[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 121 (Tuesday, June 24, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 37397-37400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15724]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-CE-10-AD; Amendment 39-13205; AD 2003-13-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. 
Models Sky Arrow 650 TC and 650 TCN Airplanes

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 Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. (3I) Models Sky 
Arrow 650 TC and 650 TCN airplanes. This AD requires you to 
repetitively inspect the engine mount for cracks and modify or replace 
the engine mount if cracks are

[[Page 37398]]

found. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Italy. The 
actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct cracks 
in the engine mount, which could result in failure of the engine mount. 
Such failure could lead to separation of the engine from the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on August 11, 2003.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of 
August 11, 2003.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information referenced in this AD 
from Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A., Corso Trieste, n. 150, 
00198 Rome, Italy; telephone: 06 84.15.821; facsimile: 06 855.71.62. 
You may view this information at the Federal Aviation Administration 
(FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 2003-CE-10-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: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This AD?

    The Ente Nazionale per l'Aviazione Civile (ENAC), which is the 
airworthiness authority for Italy, recently notified FAA that an unsafe 
condition may exist on all Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. (3I) 
Models Sky Arrow 650 TC and 650 TCN airplanes. The ENAC reports that 
data collected on in-service airplanes shows that cracks have been 
detected on the engine mount of several airplanes with high operating 
time on grass airfields and at flight schools where activity of hard 
landings have occurred.

What Is the Potential Impact if FAA Took No Action?

    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in 
failure of the engine mount. Such failure could lead to separation of 
the engine from the airplane.

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 
Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. (3I) Models Sky Arrow 650 TC and 
650 TCN airplanes. This proposal was published in the Federal Register 
as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on April 3, 2003 (68 FR 
16222). The NPRM proposed to require you to repetitively inspect the 
engine mount for cracks and modify or replace the engine mount if 
cracks are found.

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.

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.

What Are the Differences Between This AD, the ENAC AD, and the Service 
Information?

    The ENAC AD and the service information requires (on Italian-
registered airplanes) inspection within the next 10 hours time-in-
service (TIS) after the effective date of the AD. We require that you 
inspect within the next 50 hours TIS after the effective date of this 
AD. We do not have justification to require this action within the next 
10 hours TIS.
    We use compliance times such as 10 hours TIS when we have 
identified an urgent safety of flight situation. We believe that 50 
hours TIS will give the owners or operators of the affected airplanes 
enough time to have these actions accomplished without compromising the 
safety of the airplanes.

How Does the Revision to 14 CFR Part 39 Affect This AD?

    On July 10, 2002, FAA published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 
FR 47997, July 22, 2002), which governs FAA's AD system. This 
regulation now includes material that relates to special flight 
permits, alternative methods of compliance, and altered products. This 
material previously was included in each individual AD. Since this 
material is included in 14 CFR part 39, we will not include it in 
future AD actions.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Does This AD Impact?

    We estimate that this AD affects 10 airplanes 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
             Labor cost                      Parts cost              airplane      Total cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 workhour x $60 = $60.............  No parts required.........             $60   $60 x 10 = $600
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the necessary 
modification:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
              Labor cost                   Parts cost        airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 workhours x $60 = $840.............            $100             $940
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 37399]]

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total cost per
              Labor cost                   Parts cost        airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 workhours x $60 = $660..............            $500           $1,160
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

0
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

0
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]

0
2. FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:

2003-13-05 Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A.: Amendment 39-
13205; Docket No. 2003-CE-10-AD.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects 
Models Sky Arrow 650 TC and 650 TCN airplanes, all serial numbers, 
that are certificated in any category.
    (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 cracks in the engine 
mount, which could result in failure of the engine mount. Such 
failure could lead to separation of the engine from the airplane.
    (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 engine mount  Initially inspect     In accordance with
 for cracks.                   within the next 50    the engine
                               hours time-in-        Iniziative
                               service (TIS) after   Industriali
                               August 11, 2003       Italiane S.p.A. 3i
                               (the effective date   Service Bulletin SB-
                               of this AD).          C No. 01/02, dated
                               Repetitively          October 15, 2002.
                               inspect thereafter
                               at intervals not to
                               exceed 100 hours
                               TIS until the
                               modification or
                               replacement
                               specified in
                               paragraph (d)(2) or
                               (d)(3) of this AD
                               is incorporated.
-----------------------------
(2) If cracks are found       Prior to further      In accordance with
 during any inspection         flight after the      Iniziative
 required in paragraph         inspection in which   Industriali
 (d)(1) of this AD and the     the cracks are        Italiane S.p.A. 3i
 cracks are 20 millimeters     found.                Service Bulletin SB-
 (mm) or less in size,         Incorporating the     C No. 01/02, dated
 modify the engine mount.      manufacturer's        October 15, 2002.
                               modification kit
                               terminates the
                               repetitive
                               inspection
                               requirements of
                               this AD.
-----------------------------
(3) If cracks are found       Prior to further      In accordance with
 during the inspection         flight after the      Iniziative
 required in paragraph         inspection in which   Industriali
 (d)(1) of this AD and the     the cracks are        Italiane S.p.A. 3i
 cracks are more than 20       found. Replacing      Service Bulletin SB-
 millimeters in length, the    the engine mount      C No. 01/02, dated
 engine mount must be          with a new, already   October 15, 2002.
 replaced with a new,          modified engine
 already modified engine       mount terminates
 mount.                        the repetitive
                               inspection
                               requirements of
                               this AD.
-----------------------------
(4) After any inspection      N/A.................  In accordance with
 required in paragraph                               Iniziative
 (d)(1) of this AD, and no                           Industriali
 cracks are found, you may                           Italiane S.p.A. 3i
 incorporate the                                     Bulletin SB-C No.
 modification or install a                           01/02, dated
 new, already modified                               October 15, 2002.
 engine mount as referenced
 in paragraph (d)(2) and
 (d)(3) of this AD. This
 modification terminates the
 repetitive inspection
 requirements of this AD.
-----------------------------
(5) Do not install any        As of August 11,      Not applicable.
 engine mount unless it has    2003 (the effective
 been modified as specified    date of this AD).
 in paragraph (d)(2) of this
 AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 37400]]

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? To use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time, use 
the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. Send these requests to the Manager, 
Standards Office, Small Airplane Directorate. For information on any 
already approved alternative methods of compliance, contact Doug 
Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 
Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-
4059; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.
    (f) Are any service bulletins incorporated into this AD by 
reference? Actions required by this AD must be done in accordance 
with Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. 3i Service Bulletin SB-C 
No. 01/02, dated October 15, 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 Iniziative 
Industriali Italiane S.p.A., Corso Trieste, n. 150, 00198 Rome, 
Italy; telephone: 06 84.15.821; facsimile: 06 855.71.62. 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: The subject of this AD is addressed in Italian AD Number 
2002-590, dated November 29, 2002.

    (g) When does this amendment become effective? This amendment 
becomes effective on August 11, 2003.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 17, 2003.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-15724 Filed 6-23-03; 8:45 am]
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