[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 9, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67949-67952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22305]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22875; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-179-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Short Brothers Model SD3-60 SHERPA, 
SD3-SHERPA, and SD3-60 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness

[[Page 67950]]

directive (AD) that applies to all Short Brothers Model SD3-60 and SD3-
SHERPA airplanes. The existing AD currently requires an inspection of 
the fork end of the rear pintle pin on each main landing gear (MLG) to 
verify that sealant is properly applied and is undamaged, and related 
investigative/corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would 
add an inspection for correctly applied sealant on the MLG rear pintle 
pin assemblies, and related investigative/corrective actions if 
necessary. This proposed AD would also expand the applicability of the 
existing AD. This proposed AD results from a new report of a cracked 
pintle pin fork end. We are proposing this AD to prevent stress-
corrosion cracking and subsequent failure of the MLG.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 9, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD.
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Contact Short Brothers, Airworthiness & Engineering Quality, P.O. 
Box 241, Airport Road, Belfast BT3 9DZ, Northern Ireland, for service 
information identified in this proposed AD.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``Docket No. 
FAA-2005-22875; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-179-AD'' at the 
beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the 
overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the 
proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date 
and may amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of 
that web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or 
signed the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, 
etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78), or you 
may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after the Docket Management System 
receives them.

Discussion

    On January 25, 1993, we issued AD 93-02-03, amendment 39-8485 (58 
FR 7983, February 11, 1993), for all Short Brothers Model SD3-60 and 
SD3-SHERPA airplanes. That AD requires an inspection of the fork end of 
the rear pintle pin on each main landing gear (MLG) to verify that 
sealant is properly applied and is undamaged; removal of the bushings 
and an inspection to detect faults of the bores in the fork end, if 
necessary; and repair of the fork end of the pintle pin, if necessary. 
That AD resulted from a report of a cracked fork end of the MLG rear 
pintle pin. We issued that AD to prevent stress-corrosion cracking and 
subsequent failure of the MLG.

Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 93-02-03, we have learned about another incident 
of a cracked pintle pin fork end on a Model SD3 airplane.

Relevant Service Information

    Shorts has issued Service Bulletins SD360 Sherpa-32-4 (for Model 
SD3-60 SHERPA airplanes), SD3 Sherpa-32-5 (for Model SD3-SHERPA 
airplanes), and SD360-32-37 (for Model SD3-60 airplanes), all dated 
July 2004. The service bulletins describe procedures for an inspection 
to determine whether sealant has been properly applied on the MLG rear 
pintle pin assemblies, and related investigative/corrective actions for 
missing or damaged sealant. Accomplishing the actions specified in the 
service information is intended to adequately address the unsafe 
condition. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the 
airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom, mandated the service 
information and issued British airworthiness directive G-2004-0022, 
dated August 25, 2004, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these 
airplanes in the United Kingdom.
    The service bulletins refer to Messier Dowty Service Bulletin 32-
70SD, Revision 1, dated July 3, 1995, as an additional source of 
service information for the inspection and related investigative/
corrective actions.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    These airplane models are manufactured in the United Kingdom 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, the CAA has kept the FAA 
informed of the situation described above. We have examined the CAA's 
findings, evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that AD 
action is necessary for airplanes of this type design that are 
certificated for operation in the United States.
    This proposed AD would supersede AD 93-02-03 and would retain the 
requirements of the existing AD. This proposed AD would also expand the 
applicability for the actions specified in service information 
described previously, except as discussed below.

Difference Between the Proposed AD and Service Information

    The service information specifies to contact the manufacturer for 
instructions on how to repair certain conditions, but this proposed AD 
would require repairing those conditions using a method that we or the 
CAA (or its delegated agent) approve. In light of the type of repair 
that would be required to address the unsafe condition, and

[[Page 67951]]

consistent with existing bilateral airworthiness agreements, we have 
determined that, for this proposed AD, a repair we or the CAA approve 
would be acceptable for compliance with this proposed AD.

Clarification of Inspection Terminology

    In this proposed AD, the inspection specified in the service 
bulletins is referred to as a ``general visual inspection.'' Note 1 in 
this proposed AD defines this type of inspection.

Costs of Compliance

    The following table provides the estimated costs for U.S. operators 
to comply with this proposed AD.

                                                                     Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                          Number of U.S.-
                         Action                             Work hours     Average labor       Parts         Cost per       registered      Fleet cost
                                                                          rate  per hour                     airplane        airplanes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspection (required by AD 93-02-03)....................               1             $65            None             $65              42          $2,730
Inspection (new proposed action)........................               1              65            None              65              42           2,730
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Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
subtitle VII, part A, subpart III, section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed 
regulation:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the 
ADDRESSES section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.

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 FAA proposes to amend 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. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec.  39.13 by 
removing amendment 39-8485 (58 FR 7983, February 11, 1993) and adding 
the following new airworthiness directive (AD):

Short Brothers PLC: Docket No. FAA-2005-22875; Directorate 
Identifier 2005-NM-179-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by December 
9, 2005.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 93-02-03.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to all Shorts Model SD3-60 SHERPA, SD3-
SHERPA, and SD3-60 airplanes, certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a new report of a cracked pintle pin 
fork end. We are issuing this AD to prevent stress-corrosion 
cracking and subsequent failure of the main landing gear (MLG).

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the 
actions have already been done.

Restatement of Requirements of AD 93-02-03

Inspection

    (f) For Model SD3-60 and SD3-SHERPA airplanes: Within 300 hours' 
time-in-service or 30 days after March 18, 1993 (the effective date 
of AD 93-02-03), whichever occurs first, perform a visual inspection 
of the fork end of the rear pintle pin on each MLG to verify that an 
undamaged fillet of sealant is properly applied around the flanges 
of the bronze bushings, in accordance with Shorts SD3-60 Service 
Bulletin SD360-32-33, dated August 7, 1992.
    (1) If an undamaged fillet of properly applied sealant is found: 
No further action is required by this AD.
    (2) If no fillet of sealant is found at the joint line, or if a 
damaged fillet of sealant is found: Prior to the accumulation of 
1,200 hours' time-in-service or 120 days after accomplishing the 
inspection required by paragraph (f) of this AD, whichever occurs 
first, remove the bushings and perform a magnetic non-destructive 
testing (NDT) inspection to detect faults of the bores in the fork 
end, in accordance with the service bulletin. If faults are found as 
a result of the NDT inspection, prior to further flight, repair the 
fork end of the rear pintle pin in a manner approved by the Manager, 
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA.

New Requirements of This AD

Inspection

    (g) For all airplanes: Within 3 months after the effective date 
of this AD, do a general visual inspection of the MLG rear pintle 
pin assemblies for correctly applied sealant, in accordance with 
Shorts Service Bulletin SD360-32-37, SD3 SHERPA-32-5, or SD360 
SHERPA 32-4, all dated July 2004, as applicable.
    (1) If the sealant is applied correctly: This AD requires no 
further work.
    (2) If the sealant is applied incorrectly: Within 12 months 
after the effective date of this AD, do a magnetic flaw detection 
inspection to detect cracks of the rear pintle pin fork ends, in 
accordance with the service bulletin. If any cracked pintle pin fork 
end is found: Replace it before further flight with a serviceable 
part that has been inspected in accordance with the requirements of 
this AD.

    Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection 
is: ``A visual

[[Page 67952]]

examination of an interior or exterior area, installation, or 
assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or irregularity. This 
level of inspection is made from within touching distance unless 
otherwise specified. A mirror may be necessary to ensure visual 
access to all surfaces in the inspection area. This level of 
inspection is made under normally available lighting conditions such 
as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or droplight and may 
require removal or opening of access panels or doors. Stands, 
ladders, or platforms may be required to gain proximity to the area 
being checked.''


    Note 2: The service bulletins identified in paragraph (g) of 
this AD refer to Messier Dowty Service Bulletin 32-70SD, Revision 1, 
dated July 3, 1995, as an additional source of service information 
for the inspection and corrective actions.

    (h) If any crack is detected during any inspection required by 
this AD and the service information specifies to contact the 
manufacturer for repair instructions: Before further flight, repair 
using a method approved by either the Manager, International Branch, 
ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the Civil Aviation 
Authority (CAA) (or its delegated agent).

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (i)(1) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport 
Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for 
this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14 
CFR 39.19.
    (2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.  
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the 
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards 
Certificate Holding District Office.

Related Information

    (j) British airworthiness directive G-2004-0022, dated August 
25, 2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on October 28, 2005.
Kalene C. Yanamura,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-22305 Filed 11-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P