[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 78 (Monday, April 23, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20409-20410]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9880]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-NM-201-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd., Model 
Galaxy Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: This action withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
that proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain 
Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd., Model Galaxy airplanes. That action 
would have required replacement of certain existing fasteners in the 
aft pickup fittings of the horizontal stabilizer. Since the issuance of 
the NPRM, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has received 
information from Galaxy Aerospace Company indicating that the 
replacement has already been carried out on all the affected airplanes 
and that the replacement is now standard on all airplanes off the 
production line. Accordingly, the proposed rule is withdrawn.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, ANM-
116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., 
Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425) 227-2125; fax (206) 227-
1149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations to add a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to certain Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd., Model Galaxy 
airplanes, was published in the Federal Register on October 30, 2000 
(65 FR 64631). The proposed rule would have required replacement of 
certain existing fasteners in the aft pickup fittings of the horizontal 
stabilizer. That action was prompted by information from the Civil 
Aviation Administration of Israel (CAAI), which is the airworthiness 
authority for Israel, indicating that early fatigue failure of the 
fasteners that support the aft pickup fittings of the horizontal 
stabilizer can occur. The proposed actions were intended to prevent 
such fatigue failure,

[[Page 20410]]

which could result in reduced structural integrity of the empennage.

Actions That Occurred Since the NPRM Was Issued

    Since the issuance of that NPRM, the FAA has received a comment 
from Galaxy Aerospace Company indicating that the replacement of the 
fasteners in the aft pickup fittings of the horizontal stabilizers has 
been accomplished on all the affected airplanes. Therefore, Galaxy 
requested the FAA to withdraw the proposed rule.

FAA's Conclusions

    The FAA agrees that there is no need to issue the proposed AD, if 
all of its requirements have already been accomplished. The FAA, 
therefore, withdraws the proposed AD.
    Withdrawal of this NPRM constitutes only such action, and does not 
preclude the agency from issuing another notice in the future, nor does 
it commit the agency to any course of action in the future.

Regulatory Impact

    Since this action only withdraws a NPRM, it is neither a proposed 
nor a final rule 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, the notice of proposed rulemaking, Docket 2000-NM-201-
AD, published in the Federal Register October 30, 2000 (65 FR 64631), 
is withdrawn.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 16, 2001.
Donald L. Riggin,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-9880 Filed 4-20-01; 8:45 am]
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