[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 82 (Friday, April 28, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25117-25120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6420]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-23884; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-13-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries MU-2B 
Series 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 adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) MU-2B series airplanes. This 
proposed AD would require you to do flight checks of the rigging of the 
engine and propeller systems. This proposed AD results from a recent 
safety evaluation that used a data-driven approach to evaluate the 
design, operation, and maintenance of the MU-2B series airplanes in 
order to determine their safety and define what steps, if any, are 
necessary for their safe operation. Part of that evaluation was the 
identification of unsafe conditions that exist or could develop on the 
affected type design airplanes. We are issuing this proposed AD to 
detect and correct improper adjustment of the flight idle fuel flow 
setting. This condition, if uncorrected, could result in degraded 
performance and poor handling qualities with consequent loss of control 
of the airplane in certain situations.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 15, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 
proposed AD:

[[Page 25118]]

     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 20590-0001.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     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 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., 4951 Airport Parkway, 
Suite 800, Addison, Texas 75001; telephone: (972) 934-5480; facsimile: 
(972) 934-5488 for the service information identified in this proposed 
AD.
    You may examine the comments on this proposed AD in the AD docket 
on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rao Edupuganti, Aerospace Engineer, 
ASW-150, Fort Worth ACO, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76193; 
telephone: (817) 222-5284; facsimile: (817) 222-5960.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include the docket number, ``FAA-2006-23884; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-13-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 rulemaking. Using the search 
function of the DOT docket Web site, anyone can find and read the 
comments received into 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.

Discussion

    Recent accidents and the service history of the Mitsubishi MU-2B 
series airplanes prompted FAA to conduct an MU-2B Safety Evaluation. 
This evaluation used a data-driven approach to evaluate the design, 
operation, and maintenance of the MU-2B series airplanes in order to 
determine their safety and define what steps, if any, are necessary to 
ensure their safe operation.
    The safety evaluation provided an in-depth review and analysis of 
MU-2B accidents, incidents, safety data, pilot training requirements, 
engine reliability, and commercial operations. In conducting this 
evaluation, the team employed new analysis tools that provided a much 
more detailed root cause analysis of the MU-2B problems than was 
previously possible.
    Part of that evaluation was the identification of unsafe conditions 
that exist or could develop on the affected type design airplanes. Some 
operators may be improperly adjusting the flight idle fuel flow setting 
on the engines to allow a higher than normal sink rate when the flight 
idle power is selected. The manufacturer developed engine and propeller 
rigging specifications after considerable flight testing and 
evaluation. Operation outside of the specifications may result in 
unsafe flight characteristics during landing or in the event of a 
stall. In particular, improper settings may cause one or both of the 
propellers to go into negative torque sensing mode, which may result in 
an unsafe flight condition.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in degraded 
performance and poor handling qualities with consequent loss of control 
of the airplane in certain situations.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed the following MHI service information:
     Service Bulletin No. 234, dated October 7, 1998; and
     Service Bulletin No. 097/73-001, dated July 24, 1998.
    The service information describes procedures for doing flight 
checks of the rigging of the engine and propeller systems.

Foreign Airworthiness Authority Information

    The MU-2B series airplane was initially certificated in 1965 and 
again in 1976 under two separate type certificates that consist of 
basically the same type design. Japan is the State of Design for Type 
Certificate (TC) No. A2PC, and the United States is the State of Design 
for TC No. A10SW. The affected models are as follows (where models are 
duplicated, specific serial numbers are specified in the individual 
TCs):

------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Type certificate                     Affected models
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A10SW........................  MU-2B-25, MU-2B-26, MU-2B-26A, MU-2B-35,
                                MU-2B-36, MU-2B-36A, MU-2B-40, and MU-2B-
                                60.
A2PC.........................  MU-2B, MU-2B-10, MU-2B-15, MU-2B-20, MU-
                                2B-25, MU-2B-26, MU-2B-30, MU-2B-35, and
                                MU-2B-36.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, the airworthiness authority for 
Japan, issued Japanese AD No. TCD 4890-98, dated October 7, 1998, to 
ensure the continued airworthiness of the airplanes in Japan.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We are proposing this AD to address an unsafe condition that we 
determined is likely to exist or develop on other products of this same 
type design. The proposed AD would require you to do flight checks of 
the rigging of the engine and propeller systems. The proposed AD would 
require you to use the service information described previously to 
perform these actions.
    The Agency is committed to updating the aviation community of 
expected costs associated with the MU-2B series airplane safety 
evaluation conducted in 2005. As a result of that commitment, the 
accumulating expected costs of all ADs related to the MU-2B series 
airplane safety evaluation may be found in the Final Report section at 
the following Web site: http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/air_cert/design_approvals/small_airplanes/cos/mu2_foia_reading_library/.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 397 airplanes in the U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the proposed initial 
flight check:

[[Page 25119]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Total cost per   Total cost on
                  Labor cost                              Parts cost                airplane      U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 workhour x $80 = $80.......................  Not applicable.................             $80          $31,760
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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. See the ADDRESSES section for a location 
to examine the regulatory evaluation.

Examining the Dockets

    You may examine the docket that contains the proposal, any comments 
received and any final disposition on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or in person at the DOT Docket Offices between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket 
Office (telephone 1-800-647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the 
Department of Transportation Nassif Building at the street address 
stated in ADDRESSES. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after the Docket Management Facility receives them.

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 Federal Aviation Administration 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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive:

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries: Docket No. FAA-2006-23884; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-CE-13-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this proposed airworthiness directive (AD) action by 
June 15, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD affects the following airplane models and serial 
numbers that are certificated in any category:

                         Table 1.--Applicability
------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Type certificate               Models              Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) A2PC....................  MU-2B, MU-2B-10, MU-  008 through 312, 314
                               2B-15, MU-2B-20, MU-  through 320, and
                               2B-25, MU-2B-26, MU-  322 through 347.
                               2B-30, MU-2B-35,
                               and MU-2B-36.
(2) A2PC....................  MU-2B-30, MU-2B-35,   501 through 651, 653
                               and MU-2B-36.         through 660, and
                                                     662 through 696.
(3) A10SW...................  MU-2B-25, MU-2B-26,   313SA, 321SA, and
                               MU-2B-26A, and MU-    348SA through
                               2B-40.                459SA.
(4) A10SW...................  MU-2B-35, MU-2B-36,   652SA, 661SA, and
                               MU-2B-36A, and MU-    697SA through
                               2B-60.                1569SA.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from a recent safety evaluation that used a 
data-driven approach to analyze the design, operation, and 
maintenance of the MU-2B series airplanes in order to determine 
their safety and define what steps, if any, are necessary for their 
safe operation. Part of that evaluation was the identification of 
unsafe conditions that exist or could develop on the affected type 
design airplanes. The actions specified in this AD are intended to 
detect and correct improper adjustment of the flight idle fuel flow 
setting. The above issue, if uncorrected, could result in degraded 
performance and poor handling qualities with consequent loss of 
control of the airplane in certain situations.

Compliance

    (e) To address this problem, you must do the following:

[[Page 25120]]



                 Table 2.--Actions/Compliance/Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do flight checks of the       Check within 100      For airplanes listed
 rigging of the engine and     hours time-in-        in TCDS A2PC:
 propeller systems and make    service (TIS) after   follow MHI Service
 any necessary corrections.    the effective date    Bulletin No. 234,
 Make an entry into the        of this AD, and       dated October 7,
 aircraft logbook showing      repetitively          1998.
 compliance with this          thereafter at        For airplanes listed
 portion of the AD in          intervals not to      in TCDS A10SW:
 accordance with section       exceed 100 hours      follow MHI Service
 43.9 of the Federal           TIS. If any           Bulletin No. 097/73-
 Aviation Regulations (14      corrections are       001, dated July 24,
 CFR 43.9).                    necessary, make the   1998.
                               corrections before
                               further flight.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (f) The flight checks required in paragraph (e) of this AD must 
be done by two individuals. One of the individuals must hold at 
least a private pilot certificate as authorized by section 43.7 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7) and the other must be 
one of the following individuals:
    (1) Another individual holding at least a private pilot 
certificate as authorized by section 43.7 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR43.7) or
    (2) An authorized rated mechanic.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g) The Manager, Fort Worth ACO, FAA, has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found 
in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (h) For information on any already approved AMOCs or for 
information pertaining to this AD, contact Rao Edupuganti, Aerospace 
Engineer, ASW-150, Fort Worth ACO, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, 
Texas 76193; telephone: (817) 222-5284; facsimile: (817) 222-5960.

Related Information

    (i) Japan Civil Aviation Bureau Airworthiness Directive No. TCD 
4890-98, dated October 7, 1998; and MHI Service Bulletins No. 234, 
dated October 7, 1998; and No. 097/73-001, dated July 24, 1998, also 
address the subject of this AD.
    (j) To get copies of the documents referenced in this AD, 
contact Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., 4951 Airport Parkway, 
Suite 800, Addison, Texas 75001; telephone: (972) 934-5480; 
facsimile: (972) 934-5488. To view the AD docket, go to the Docket 
Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC, or on the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is Docket No. FAA-
2006-23884; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-13-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 21, 2006.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-6420 Filed 4-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P