[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 11, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11469-11471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5392]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-CE-50-AD; Amendment 39-13078; AD 2003-05-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Lindstrand Balloons Ltd Fuel Hoses

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to all aircraft (specifically balloons) that incorporate 
certain Lindstrand Balloons Ltd (Lindstrand) fuel hoses. This AD 
requires you to inspect for certain batches of installed fuel hoses and 
replace any of these fuel hoses. This AD is the result of mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness 
authority for the United Kingdom. The actions specified by this AD are 
intended to detect and replace defective fuel hoses before they result 
in propane fuel leaks. Such propane fuel leaks could lead to a propane 
fuel fire.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on May 2, 2003.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of May 
2, 2003.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information referenced in this AD 
from Lindstrand Balloons Ltd, Maesbury Road, Oswestry, Shropshire SY 10 
8ZZ, England; telephone: +44 (0) 1691-671717; facsimile: +44 (0) 1691-
671122. You may view this information at the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-CE-50-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 
North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Chudy, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4140; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This AD?

    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness 
authority for the United Kingdom, recently notified FAA that an unsafe 
condition may exist on aircraft (specifically balloons) that 
incorporate certain Lindstrand fuel hoses. The CAA reports six 
incidents of 3/8-inch bore fuel supply hoses, batch identification 
number FHL 38381 or FHL 40579, failing in service.
    The typical failure observed is of liquid fuel escaping at any 
position along the length of the hose and through the pinpricking on 
the outer surface. The leakage observed varies from small bubbles, when 
leak detection fluid is used on the surface of the hose, to visible 
jets of liquid propane.

What Is the Potential Impact if FAA Took No Action?

    Such propane fuel leaks could lead to a propane fuel fire.

Has FAA Taken Any Action to This Point?

    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 all 
aircraft (specifically balloons) that incorporate certain Lindstrand 
fuel hoses. This proposal was published in the Federal Register as a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on December 4, 2002 (67 FR 72119). 
The NPRM proposed to require you to inspect for certain batches of 
installed fuel hoses and replace any of these fuel hoses.

Was the Public Invited To Comment?

    The FAA encouraged interested persons to participate in the making 
of this amendment. We did not receive any comments on the proposed rule 
or on our determination of the cost to the public.

[[Page 11470]]

FAA's Determination

What Is FAA's Final Determination on This Issue?

    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, we have determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
minor editorial corrections. We have determined that these minor 
corrections:
    --Provide the intent that was proposed in the NPRM for correcting 
the unsafe condition; and
    --Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already 
proposed in the NPRM.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Does This AD Impact?

    We estimate that this AD affects 204 aircraft (specifically 
balloons) in the U.S. registry.

What Is the Cost Impact of This AD on Owners/Operators of the Affected 
Airplanes?

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Total cost per      Total cost on U.S.
              Labor cost                          Parts cost               airplane             operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 workhour x $60 per hour = $60.......  Not applicable...............               $60      $60 x 204 = $12,240
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish any necessary 
replacements that would be required based on the results of the 
inspection. We have no way of determining the number of aircraft that 
may need such replacement:

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                   Labor cost                                  Parts cost                  Total cost per hose
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1 workhour x $60 per hour = $60 per hose.......  Replacement hoses provided by                               $60
                                                  manufacturer.
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Regulatory Impact

Does This AD Impact Various Entities?

    The regulations adopted herein will 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 final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.

Does This 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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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 AD to read as follows:

2003-05-02 Lindstrand Balloons Ltd: Amendment 39-13078; Docket No. 
2002-CE-50-AD.
    (a) What aircraft are affected by this AD? This AD affects any 
aircraft (specifically balloons), certificated in any category, that 
incorporate Lindstrand 3/8-inch bore hoses from either hose batches 
FHL 38381 or FHL 40579.
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the aircraft 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 replace defective fuel hoses 
before they result in propane fuel leaks. Such propane fuel leaks 
could lead to a propane fuel fire.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:


------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Actions                    Compliance        Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect all 3/8-inch bore hoses  Within 5 hours     In accordance
 used within the aircraft,            time-in-service    with Lindstrand
 including burner supply hoses,       after May 2,       Balloons Ltd
 basket manifolds, and refueling      2003 (the          Service
 hoses to determine if the hose is    effective date     Bulletin No. 7,
 from either defective hose batch     of this AD).       Issue 1, dated
 FHL 38381 or FHL 40579.                                 July 11, 2002
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½--------------------

[[Page 11471]]

 
(2) If any hose from the defective   Prior to further   Obtain this
 hose batch is found during the       flight after the   replacement
 inspection:                          inspection in      scheme through
(i) Obtain a replacement scheme       which the hose     the FAA at the
 from the manufacturer through the    from the           address
 FAA at the address specified in      defective hose     specified in
 paragraph (f) of this AD.            batch is found.    paragraph (f)
(ii) Incorporate this replacement                        of this AD.
 scheme.
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½--------------------
(3) Do not install Lindstrand 3/8-   As of May 2, 2003  Not applicable.
 inch bore fuel hoses from either     (the effective
 hose batch FHL 38381 or FHL 40579,   date) of this AD.
 unless replaced per paragraphs
 (d)(2)(i) and (d)(2)(ii) of this
 AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    (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, Standards Office, Small Airplane Directorate, 
approves your alternative. Submit your request through an FAA 
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send 
it to the Manager, Standards Office.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each aircraft (specifically balloons) 
with a Lindstrand Balloons Ltd 3/8-inch fuel hose 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 aircraft (specifically balloons) 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 Roger Chudy, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4140; facsimile: 
(816) 329-4090.
    (h) Are any service bulletins incorporated into this AD by 
reference? Actions required by this AD must be done in accordance 
with Lindstrand Balloons Ltd Service Bulletin No. 7, Issue 1, dated 
July 11, 2002. The Director of the Federal Register approved this 
incorporation by reference under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 
You may get copies from Lindstrand Balloons Ltd, Maesbury Road, 
Oswestry, Shropshire SY 10 8ZZ, England; telephone: +44 (0) 1691-
671717; facsimile: +44 (0) 1691-671122. You may view copies at the 
FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, 
Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in British AD Number 
002-07-2002, dated July 12, 2002.

    (i) When does this amendment become effective? This amendment 
becomes effective on May 2, 2003.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 3, 2003.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 03-5392 Filed 3-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P