[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 11, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25218-25219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11779]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 90 / Tuesday, May 11, 1999 / Proposed 
Rules  

[[Page 25218]]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-CE-15-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Fairchild Aircraft, Inc. Models SA226-
T, SA226-T(B), SA226-AT, and SA226-TC Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive 
(AD) 77-25-03, which currently requires repetitively inspecting the 
landing gear actuator rod ends that are equipped with grease fittings 
for cracks on Fairchild Aircraft, Inc. (Fairchild Aircraft) Models 
SA226-T, SA226-AT, and SA226-TC airplanes. AD 77-25-03 also requires 
replacing the landing gear actuator rod ends with an improved part 
either immediately or at a certain time period depending on the results 
of the inspections. Replacement of all six rod ends terminates the 
repetitive inspection requirements of AD 77-25-03. The AD proposed in 
this document is the result of failures of the landing gear rod ends on 
airplanes where the rod ends were replaced in accordance with AD 77-25-
03. Fairchild has re-designed the landing gear rod ends as a result of 
these failures. The proposed AD would require replacing all landing 
gear rod ends with these improved design parts on all SA226 series 
airplanes, including those manufactured since AD 77-25-03 was issued 
(i.e., the Model SA226-T(B) airplanes). The actions specified by the 
proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of the landing gear 
actuator caused by cracks in the rod ends, which could result in the 
inability to lower the landing gear during a landing with consequent 
possible loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 16, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-CE-15-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 Fairchild Aircraft, Inc., P.O. Box 790490, San Antonio, Texas 
78279-0490; telephone: (210) 824-9421; facsimile: (210) 820-8609. This 
information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address 
above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hung Viet Nguyen, FAA, Airplane 
Certification Office, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-
0150; telephone: (817) 222-5133; facsimile: (817) 222-5960.

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. 99-CE-15-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. 99-CE-15-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    AD 77-25-03, Amendment 39-3090, currently requires repetitively 
inspecting the landing gear actuator rod ends that are equipped with 
grease fittings for cracks on Fairchild Aircraft, Inc. (Fairchild 
Aircraft) Models SA226-T, SA226-AT, and SA226-TC airplanes. AD 77-25-03 
also requires replacing the landing gear actuator rod ends with 
improved design parts either immediately or at a certain time period 
depending on the results of the inspections. Replacement of all six rod 
ends terminates the repetitive inspection requirement of AD 77-25-03.
    Accomplishment of the actions of AD 77-25-03 is required in 
accordance with Swearingen Aviation Corporation Service Bulletin A32-
014, dated November 17, 1977.

Actions Since Issuance of Previous Rule

    The FAA has received reports of failures of the landing gear rod 
ends on airplanes where the rod ends were replaced in accordance with 
AD 77-25-03. The flight time accumulated on the landing gear actuators 
varies between the failures; however, the reports show that these parts 
are not meeting their life limits. Fairchild has re-designed the 
landing gear rod ends, part number (P/N) VTA00350, as a result of these 
failures.
    Cracks in the landing gear actuator rod ends, if not detected and 
corrected in a timely manner, could result in failure of the landing 
gear actuator and the inability to lower the landing gear during a 
landing with consequent possible loss of control of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    Fairchild has issued Service Bulletin SB A32-014, Revised: January 
26, 1999, which specifies procedures for replacing the existing landing 
gear actuator rod ends with ones of improved design, P/N VTA00350.

[[Page 25219]]

The FAA's Determination

    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has 
determined that AD action should be taken to prevent the above-
referenced condition from occurring on all SA226 series airplanes, 
including those manufactured since AD 77-25-03 was issued (i.e., the 
Model SA226-T(B) airplanes).

Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Fairchild Models SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-
AT, and SA226-TC airplanes of the same type design that are equipped 
with any landing gear actuator rod end other than P/N VTA00350 (or FAA-
approved equivalent part number), the FAA is proposing AD action. The 
proposed AD would supersede AD 77-25-03, and would require replacing 
all landing gear rod ends with these improved design parts, P/N 
VTA00350 (or FAA-approved equivalent part number).
    Accomplishment of the proposed replacements would be required in 
accordance with Fairchild Aircraft Service Bulletin SB A32-014, 
Revised: January 26, 1999.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 190 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 replacements, and 
that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost 
approximately $169 per rod (6 rods per airplane). Based on these 
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $261,060, or $1,374 per airplane.
    This figure is based upon the presumption that no affected airplane 
owner/operator has accomplished the proposed replacement.

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 14 
CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 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) 77-25-03, Amendment 39-3090, and by adding a new AD to read as 
follows:

Fairchild Aircraft, Inc.: Docket No. 99-CE-15-AD; Supersedes AD 77-
25-03, Amendment 39-3090.

    Applicability: The following airplanes models and serial 
numbers, certificated in any category; that are equipped with any 
landing gear actuator rod end other than part number (P/N) VTA00350 
(or FAA-approved equivalent part number).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Model                             Serial No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SA226-T.............................  T201 through T275 and T277 through
                                       T291.
SA226-T(B)..........................  T(B) 276 and T(B) 292 through
                                       T(B)417.
SA226-AT............................  AT001 through AT074.
SA226-TC............................  TC201 through TC396, TC398 through
                                       TC413, and TC418 through TC419.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 failure of the landing gear actuator caused by cracks 
in the rod ends, which could result in the inability to lower the 
landing gear during a landing with consequent possible loss of 
control of the airplane, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within the next 500 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD, replace any landing gear actuator rod end 
that is not P/N VTA00350 (or FAA-approved equivalent part number) 
with one that incorporates this part number. Accomplish this 
replacement in accordance with Fairchild Aircraft Service Bulletin 
SB A32-014, Revised: January 26, 1999.
    (b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install, 
on any affected airplane, any landing gear actuator rod end that is 
other than P/N VTA00350 (or FAA-approved equivalent part number).
    (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, FAA, Airplane Certification Office (ACO), 
2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0150.
    (1) The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Fort Worth ACO.
    (2) Alternative methods of compliance approved in accordance 
with AD 77-25-03 are not considered approved as alternative methods 
of compliance for this AD.

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

    (e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of 
the document referred to herein upon request to Fairchild Aircraft, 
Inc., P.O. Box 790490, San Antonio, Texas 78279-0490; or may examine 
this document 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 77-25-03, Amendment 39-3090.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 4, 1999.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 99-11779 Filed 5-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P