[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 20, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35398-35400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9639]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24710; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-29-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-802 and AT-
802A Airplanes

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes. This 
proposed AD would require you to repetitively inspect the attach angles 
on the firewall mounted hopper rinse tank shelf for damage and/or 
cracks and replace damaged and/or cracked attach angles. Replacing the 
attach angles with steel attach angles would terminate the proposed 
repetitive inspection requirement. Reports of an uncommanded change in 
the engine power setting caused by separation of the hopper rinse tank 
shelf from the firewall prompted this proposed AD. We are proposing 
this AD to detect and correct damage and/or cracks in the attach angles 
on the firewall mounted hopper rinse tank shelf, which could result in 
failure of the attach angles. This failure could lead to shelf movement 
under maneuver load and shifting of the engine power cables, which 
could result in an uncommanded engine power setting change.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 18, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment 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 20590-0001.
     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.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact Air 
Tractor, Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374; telephone: (940) 564-
5616; facsimile: (940) 564-5612.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, 
ASW-150 (c/o MIDO-43), 10100 Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio, 
Texas 78216; telephone: (210) 308-3365; facsimile: (210) 308-3370.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number, ``FAA-
2006-24710; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-29-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.

[[Page 35399]]

    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 we 
receive concerning this proposed AD.

Discussion

    We received reports of cracks in the aluminum attach angles on the 
firewall mounted hopper rinse tank shelf. The cracks caused the attach 
angles to fail, allowing the shelf to move during in-flight 
maneuvering.
    Movement of the shelf during in-flight maneuvering caused the 
engine power cables, which attach to the hopper rinse tank shelf by a 
bracket, to shift and resulted in an uncommanded engine power setting 
change.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the 
attach angles. This failure could cause the hopper rinse tank shelf to 
separate from the firewall, allowing the shelf to move under maneuver 
load. This movement could cause the engine power cables to shift and 
result in an uncommanded change to the engine power setting.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter 248, 
dated August 31, 2005.
    The service information describes procedures for:
     Inspecting the hopper rinse tank shelf attach angles for 
damage and/or cracks; and
     Replacing all three attach angles with steel attach 
angles, part number (P/N) 60568-3, if any damage and/or cracks are 
found on any of the attach angles.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all information and 
determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist 
or develop on other products of the same type design. This proposed AD 
would require you to repetitively inspect the attach angles on the 
firewall mounted hopper rinse tank shelf for damage and/or cracks and 
replace damaged and/or cracked attach angles. Replacing the attach 
angles with steel attach angles, P/N 60568-3, would terminate the 
proposed repetitive inspection requirement.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 219 airplanes in the 
U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do each proposed inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Total cost
             Labor cost                      Parts cost          for each       Total cost on U.S.  operators
                                                                 airplane
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $80 an hour = $80.....  Not applicable.........          $80  $80 x 219 = $17,520
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Total cost for each
          Labor cost            Parts cost            airplane
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 work-hours x $80 an hour =          $105  $240 + $105 = $345
 $240.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket that contains the proposed AD, the 
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information on 
the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket 
Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) 
is located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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:

[[Page 35400]]

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 AD:

Air Tractor, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2006-24710; Directorate Identifier 
2006-CE-29-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this proposed airworthiness 
directive (AD) action by August 18, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD affects Models AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes, all 
serial numbers beginning with 802/802A-0001 through 802/802A-0219, 
that are certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of an uncommanded change in 
engine power setting caused by separation of a hopper rinse tank 
shelf from the firewall. We are proposing this AD to detect and 
correct damage and/or cracks in the attach angles on the firewall 
mounted hopper rinse tank shelf, which could result in failure of 
the attach angles. This failure could lead to shelf movement under 
maneuver load and shifting of the engine power cables, which could 
result in an uncommanded engine power setting change.

Compliance

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Visually inspect the      Initially inspect     Follow Snow
 three attach angles on the    within the next 100   Engineering Co.
 firewall mounted hopper       hours time-in-        Service Letter
 rinse tank shelf for damage   service (TIS) after   248, dated
 and/or cracks.                the effective date    August 31, 2005.
                               of this AD.
                               Repetitively
                               inspect thereafter
                               at intervals not to
                               exceed 100 hours
                               TIS. Replacing all
                               three attach angles
                               with steel attach
                               angles, part number
                               (P/N) 60568-3 (or
                               FAA-approved
                               equivalent P/N),
                               terminates the
                               repetitive
                               inspection
                               requirement of this
                               AD.
(2) If you find any damage    Before further        Follow Snow
 and/or cracks on any of the   flight after the      Engineering Co.
 three attach angles during    inspection in which   Service Letter
 any inspection required in    damage and/or         248, dated
 paragraph (e)(1) of this      cracks are found.     August 31, 2005.
 AD, replace all three         Replacing all three
 attach angles with steel      attach angles with
 attach angles, P/N 60568-3    steel attach
 (or FAA-approved equivalent   angles, P/N 60568-3
 P/N).                         (or FAA-approved
                               equivalent P/N),
                               terminates the
                               repetitive
                               inspection
                               requirement of
                               paragraph (e)(1) of
                               this AD.
(3) You may replace the       As of the effective   Follow Snow
 aluminum attach angles on     date of this AD.      Engineering Co.
 the firewall mounted hopper                         Service Letter
 rinse tank shelf with steel                         248, dated
 attach angles, P/N 60568-3                          August 31, 2005.
 (or FAA-approved equivalent
 P/N), at any time to
 terminate the repetitive
 inspections required in
 paragraph (e)(1) of this AD.
(4) Do not install aluminum   As of the effective   Not applicable.
 attach angles on the hopper   date of this AD.
 rinse tank shelf attach
 angles.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (f) 14 CFR 21.303 allows for replacement parts through parts 
manufacturer approval (PMA). The phrase ``or FAA-approved equivalent 
P/N'' in this AD is intended to allow for the installation of parts 
approved through identicality to the design of the replacement 
parts. Equivalent replacement parts to correct the unsafe condition 
under PMA (other than identicality) may also be installed provided 
they meet current airworthiness standards, which include those 
actions cited in this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g) The Manager, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office, FAA, 
ATTN: Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, ASW-150 (c/o MIDO-43), 
10100 Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio, Texas 78216; telephone: 
(210) 308-3365; facsimile: (210) 308-3370, has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found 
in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (h) To get copies of the documents referenced in this AD, 
contact Air Tractor Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374; 
telephone: (940) 564-5616; facsimile: (940) 564-5612. 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-2006-24710; Directorate Identifier 
2006-CE-29-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 13, 2006.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-9639 Filed 6-19-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P