[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 71 (Friday, April 11, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19766-19768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-7654]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0426; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-016-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; MORAVAN a.s. Model Z-143L 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 the 
products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated 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:

    Vortex inserts are used inside the heat exchanger of the 
carburettor heating system. Up to serial number (s/n) 0044 inclusive 
those inserts have been produced from aluminium alloy which has been 
found to be susceptible of cracks. As a consequence, if left 
uncorrected some loose parts could migrate in the induction system, 
reduce the air flow through the carburettor's venturi and lead to a 
loss of engine power.
    From s/n 0045 onwards vortex inserts have been produced from 
stainless steel.

The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address the 
unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 12, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2008-0426; 
Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-016-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
AD No. 2008-0038, dated February 27, 2008 (referred to after this as 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states:

    Vortex inserts are used inside the heat exchanger of the 
carburettor heating system. Up to serial number (s/n) 0044 inclusive 
those inserts have been produced from aluminium alloy which has been 
found to be susceptible of cracks. As a consequence, if left 
uncorrected some loose parts could migrate in the induction system, 
reduce the air flow through the carburettor's venturi and lead to a 
loss of engine power.
    From s/n 0045 onwards vortex inserts have been produced from 
stainless steel.
    To address this unsafe condition, this Airworthiness Directive 
(AD) mandates initial inspections of the heat exchanger vortex 
inserts and replacement of the aluminium inserts by stainless steel 
ones if any damage is found; and recurrent inspections to be done as 
incorporated in the Revision of Airplane Maintenance Manual.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Moravan Aviation s.r.o. has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin 
Z143L/31a, dated June 8, 2007, and new pages 01-35, 05-28, 75-7, 75-7A, 
75-7B, and 75-8 of ZLIN Z 143 L Airplane Maintenance Manual, Revision 
No. 9, dated: June 8, 2007. The actions described in this service 
information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in 
the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they 
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because 
we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition exists 
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type 
design.

Differences Between This Proposed 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

[[Page 19767]]

provided in the MCAI and related service information.
    We might also have proposed 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 proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 7 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 6 work-hours per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts would cost 
about $100 per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $4,060, or $580 per product.

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 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 this 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.

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 FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Moravan a.s.: Docket No. FAA-2008-0426; Directorate Identifier 2008-
CE-016-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by May 12, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model Z-143L airplanes, all serial 
numbers (SNs), certificated in any category.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 75: Engine 
Air.

 Reason

    (e) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states:

    Vortex inserts are used inside the heat exchanger of the 
carburettor heating system. Up to serial number (s/n) 0044 inclusive 
those inserts have been produced from aluminium alloy which has been 
found to be susceptible of cracks. As a consequence, if left 
uncorrected some loose parts could migrate in the induction system, 
reduce the air flow through the carburettor's venturi and lead to a 
loss of engine power.
    From s/n 0045 onwards vortex inserts have been produced from 
stainless steel.
    To address this unsafe condition, this Airworthiness Directive 
(AD) mandates initial inspections of the heat exchanger vortex 
inserts and replacement of the aluminium inserts by stainless steel 
ones if any damage is found; and recurrent inspections to be done as 
incorporated in the Revision of Airplane Maintenance Manual.

Actions and Compliance

    (f) Unless already done, do the following actions:
    (1) For all serial numbers (SNs) through SN 0044:
    (i) Before further flight after the effective date of this AD, 
inspect the vortex inserts inside the carburetor heating system heat 
exchanger for cracks and/or loose or missing rivets following 
paragraph 8 of Moravan Aviation s.r.o. Mandatory Service Bulletin 
Z143L/31a, dated June 8, 2007.
    (ii) Before further flight, if as a result of the inspection 
required by paragraph (f)(1)(i) of this AD, you find any cracks and/
or loose or missing rivets for the vortex inserts, replace all 
vortex inserts with new vortex inserts made from stainless steel 
following paragraph 8 of Moravan Aviation s.r.o. Mandatory Service 
Bulletin Z143L/31a, dated June 8, 2007.
    (2) For SN 0045 and greater: Within 110 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) after the effective date of this AD or within 60 days after 
the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, inspect the 
vortex inserts inside the carburetor heating system heat exchanger 
following new instructions introduced by new pages 05-28, 75-7, 75-
7A, and 75-8 of ZLIN Z 143 L Airplane Maintenance Manual, Revision 
No. 9, dated: June 8, 2007.
    (3) For all SNs: Within 60 days after the effective date of this 
AD, incorporate new pages 01-11, 01-12, 01-24, 01-35, 05-28, 75-7, 
75-7A, 75-7B, and 75-8 of ZLIN Z 143 L Airplane Maintenance Manual, 
Revision No. 9, dated: June 8, 2007, into your maintenance program. 
These pages include compliance times and procedures for repetitive 
inspections.

FAA AD Differences

    Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information 
as follows: The MCAI requires compliance for the inspection of SN 
0045 and greater at the next shop visit or within 110 hours TIS 
after the effective date of this AD. To assure the AD is clear for 
U.S. operators and all airplanes have the inspection done in a 
timely manner, this AD requires compliance for the inspection of SN 
0045 and greater within 110 hours TIS after the effective date of 
this AD or within 60 days after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs first.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Standards Office, 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: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; 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

[[Page 19768]]

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 European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 
2008-0038, dated February 27, 2008; Moravan Aviation s.r.o. 
Mandatory Service Bulletin Z143L/31a, dated June 8, 2007; and new 
pages 01-11, 01-12, 01-24, 01-35, 05-28, 75-7, 75-7A, 75-7B, and 75-
8 of ZLIN Z 143 L Airplane Maintenance Manual, Revision No. 9, 
dated: June 8, 2007, for related information.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 3, 2008.
David R. Showers,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-7654 Filed 4-10-08; 8:45 am]
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