[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 2, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59-61]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-33403]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-CE-22-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eagle Aircraft Pty. Ltd. Model 150B 
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 certain Eagle Aircraft Pty. Ltd. (Eagle) Model 
150B airplanes. The proposed AD would require you to inspect the rudder 
cables for fraying, cracks, nicks, etc. (referred to as damage), and 
replace any damaged cables. The proposed AD would also require you to 
replace the rudder cable pulleys with larger diameter pulleys to 
eliminate the possibility of further damage. The proposed AD is the 
result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 
by the airworthiness authority for Australia. The actions specified by 
the proposed AD are intended to detect and correct damaged rudder 
cables caused by chafing of the cable against the pulleys. Continued 
airplane operation with damaged cables could result in rudder cable 
system failure with possible loss of airplane control.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this proposed rule on or before February 23, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to FAA, Central Region, Office 
of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-CE-22-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, 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 Eagle Aircraft Pty. Ltd., Lot 700 Cockburn Road, Henderson, WA 
6166 Australia; telephone: (08) 9410 1077; facsimile: (08) 9410 2430. 
This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the 
address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fredrick A. Guerin, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 
Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712; telephone: (562) 627-
5232; facsimile: (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    How do I comment on the proposed AD? The FAA invites comments on 
this proposed rule. You may submit whatever written data, views, or 
arguments you choose. You need to include the rule's docket number and 
submit your comments in triplicate to the address specified under the 
caption ADDRESSES. The FAA will consider all comments received on or 
before the closing date. We may amend the proposed rule in light of 
comments received. Factual information that supports your ideas and 
suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the 
proposed AD action and determining whether we need to take additional 
rulemaking action.
    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 suggest a need to modify the rule. You may examine all 
comments we receive before and after the closing date of the rule in 
the Rules Docket. We will file a report in the Rules Docket that 
summarizes each FAA contact with the public that concerns the 
substantive parts of the proposed AD.
    We are re-examining 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 
whether the style of this document is clearer, 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.plainlanguage.gov.
    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-22-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail the postcard 
back to you.

Discussion

    What events have caused this proposed AD? The Civil Aviation Safety 
Authority (CASA), which is the airworthiness authority for Australia, 
notified FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on certain Eagle Model 
150B airplanes. The CASA reports an

[[Page 60]]

occurrence where frayed rudder cables were found on an Eagle Model 150B 
airplane. Further investigation reveals that the diameter of the rudder 
cable pulleys is too small and cables rub against these pulleys.
    What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? 
Continued airplane operation with damaged cables could result in rudder 
cable system failure with possible loss of airplane control.
    Is there service information that applies to this subject? Eagle 
has issued the following service bulletins:

--Service Bulletin No. 1059, dated January 21, 1999, which includes 
procedures for inspecting the rudder cables for fraying, cracks, nicks, 
etc. (referred to as damage), and specifies replacing any damaged 
cables; and
--Service Bulletin No. 1076, Revision 2, dated December 14, 1999, which 
includes procedures for replacing the rudder cable pulleys with larger 
diameter pulleys to eliminate the possibility of further damage.

    What action did CAA take? The CASA classified these service 
bulletins as mandatory and issued Australian AD Number X-TS/2, 
effective December 24, 2000, in order to assure the continued 
airworthiness of these airplanes in Australia.
    Was this in accordance with the bilateral airworthiness agreement? 
These airplane models are manufactured in Australia and are type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and 
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement.
    Pursuant to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, CASA has kept 
FAA informed of the situation described above.

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

    What has FAA decided? The FAA has examined the findings of CASA; 
reviewed all available information, including the service information 
referenced above; and determined that:

--The unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or could 
develop on other Eagle Model 150B 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:

--Inspect the rudder cables for fraying, cracks, nicks, etc. (referred 
to as damage), and replace any damaged cables; and
--Replace the rudder cable pulleys with larger diameter pulleys to 
eliminate the possibility of further damage.

Compliance Time of the Proposed AD

    What is the compliance time of the proposed AD? The compliance time 
of the proposed AD would be to accomplish the inspection and rudder 
cable pulley replacement ``within the next 100 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD'' and to accomplish any 
necessary cable replacement ``prior to further flight after the 
inspection.''
    Why are the compliance times of the Australian AD different from 
the compliance times in the proposed AD? The Australian AD requires (on 
Eagle Model 150B airplanes registered in Australia) the inspection 
within the next 5 hours of service and requires the pulley replacement 
within 100 hours of operation. These are the compliance times specified 
in the service information. We do not have justification to require the 
inspection within 5 hours of service. We use compliance times such as 
this when we have identified an urgent safety of flight situation. We 
believe that 100 hours TIS will give the owners/operators of the 
affected airplanes enough time to have the inspection and replacement 
accomplished without compromising the safety of the sailplanes.
    By accomplishing both the inspection and replacement at the same 
time, the owners/operators of the affected airplanes only have their 
airplanes out of service once instead of twice.

Cost Impact

    How many airplanes would the proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
the proposed AD affects 5 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 
accomplish the proposed inspection of the rudder cable and proposed 
replacement of the rudder cable pulley:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Total cost per     Total cost on
                       Labor cost                            Parts cost          airplane        U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 workhours  x  $60 = $300.............................              $286               $586             $2,930
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Replacement cables, if necessary, would cost $305 per airplane. We 
have no way of determining the number of rudder cables that would be 
found damaged during the proposed inspection.

Regulatory Impact

    Would this proposed AD impact various entities? The regulations 
proposed herein would not have a substantial direct effect 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, it is 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 proposed 
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, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as 
follows:

[[Page 61]]

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:

Eagle Aircraft Pty. Ltd.: Docket No. 2000-CE-22-AD

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects 
Model 150B airplanes, serial numbers 001 thru 030, that are 
certificated in any category.
    (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 detect and correct damaged rudder cables 
caused by chafing of the cable against the pulleys. Continued 
airplane operation with damaged cables could result in rudder cable 
system failure with possible loss of airplane control.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the rudder        Within the next 100   In accordance with
 cables for fraying, cracks,   hours time-in-        Eagle Service
 nicks, etc. (referred to as   service (TIS) after   Bulletin No. 1059,
 damage).                      the effective date    dated January 21,
                               of this AD.           1999.
(2) Replace any rudder        Prior to further      In accordance with
 cables found damaged during   flight after the      the instructions in
 the inspection.               inspection.           the maintenance
                                                     manual, as
                                                     specified in Eagle
                                                     Service Bulletin
                                                     No. 1059, dated
                                                     January 21, 1999.
(3) Replace the rudder cable  Prior to further      In accordance with
 pulleys with new rudder       flight after the      Eagle Service
 cable pulleys, part numbers   inspection.           Bulletin No. 1076,
 MS20220-1 and MS20220-2,                            Revision 2, dated
 change pulley attachment,                           December 14, 1999.
 and reduce cable tension.
(4) Do not install any        As of the effective   Not applicable.
 rudder cable pulleys that     date of this AD.
 are not part numbers
 MS20220-1 and MS20220-2
 (with all associated
 hardware).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (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 (AMOC) provides an 
equivalent level of safety; and
    (2) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 
approves your AMOC. You may submit your request through an FAA 
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send 
it to the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office. You 
may also submit your request directly to the Los Angeles Aircraft 
Certification Office.

    Note 1: 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 Fredrick A. Guerin, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 
3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712; telephone: 
(562) 627-5232; facsimile: (562) 627-5210.
    (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 obtain copies of the documents referenced in this AD from 
Eagle Aircraft Pty. Ltd., Lot 700 Cockburn Road, Henderson WA 6166 
Australia; telephone: (08) 9410 1077; facsimile: (08) 9410 2430. You 
may examine these documents at FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in Australian AD 
Number X-TS/2, effective December 24, 2000.


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 22, 2000.
Marvin R. Nuss,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-33403 Filed 12-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P