total 
flight cycles as of the effective date of this AD: Incorporate 
within 1,000 flight cycles after the effective date of this AD.
    (2) For airplanes that have accumulated fewer than 19,000 total 
flight cycles as of the effective date of this AD: Incorporate prior 
to the accumulation of 20,000 total flight cycles.
    (e) All inspection results, positive or negative, must be 
reported to de Havilland in accordance with ``Introduction,'' 
paragraph 5, of de Havilland Inc. DASH 7 Maintenance Manual Chapter 
5, Section 5-60-00, PSM 1-7-2, Temporary Revision TR 5-84, dated 
June 15, 1994. Information collection requirements contained in this 
regulation have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and have been assigned OMB Control Number 
2120-0056.
    (f) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, New York Aircraft Certification 
Office (ACO), FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate. Operators shall 
submit their requests through an appropriate FAA Principal 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, New York ACO.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the New York ACO.

    (g) 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.

[[Page 63134]]

    (h) The inspections shall be done in accordance with DHC-7 
Maintenance Manual, Product Support Manual (PSM) 1-7-2, Chapter 5-
60-00, Temporary Revision TR 5-84, dated June 15, 1994; de Havilland 
Inc. DASH 7 Maintenance Manual, Chapter 5, Section 5-60-00, Product 
Support Manual (PSM) 1-7-2, Supplementary Inspection Program (SIP), 
Temporary Revision TR 5-99, dated December 22, 1997; and de 
Havilland Inc. DASH 7 Maintenance Manual, Chapter 5, Section 5-60-
00, PSM 1-7-2, Supplementary Inspection Program (SIP), Temporary 
Revision TR 5-97, dated December 22, 1997.
    (1) The incorporation by reference of de Havilland Inc. DASH 7 
Maintenance Manual, Chapter 5, Section 5-60-00, Product Support 
Manual (PSM) 1-7-2, Supplementary Inspection Program (SIP), 
Temporary Revision TR 5-99, dated December 22, 1997; and de 
Havilland Inc. DASH 7 Maintenance Manual, Chapter 5, Section 5-60-
00, Product Support Manual (PSM) 1-7-2, Supplementary Inspection 
Program (SIP), Temporary Revision TR 5-97, dated December 22, 1997; 
is approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance 
with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) The incorporation by reference of DHC-7 Maintenance Manual, 
Product Support Manual (PSM) 1-7-2, Chapter 5-60-00, Temporary 
Revision TR 5-84, dated June 15, 1994, was approved previously by 
the Director of the Federal Register as of April 21, 1997 (62 FR 
12531, March 17, 1997).
    (3) Copies may be obtained from Bombardier, Inc., Bombardier 
Regional Aircraft Division, Garratt Boulevard, Downsview, Ontario 
M3K 1Y5, Canada. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or 
at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, New York Aircraft 
Certification Office, 10 Fifth Street, Third Floor, Valley Stream, 
New York; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North 
Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Canadian 
airworthiness directive CF-94-19R1, dated January 26, 1998.

    (i) This amendment becomes effective on December 17, 1998.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on November 3, 1998.
Darrell M. Pederson,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-30051 Filed 11-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P