[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 227 (Friday, November 24, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70535-70537]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29939]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-CE-31-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Aerostar Aircraft Corporation Models 
PA-60-600 (Aerostar 600), PA-60-601 (Aerostar 601), PA-60-601P 
(Aerostar 601P), PA-60-602P (Aerostar 602P), and PA-60-700P (Aerostar 
700P) Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) that would apply to all Aerostar Aircraft Corporation (Aerostar) 
Models PA-60-600, PA-60-601, PA-60-601P, PA-60-602P and PA-60-700P 
airplanes. The proposed AD would require you to replace both of the 
existing main landing gear lower side brace assemblies with parts of 
improved design. The proposed AD is the result of several reports of 
cracking of the main landing gear lower side brace at the upper bolt 
lug discovered on preflight inspection. The actions specified by the 
proposed AD are intended to correct damage or cracks in the main 
landing gear lower side brace at the upper bolt lug where the upper and 
lower side braces connect. This could result in cracking and failure of 
the main landing gear lower side brace. Such failure could lead to loss 
of control of the airplane.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this rule by December 29, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-CE-31-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106. You may look at comments at this location between 
8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    You may get the service information referenced in the proposed AD 
from Aerostar Aircraft Corporation, 10555 Airport Drive, Hayden Lake, 
ID 83835; telephone: (208) 762-0338; facsimile: (208) 762-8349. You may 
read this information at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Simonson, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW, Renton, 
Washington 98055; telephone: (425) 227-2597; facsimile: (425) 227-1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

How do I comment on this proposed AD?

    We invite your comments on the proposed rule. You may send whatever 
written data, views, or arguments you choose. You need to include the 
rule's docket number and send your comments in triplicate to the 
address mentioned under the caption ADDRESSES. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date mentioned above, before acting on 
the proposed rule. We may change the proposals contained in this notice 
because of the comments received.

Are there any specific portions of the proposed AD I should pay 
attention to?

    The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule that 
might call for a need to change the proposed rule. You may examine all 
comments

[[Page 70536]]

we receive. We will file a report in the Rules Docket that summarizes 
each FAA contact with the public that concerns the substantive parts of 
this proposal.
    The FAA is reexamining the writing style we currently use in 
regulatory documents, in response to the Presidential memorandum of 
June 1, 1998. That memorandum requires federal agencies to communicate 
more clearly with the public. We are interested in your comments on the 
ease of understanding this document, and any other suggestions you 
might have to improve the clarity of FAA communications that affect 
you. You can get more information about the Presidential memorandum and 
the plain language initiative at http://www.faa.gov/language/.

How can I be sure FAA receives my comment?

    If you want us to acknowledge the receipt of your comments, you 
must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, write 
``Comments to Docket No. 2000-CE-31-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail 
the postcard back to you.

Discussion

What events have caused this AD?

    The FAA has received several reports of cracking of the main 
landing gear lower side brace at the upper bolt lug discovered on 
preflight inspection.

What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected?

    Damage or cracking of the main landing gear lower side brace, if 
not detected and corrected, could result in failure of this part. Such 
failure could lead to loss of the main landing gear with consequent 
loss of control of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

Is there service information that applies to this subject?

    Aerostar has issued Service Bulletin SB600-134A, dated March 31, 
2000.

What are the provisions of this service bulletin?

    The service bulletin includes procedures for replacing both 
existing main landing gear lower side brace assemblies with parts of 
improved design, Aerostar part number 400084-001, lower side brace 
assemblies.

The FAA's Determination and an Explanation of the Provisions of the 
Proposed AD

What has FAA decided?

    After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available 
information related to the incidents described above, we have 
determined that:

--the unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or could 
develop on other Aerostar Models PA-60 series airplanes of the same 
type design;
--the actions specified in the previously-referenced service 
information should be accomplished on the affected airplanes; and
--AD action should be taken in order to correct this unsafe condition.

What would the proposed AD require?

    This proposed AD would require you to incorporate the actions in 
Part II of the previously referenced service bulletin.

Cost Impact

How many airplanes would the proposed AD impact?

    We estimate that the proposed AD affects 650 airplanes in the U.S. 
registry.

What would be the cost impact of the proposed AD on owners/operators of 
the affected airplanes?

    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed modification:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Labor Cost                              Parts Cost                   Total Cost Per Airplane       Total Cost on U.S. Airplane Operators
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 workhours X $60 per hour =        $1,682 for each airplane.................  $1,200 + $1,682 = $2,882     $2,882 X 650 = $1,873,300
 $1,200.                                                                         for each airplane.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Impact

Would this proposed AD impact relations between Federal and State 
governments?

    The proposed regulations 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. We have determined that this proposed 
rule would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132.

Would this proposed AD involve a significant rule or regulatory action?

    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 put into 
effect, 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. You may get a copy 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, under 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. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:


Aerostar Aircraft Corporation:  Docket No. 2000-CE-31-AD

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects the 
following airplane models and all serial numbers through 1026 that 
are certificated in any category: Models PA-60-600 (Aerostar 600), 
PA-60-601 (Aerostar 601), PA-60-601P (Aerostar 601P), PA-60-602P 
(Aerostar 602P), and PA-60-700P (Aerostar 700P).
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplanes must comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to correct damage or cracks in the main landing 
gear lower side brace at the upper bolt lug where the upper and 
lower side braces connect. This could result in cracking and failure 
of the main landing gear lower

[[Page 70537]]

side brace. Such failure could lead to loss of control of the 
airplane.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Action                Compliance Time         Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace both main landing     Within the next 50    Do these
 gear lower side brace         hours time-in-        replacements
 assemblies with Aerostar      service after the     following the
 part number 400084-001        effective date of     INSTRUCTIONS PART
 lower side brace assemblies.  this AD, unless       II: Replacement
                               already performed.    paragraph of
                                                     Aerostar Mandatory
                                                     Service Bulletin
                                                     SB600-134A, dated
                                                     March 31, 2000, and
                                                     the Aerostar
                                                     Maintenance Manual.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? You may use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time if:
    (1) Your alternative method of compliance provides an equivalent 
level of safety; and
    (2) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
approves your alternative. Send your request through an FAA 
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send 
it to the Manager, Seattle ACO, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW, Renton, 
Washington 98055.

    Note: This AD applies to each airplane identified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD, 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 (e) 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 you have not eliminated the unsafe condition, specific 
actions you propose to address it.

    (f) Where can I get information about any already-approved 
alternative methods of compliance? Contact Richard Simonson, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW, Renton, Washington 98055; telephone: (425) 227-2597; 
facsimile: (425) 227-1181.
    (g) What if I need to fly the airplane to another location to 
comply with this AD? The FAA can issue a special flight permit under 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate your airplane to a location where 
you can accomplish the requirements of this AD.
    (h) How do I get copies of the documents referenced in this AD? 
You may get the service information referenced in the AD from 
Aerostar Aircraft Corporation, 10555 Airport Drive, Coeur d'Alene 
Airport, Hayden Lake, Idaho 83835-8742; Telephone: (208) 762-0338; 
facsimile: (208) 762-8349. You may read this document at FAA, 
Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 
506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 14, 2000.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-29939 Filed 11-22-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U