[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 71 (Friday, April 11, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19775-19777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-7657]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0423; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-010-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; GENERAL AVIA Costruzioni Aeronatiche 
Models F22B, F22C, and F22R 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:

    ENAC Italy AD 2004-376 was issued in response to two separate 
reports of cracks found in the Firewall-to-Engine mounting 
attachments. Detachment of the engine mounts from the structure is 
the possible consequence. Although the actual cause has not been 
finally determined, some repairs have been approved to address and 
correct the unsafe condition.
    This new AD, which supersedes ENAC Italy AD 2004-376, retains 
the initial inspection requirement, adds repetitive inspections and 
clarifies the conditions under which aircraft that have been 
repaired by an approved method can be allowed to return to service.

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: 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:

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-2008-0423; 
Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-010-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 AD 
No. 2008-0015, dated January 18, 2008 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    ENAC Italy AD 2004-376 was issued in response to two separate 
reports of cracks found in the Firewall-to-Engine mounting 
attachments. Detachment of the engine mounts from the structure is 
the possible consequence. Although the actual cause has not been 
finally determined, some repairs have been approved to address and 
correct the unsafe condition.
    This new AD, which supersedes ENAC Italy AD 2004-376, retains 
the initial inspection requirement, adds repetitive inspections and 
clarifies the conditions under which aircraft that have been 
repaired by an approved method can be allowed to return to service.

The MCAI requires you to repetitively inspect the structure surrounding 
the heads of the four bolts of the engine mount attachment bracket for 
cracks or damage and repair any cracks or damage found as a result of 
the inspection. You may obtain further information by examining the 
MCAI in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Gomolzig Flugzeug-und Maschinenbau GmbH has issued General Avia F22 
Modification 15328 Repair Instructions, dated September 10, 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.
    There are no products of this type currently registered in the 
United States. However, this rule is necessary to ensure that the 
described unsafe condition is addressed if any of these products are 
placed on the U.S. Register in the future.

[[Page 19776]]

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 
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 would affect no products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 100 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 $740 per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $0, or $8,740 per product.
    We have no way of determining the number of products that may need 
any necessary follow-on 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 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:

General Avia Costruzioni Aeronatiche: Docket No. FAA-2008-0423; 
Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-010-AD.

Comments Due Date

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

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Models F22B, F22C, and F22R airplanes, 
all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 71: Power 
Plant--General.

Reason

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

    ENAC Italy AD 2004-376 was issued in response to two separate 
reports of cracks found in the Firewall-to-Engine mounting 
attachments. Detachment of the engine mounts from the structure is 
the possible consequence. Although the actual cause has not been 
finally determined, some repairs have been approved to address and 
correct the unsafe condition.
    This new AD, which supersedes ENAC Italy AD 2004-376, retains 
the initial inspection requirement, adds repetitive inspections and 
clarifies the conditions under which aircraft that have been 
repaired by an approved method can be allowed to return to service.

The MCAI requires you to repetitively inspect the structure 
surrounding the heads of the four bolts of the engine mount 
attachment bracket for cracks or damages and repair any cracks or 
damages found as a result of the inspection.

Actions and Compliance

    (f) Do the following actions:
    (1) Unless already done within the last 100 hours time-in-
service (TIS) before the effective date of this AD, before further 
flight and repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 
hours TIS, inspect the structure surrounding the heads of the four 
bolts of the engine mount attachment bracket, approaching from the 
cabin of the aircraft in the zone below the instrument panel. In 
case the indicated area (in particular for the upper bolts) is not 
visible due to equipment presence (relay, cooling fan, and so 
forth), remove all of the upper right-hand panel and part of the 
left-hand panel of the fireproof bulkhead to approach the area to be 
inspected through the engine compartment. In this case the use of a 
small mirror is necessary.
    (2) If as a result of any inspection required by paragraphs 
(f)(1) of this AD you find any discrepancies (for example, cracked 
or broken parts), do one of the following actions before further 
flight:
    (i) Repair the aircraft following Gomolzig Flugzeug-und 
Maschinenbau GmbH General Avia F22 Modification 15328 Repair 
Instructions, dated September 10, 2007; or
    (ii) Repair the aircraft following a repair method approved by 
the FAA for this AD.
    (3) If you repair the aircraft as specified in paragraph 
(f)(2)(i) of this AD, repetitively thereafter inspect the aircraft 
at intervals not to exceed 500 hours TIS following the instructions 
in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD. If as a result of these repetitive 
inspections you find any discrepancies, prior to further flight, 
repair the aircraft following Gomolzig Flugzeug-und Maschinenbau 
GmbH General Avia F22 Modification 15328 Repair Instructions, dated 
September 10, 2007.
    (4) If you repair the aircraft as specified in paragraph 
(f)(2)(ii) of this AD, repetitively thereafter inspect the aircraft 
using the repetitive inspection interval established by the FAA-
approved repair method used. Follow the inspection instruction in 
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD. If as a result of the inspection you 
find any discrepancies, repair before further flight following a 
repair method approved by the FAA for this AD.

FAA AD Differences

    Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/or service information 
as follows: No differences.

Other FAA AD Provisions

    (g) The following provisions also apply to this AD:

[[Page 19777]]

    (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: 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 ensure 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. 
2008-0015, dated January 18, 2008; and Gomolzig Flugzeug-und 
Maschinenbau GmbH General Avia F22 Modification 15328 Repair 
Instructions, dated September 10, 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. E8-7657 Filed 4-10-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P