[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 71904-71907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-30496]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 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.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 3, 2002 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 71904]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-CE-56-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation 
Models 690D, 695A, and 695B 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 Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation 
(TCAC) Models 690D, 695A, and 695B airplanes. The proposed AD would 
require you to initially inspect and modify and repetitively inspect 
areas of the wing and fuselage structure for fatigue damage and modify 
or replace any damaged parts. The proposed AD is the result of tests 
that show that the service life of certain airplane parts cannot be 
reached unless an inspection and modification program (with any 
necessary replacements or modifications if fatigue damage is found) is 
incorporated. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to 
detect and correct fatigue damage in the wing and fuselage areas 
without reducing the service life of the airplane. Such undetected and 
uncorrected damage could result in structural failure with consequent 
loss of control of the airplane.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any 
comments on this proposed rule by January 31, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to FAA, Central Region, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-CE-56-AD, 901 
Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You may view any 
comments at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also send comments 
electronically to the following address: [email protected]. 
Comments sent electronically must contain ``Docket No. 2000-CE-56-AD'' 
in the subject line. If you send comments electronically as attached 
electronic files, the files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for 
Windows or ASCII text.
    You may get the service information referenced in the proposed AD 
from the Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation, 19010 59th Drive NE., 
Arlington, Washington 98223-7832; telephone: (360) 435-9797; facsimile: 
(360) 435-1112. You may also view this information at the Rules Docket 
at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Della Swartz, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW, Renton, 
Washington 98055-4065; telephone: (425) 687-4246; facsimile: (425) 687-
4248.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

How Do I Comment on This 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 to the 
address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. We will consider all 
comments received on or before the closing date. We may amend this 
proposed rule in light of comments received. Factual information that 
supports your ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating 
the effectiveness of this proposed AD action and determining whether we 
need to take additional rulemaking action.

Are There Any Specific Portions of This Proposed AD I Should Pay 
Attention To?

    The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed rule that 
might suggest a need to modify the rule. You may view all comments we 
receive before and after the closing date of the proposed rule in the 
Rules Docket. We will file a report in the Rules Docket that summarizes 
each contact we have with the public that concerns the substantive 
parts of this proposed AD.

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-56-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail 
the postcard back to you.

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This Proposed AD?

    The FAA has received results of fatigue testing of the wing and 
fuselage structure on Models 690D, 695A, and 695B airplanes. These 
results reveal that fatigue damage could occur prior to the published 
service lives.
    TCAC has developed an inspection and modification program to detect 
and correct fatigue damage in the wing and fuselage areas without 
reducing the service life of the airplanes.

What Are the Consequences if the Condition Is Not Corrected?

    Such fatigue damage, if not detected and corrected, could result in 
structural failure with consequent loss of control of the airplane.

Relevant Service Information

Is There Service Information That Applies to This Subject?

    TCAC has issued the following service information:
--Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 
214, dated January 26, 2000, which includes procedures, schedules, and 
drawings for repetitively inspecting and modifying the wing and 
fuselage areas of the affected airplanes;
--Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation Service Publications revision 
notice to Service Bulletin No. 214, Revision 1, Release Date: April 19, 
2000, which changes compliance schedules and clarifies information 
presented in Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation Mandatory Service 
Bulletin No. 214, dated January 26, 2000; and
--Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation Service Publications

[[Page 71905]]

revision notice to Service Bulletin No. 214, Revision 2, Release Date: 
May 21, 2001, which changes compliance schedules and clarifies 
information presented in Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation Mandatory 
Service Bulletin No. 214, dated January 26, 2000.

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 TCAC Model 690D, 695A, and 695B airplanes of the same 
type design;
--The inspections and modifications (and necessary replacements or 
modifications if fatigue damage is found) specified in the service 
information should be accomplished on the affected airplanes; and
--FAA should take AD action to correct this unsafe condition.

What Would the Proposed AD Require?

    The proposed AD would require you to repetitively inspect areas of 
the wing and fuselage structure for fatigue damage and modify or 
replace any damaged parts.

Compliance Time

Why Is the Initial Compliance Time Presented in Hours Time-in-service 
(TIS) and Calendar Time?

    Normally, fatigue problems would carry a compliance time based 
solely upon hours TIS, e.g., upon accumulating a certain amount of 
hours TIS. However, the number of airplanes that still need to have the 
initial actions of the proposed AD accomplished compared to the number 
of authorized repair centers justifies a compliance time of both hours 
TIS and calendar time, whichever occurs first.
    TCAC estimates 125 airplanes worldwide (about 87 percent of the 
worldwide fleet) that still need to have the initial proposed 
inspections accomplished. This 87 percent would amount to 94 of the 108 
U.S.- registered airplanes with only 7 authorized service centers 
accredited to do the work. The FAA has worked with TCAC in establishing 
a compliance table that categorizes the airplanes based upon the amount 
of hours TIS each airplane has accumulated.
    This would ensure that the service centers have adequate time to 
accomplish the proposed actions.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Does This Proposed AD Impact?

    We estimate the proposed AD would affect 108 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 inspection for 
TCAC Models 690D, 695A, and 695B airplanes:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Inspection only labor cost for each       Total inspection cost on
                 airplane                          U.S. Operators
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minimum 270 workhours x $60 per hour =      Minimum: $1,749,600.
 $16,200.
Maximum 416 workhours x $60 each hour =     Maximum: $2,695,680.
 $24,960.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary modifications 
that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. 
We have no way of finding out the number of airplanes that may need 
modifications:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Costs                                          Minimum                                                    Maximum
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Labor Costs......................  81 workhours x $60 per hour = $4,860......................  2,790 workhours x $60 per hour = $167,400.
----------------------------------
Estimated Parts Cost.............  $2,847....................................................  $65,978.
----------------------------------
Estimated Total Cost for Each      $7,707....................................................  $233,378.
 Airplane.
                                  -------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Cost on U.S. Operators.  $832,356..................................................  $25,204,824.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Impact

Would This Proposed AD Impact Various Entities?

    The proposed regulations would not have 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. 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 Department of Transportation 
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. We have placed a 
copy of the draft regulatory evaluation prepared for this action in the 
Rules Docket. You may get a copy of it 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

    Therefore, 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:

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:

Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation:

[[Page 71906]]

    Docket No. 2000-CE-56-AD.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? The following Twin 
Commander Aviation Corporation (TCAC) airplane models and serial 
numbers that are certificated in any category:


------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Model                            Serial numbers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
690D...................................  15001 through 15036 and 15038
                                          through 15040.
----------------------------------------
695A...................................  96001 through 96062, 96065
                                          through 96068, 96070, 96071,
                                          96073, 96074, 96076, 96077,
                                          and 96079 through 96084,
                                          96086, 96087, and 96089
                                          through 96100.
----------------------------------------
695B...................................  96063, 96069, 96075, 96078,
                                          96085, and 96204 through
                                          96208.
----------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the airplanes identified in paragraph (a) of this AD must 
comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to detect and correct fatigue damage in the 
wing and fuselage areas without reducing the service life of the 
airplane. Such undetected and uncorrected damage could result in 
structural failure with consequent loss of control of the airplane.
    (d) What must I do to address this problem? To address this 
problem, you must initially inspect and modify the wing and fuselage 
areas (Part 1 Inspection/Modifications as identified in Twin 
Commander Aircraft Corporation Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 214, 
dated January 26, 2000) and repetitively inspect with necessary 
modification or replacement of damaged parts (Part 2 Recurrent 
Inspections as identified in Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation 
Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 214, dated January 26, 2000) in 
accordance with the following schedules:
    (1) Part 1 Initial Inspections/Modifications: Initially (unless 
already done) accomplish the Part 1 Inspections/Modifications at 
whichever compliance time in paragraph (d)(1)(i) or (d)(1)(ii) of 
this AD that occurs later:
    (i) the compliance times presented in Part 1 Table 1 of of Twin 
Commander Aircraft Corporation Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 214, 
dated January 26, 2000; Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation Service 
Publications revision notice to Service Bulletin No. 214, Revision 
1, Release Date: April 19, 2000; and Twin Commander Aircraft 
Corporation Service Publications revision notice to Service Bulletin 
No. 214, Revision 2, Release Date: May 21, 2001; or
    (ii) the Table A compliance times presented on page 1 of the 
service information and replicated below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Current airframe hours time-
       in-service (TIS)                 Initial compliance time
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A) 0000 through 1,700.......  Upon accumulating 2,700 hours TIS or
                                within the next 36 months after the
                                effective date of this AD, whichever
                                occurs first.
------------------------------
(B) 1,701 through 2,500......  Upon accumulating 3,400 hours TIS or
                                within the next 36 months after the
                                effective date of this AD, whichever
                                occurs first.
------------------------------
(C) 2,501 through 3,000......  Upon accumulating 3,800 hours TIS or
                                within the next 36 months after the
                                effective date of this AD, whichever
                                occurs first.
------------------------------
(D) 3,001 through 5,000......  Upon accumulating 5,500 hours TIS or
                                within the next 30 months after the
                                effective date of this AD, whichever
                                occurs first.
------------------------------
(E) 5,001 through 6,000......  Upon accumulating 6,400 hours TIS or
                                within the next 24 months after the
                                effective date of this AD, whichever
                                occurs first.
------------------------------
(F) 6,001 through 7,500......  Upon accumulating 7,800 hours TIS or
                                within the next 18 months after the
                                effective date of this AD, whichever
                                occurs first.
------------------------------
(G) Over 7,500...............  Within the next 12 months after the
                                effective date of this AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    (2) Part 2 Recurring Inspections: Repetitively inspect as 
referenced in Part 2 Recurring Inspections on page 62 of Twin 
Commander Aircraft Corporation Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 214, 
dated January 26, 2000; Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation Service 
Publications revision notice to Service Bulletin No. 214, Revision 
1, Release Date: April 19, 2000; and Twin Commander Aircraft 
Corporation Service Publications revision notice to Service Bulletin 
No. 214, Revision 2, Release Date: May 21, 2001.
    (3) Mandatory Replacements and Modifications: If any damage is 
found during any inspection required by paragraphs (d), (d)(1), and 
(d)(2) of this AD, prior to further flight, replace or modify the 
part as specified in the following:
    (i) Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation Mandatory Service 
Bulletin No. 214, dated January 26, 2000;
    (ii) Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation Service Publications 
revision notice to Service Bulletin No. 214, Revision 1, Release 
Date: April 19, 2000; and
    (iii) Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation Service Publications 
revision notice to Service Bulletin No. 214, Revision 2, Release 
Date: May 21, 2001.
    (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.


    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 following paragraph (e) of this AD. You should include in 
the request 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 Della Swartz, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind 
Avenue, SW, Renton, Washington 98055-4065; telephone: (425) 687-
4246; facsimile: (425) 687-4248.
    (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 perform 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 this AD from the 
Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation, 19010 59th Drive N.E., 
Arlington, Washington 98223-7832; telephone: (360) 435-9797; 
facsimile: (360) 435-1112. You may view these documents at

[[Page 71907]]

FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, 
Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 22, 2002.
Dorenda D. Baker,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-30496 Filed 12-2-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P