[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 227 (Wednesday, November 25, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65056-65057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31435]



[[Page 65056]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-139-AD; Amendment 39-10916; AD 98-24-29]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Aerostar Aircraft Corporation PA-60-600 
and PA-60-700 Series Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to all Aerostar Aircraft Corporation (Aerostar) PA-60-600 and 
PA-60-700 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitively inspecting 
the forward face of each wing's 55-percent upper spar cap for cracks 
above the main landing gear fitting in the top of the wheel well, and 
replacing or repairing any cracked upper spar cap. Reports of spanwise 
cracks in the area above the main landing gear attachment on two of the 
affected airplanes prompted this action. The actions specified by this 
AD are intended to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the wing 
upper spar cap, which could result in structural failure of the wing 
spar to the point of failure with consequent loss of control of the 
airplane.

DATES: Effective January 8, 1999.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of January 8, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained 
from the Aerostar Aircraft Corporation, 10555 Airport Drive, Coeur 
d'Alene Airport, Hayden Lake, Idaho 83835-9742; telephone: (208) 762-
0338. This information may also be examined at the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-139-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th 
Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard N. Simonson, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, 
SW, Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone: (425) 227-2597; 
facsimile: (425) 227-1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Events Leading to the Issuance of This AD

    A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to all Aerostar PA-60-
600 and PA-60-700 series airplanes was published in the Federal 
Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on August 21, 1998 
(63 FR 44818). The NPRM proposed to require repetitively inspecting the 
forward face of each wing's 55-percent upper spar cap for cracks above 
the main landing gear fitting in the top of the wheel well, and 
replacing or repairing any cracked upper spar cap.
    Accomplishment of the proposed inspections as specified in the NPRM 
would be required in accordance with Aerostar Service Bulletin SB600-
132, dated September 3, 1997. Accomplishment of the proposed repair (if 
necessary) would be required in accordance with an FAA-approved repair 
scheme. Accomplishment of the proposed replacement (if necessary) would 
be required in accordance with the applicable maintenance manual.
    The NPRM was the result of reports of spanwise cracks in the area 
above the main landing gear attachment on two of the affected 
airplanes.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the 
proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

The FAA's Determination

    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor 
corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any 
additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 600 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 2 workhours per 
airplane to accomplish the initial inspection, and that the average 
labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Based on these figures, the 
total cost impact of the initial inspection specified in this AD on 
U.S. operators is estimated to be $72,000, or $120 per airplane.
    These figures only take into account the costs of the initial 
inspection and do not take into account the costs of repetitive 
inspections and the costs associated with any repair that will be 
necessary if cracks are found. The FAA has no way of determining the 
number of repetitive inspections an owner/operator will incur over the 
life of the airplane, or the number of airplanes that will need 
replacement or repair.

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 copy of the final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained 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, 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.

[[Page 65057]]

Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

98-24-29  Aerostar Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-10916; Docket 
No. 97-CE-139-AD.

    Applicability: All serial numbers of the following airplane 
models, certificated in any category:

PA-60-600 (Aerostar 600)
PA-60-601 (Aerostar 601)
PA-60-601P (Aerostar 601P)
PA-60-602P (Aerostar 602P)
PA-60-700P (Aerostar 700P)

    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 detect and correct fatigue cracking of the wing upper spar 
cap, which could result in structural failure of the wing spar to 
the point of failure 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, unless already accomplished, and 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS, inspect the 
forward face of each wing's 55-percent upper spar cap for cracks 
above the main landing gear fitting in the top of the wheel well. 
Accomplish this inspection in accordance with the INSTRUCTIONS 
section of Aerostar Service Bulletin SB600-132, dated September 3, 
1997. The initial inspection must be accomplished using dye 
penetrant methods and all subsequent inspections must be, at the 
very least, visual inspections.
    (b) If any crack(s) is/are found during any inspection required 
by paragraph (a) of this AD, prior to further flight, accomplish 
either paragraph (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this AD (below):
    (1) Replace the upper spar cap in accordance with the applicable 
maintenance manual, and continue to repetitively inspect as required 
by paragraph (a) of this AD; or
    (2) Obtain a repair scheme from the manufacturer through the 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, at the address specified in 
paragraph (d) of this AD; incorporate this scheme; and continue to 
repetitively inspect as required by paragraph (a) of this AD, unless 
specified differently in the instructions to the repair scheme.
    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Secs.  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 
initial or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent 
level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Seattle Aircraft 
Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind Avenue, SW, Renton, Washington 
98055-4056. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate 
FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to 
the Manager, Seattle ACO.

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

    (e) The inspections required by this AD shall be done in 
accordance with Aerostar Service Bulletin SB600-132, dated September 
3, 1997. This incorporation by reference was approved by the 
Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) 
and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from the Aerostar Aircraft 
Corporation, 10555 Airport Drive, Coeur d'Alene Airport, Hayden 
Lake, Idaho 83835-9742. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central 
Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th 
Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (f) This amendment becomes effective on January 8, 1999.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 17, 1998.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 98-31435 Filed 11-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U