[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 179 (Thursday, September 14, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55470-55471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23586]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-CE-04-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Proposed rule; Withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: This document withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
that would have applied to certain Fairchild Aircraft, Inc. (Fairchild) 
Models SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-AT, and SA226-TC airplanes. The 
proposed airworthiness directive (AD) would have required you to 
replace the existing brake master cylinders with brake master cylinders 
of improved design. The proposed AD was the result of an accident of a 
Model SA226-TC airplane where it was believed that the master cylinder 
did not allow the brake hydraulic pressure to totally release at the 
beginning of the takeoff roll. The result of this incident was dragging 
brakes and overheating left-hand main wheel brakes with a fire in the 
wheel well area. Fairchild has adequately demonstrated to the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA) that the design of the brake master 
cylinder on the affected airplanes was not the cause of the referenced 
accident. Therefore, AD action is not necessary to address the 
conditions on these airplanes and we are withdrawing the NPRM.

ADDRESSES: You may look at information related to this action at FAA, 
Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 
No. 99-CE-04-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106, 
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    What action has FAA taken to date? We issued a proposal to amend 
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include 
an AD that would apply to certain Fairchild Models SA226-T, SA226-T(B), 
SA226-AT, and SA226-TC airplanes. The proposal was published in the 
Federal Register as an NPRM on February 18, 1999 (64 FR 8022). The NPRM 
proposed to require you to replace the existing brake master cylinders 
with brake master cylinders of improved design.
    Was the public invited to comment? The FAA invited interested 
persons to participate in the making of this amendment. We received one 
comment on the proposed AD. Our analysis and disposition of this 
comment follow:

Comment Disposition

    What is the commenter's concern? Fairchild submits data that it 
believes shows that the design of the brake master cylinder on the 
affected airplanes was not the cause of the referenced accident. 
Therefore, Fairchild states that FAA should withdraw the NPRM because 
the proposed actions do not address the condition described in the 
NPRM.
    What is FAA's response to the concern? After reviewing this data, 
we have determined that Fairchild has adequately demonstrated that the 
design of the brake master cylinder on the affected airplanes was not 
the cause of the referenced accident. We will withdraw the NPRM per 
Fairchild's request.

The FAA's Determination

    What is FAA's final determination on this issue? Based on the above 
information, we have determined that there is no need for the actions 
specified in NPRM, Docket No. 99-CE-04-AD, and that we should withdraw 
it.
    Withdrawal of this NPRM does not prevent us from issuing another 
notice in the future, nor will it commit us to any course of action in 
the future.

Regulatory Impact

    Does this AD involve a significant rule or regulatory action? Since 
this action only withdraws a proposed AD, it is not

[[Page 55471]]

an AD and, therefore, is not covered under Executive Order 12866, the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures 
(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979).

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Withdrawal

    Accordingly, FAA withdraws the notice of proposed rulemaking, 
Docket No. 99-CE-04-AD, which was published in the Federal Register on 
February 18, 1999 (64 FR 8022).

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 7, 2000.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-23586 Filed 9-13-00; 8:45 am]
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