[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 125 (Friday, June 29, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35639-35640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-12319]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 125 / Friday, June 29, 2007 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 35639]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27530 Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-019-AD; 
Amendment 39-15118; AD 2007-13-14]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; APEX Aircraft Model CAP 10 B Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of 
another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an 
aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

    Two cases of rudder lower support with cracks have been 
reported, waiting for a technical solution, inspections are 
required.

We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective August 3, 2007.
    On August 3, 2007 the Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov or in person at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 
20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarjapur Nagarajan, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4145; fax: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 2, 2007 (72 FR 
15635). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states that:

    Two cases of rudder lower support with cracks have been 
reported, waiting for a technical solution, inspections are 
required.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in 
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it 
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the 
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these 
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information 
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
    We might also have required different actions in this AD from those 
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are 
highlighted in a Note within the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 31 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it will take about 8 work-hours per product to 
comply with basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate is 
$80 per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this 
AD to the U.S. operators to be $19,840 or $640 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 5 work-hours and require parts provided by APEX Aircraft 
under warranty, for a cost of $400 per product. We have no way of 
determining the number of products that may need these actions.

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 determined that this AD will not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify this AD:
    (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.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD Docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in

[[Page 35640]]

person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
the NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for the Docket Office (telephone (800) 
647-5527) is 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2007-13-14 APEX Aircraft: Amendment 39-15118; Docket No. FAA-2007-
27530; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-019-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective August 
3, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model CAP 10 B airplanes, all serial 
numbers, that are:
    (1) Fitted with a rudder lower support, part number (P/N) CAP10-
30-08-01* or CAP230-30-08-01* (* with or without a letter at the 
reference end), as applicable, supplied by APEX Aircraft after 
January 1, 2001; and
    (2) Certificated in any category.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 55: 
Stabilizers.

Reason

    (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states:
    Two cases of rudder lower support with cracks have been 
reported, waiting for a technical solution, inspections are 
required.

Actions and Compliance

    (f) Unless already done, do the following actions:
    (1) Within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after August 
3, 2007 (the effective date of this AD), do inspection A using Apex 
Aircraft Service Bulletin No. 040707, dated July 29, 2004.
    (2) Every 50 hours TIS after the inspection required by 
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, do inspection B using Apex Aircraft 
Service Bulletin No. 040707, dated July 29, 2004.
    (3) When a crack is detected as a result of any inspection 
required by paragraph (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this AD, before further 
flight, return the part to APEX Aviation using Apex Aircraft Service 
Bulletin No. 040707, dated July 29, 2004, and install an airworthy 
part or incorporate the repair. Continued operation with any rudder 
lower support with cracks is prohibited.
    (4) Before further flight after the inspection required in 
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, do not install a rudder lower support, 
P/N CAP10-30-08-01* or CAP230-30-08-01*, unless it is inspected and 
found to be crack free following the requirements of this AD.

FAA AD Differences

    Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information 
as follows: The MCAI and service bulletin require inspection A 
before the next flight and inspection B every 25 flight hours. We 
consider before the next flight as an urgent safety of flight 
compliance time, and we do not consider this unsafe condition to be 
an urgent safety of flight condition. Because we do not consider 
this unsafe condition to be an urgent safety of flight condition, we 
issued this action through the normal notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) AD process followed by this final rule. The time of 50 hours 
TIS is an adequate compliance for this AD action and meets the FAA 
requirements of an NPRM followed by a final rule.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Standards Staff, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this 
AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send 
information to ATTN: Sarjapur Nagarajan, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4145; fax: (816) 329-4090. 
Before using any approved AMOC on any airplane to which the AMOC 
applies, notify your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in the FAA 
Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local 
FSDO.
    (2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain 
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these 
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered 
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority 
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product 
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has 
approved the information collection requirements and has assigned 
OMB Control Number 2120-0056.

Related Information

    (h) Refer to MCAI EASA AD No. F-2004-143, dated August 18, 2004; 
and Apex Aircraft Service Bulletin No. 040707, dated July 29, 2004, 
for related information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (i) You must use Apex Aircraft Service Bulletin No. 040707, 
dated July 29, 2004, to do the actions required by this AD, unless 
the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Apex 
Aircraft, Bureau de Navigabilit[eacute], 1 route de Troyes, 21121 
DAROIS--France, telephone: (33) 380 35 65 10; fax: (33) 380 35 65 
15; e-mail: apex-aircraft.com.
    (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; or at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 19, 2007.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-12319 Filed 6-28-07; 8:45 am]
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