[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 25, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 71539-71541]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27364]



[[Page 71539]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0892; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-049-AD; 
Amendment 39-15742; AD 2008-24-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Maule Aerospace Technology, Inc. M-4, 
M-5, M-6, and M-7 Series and Model M-8-235 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Maule Aerospace Technology, Inc. M-4, M-5, M-6, and M-7 series and 
Model M-8-235 airplanes. This AD requires you to paint the top of the 
rear elevator control horn, the elevator control cable end attached to 
the top of the rear control horn, the bottom of the forward elevator 
control horn, and the elevator control cable end attached to the bottom 
of the forward control horn. This AD also requires you to insert a 
supplement into your maintenance program (maintenance manual). This AD 
results from two reports of accidents where reversed elevator control 
rigging was a factor. We are issuing this AD to reduce the likelihood 
of a mechanic rigging the elevator controls backwards, which could 
result in elevator movement in the opposite direction from control 
input. This condition could lead to loss of control.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on December 30, 2008.
    On December 30, 2008, the Director of the Federal Register approved 
the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this 
AD.

ADDRESSES: To get the service information identified in this AD, 
contact Maule Aerospace Technology, Inc., 2099 Georgia Highway 133 
South, Moultrie, Georgia 31788; telephone: (229) 985-2045; fax: (229) 
985-2048; e-mail: [email protected]; Internet: http://www.mauleairinc.com/service_bulletins.htm.
    To view the AD docket, go to U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or on the Internet at 
http://www.regulations.gov. The docket number is FAA-2008-0892; 
Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-049-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Lorenzen, Aerospace Engineer, 
One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix Blvd., Suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 
30349; telephone: (770) 703-6078; fax: (770) 703-6097; e-mail: 
[email protected]; or
    Gerald Avella, Aerospace Engineer, One Crown Center, 1895 Phoenix 
Blvd., Suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone: (770) 703-6066; 
fax: (770) 703-6097; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On August 12, 2008, we issued a proposal to amend part 39 of the 
Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that 
would apply to certain Maule Aerospace Technology, Inc. M-4, M-5, M-6, 
and M-7 series and Model M-8-235 airplanes. This proposal was published 
in the Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on 
August 19, 2008 (73 FR 48314). The NPRM proposed to require you to 
paint the top of the rear elevator control horn, the elevator control 
cable end attached to the top of the rear control horn, the bottom of 
the forward elevator control horn, and the elevator control cable end 
attached to the bottom of the forward control horn. The NPRM also 
proposed to require you to insert a supplement into your maintenance 
program (maintenance manual).

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the proposal 
and FAA's response to each comment:

Comment Issue No. 1: The AD Should Not Be Issued

    An anonymous commenter suggests that the AD is unnecessary because 
mechanics should already know to always check the rigging of the flight 
controls anytime the cables have been disconnected and re-connected. 
The commenter requests that we not issue the AD.
    While we agree mechanics should always check the rigging of the 
control cables for proper operation anytime the cables have been re-
connected to the airplane, there have been instances where this has not 
happened and it has led to accidents. To minimize the possibility of 
incorrect flight control system assembly, this AD requires color coding 
the cables and control horns, which will provide a visual aid to the 
mechanic during reassembly.
    We are not changing the AD as a result of this comment.

Comment Issue No. 2: Removal of the Word ``Horn'' From Paragraph 
(e)(1)(iii)

    Mr. Geoffrey Sharp comments that the word ``horn'' does not make 
sense in the painting instruction requiring painting of ``the bottom of 
the forward elevator control horn.'' We infer that he is requesting 
that we remove the word ``horn'' from paragraph (e)(1)(iii) of the AD.
    We do not agree with the comment. The instructions to paint the 
elevator control horn are correct. The horn is the connecting piece for 
the control cables. However, upon review we noticed that the word horn 
was omitted from paragraph (e)(1)(iv) of the proposed AD.
    We are changing paragraph (e)(1)(iv) of this AD by adding the word 
``horn'' to the end of the sentence. We have also made this change in 
the Summary and Discussion sections of this AD.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed 
except for the changes previously discussed and minor editorial 
corrections. We have determined that these minor corrections:
     Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
     Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 1,765 airplanes in the U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the modification:

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                                                                                 Total cost per   Total cost on
                          Labor cost                              Parts cost        airplane      U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $80 per hour = $80.............................             $20             $100         $176,500
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[[Page 71540]]

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 AD.

Regulatory Findings

    We have 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 that this AD:
    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 summary of the costs to comply with this AD (and 
other information as included in the Regulatory Evaluation) and placed 
it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by sending a 
request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket 
No. FAA-2008-0892; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-049-AD'' in your 
request.

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 Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (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. FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:

2008-24-02 Maule Aerospace Technology, Inc.: Amendment 39-15742; 
Docket No. FAA-2008-0892; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-049-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective on December 30, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Model                             Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bee Dee M-4...............................  All serial numbers.
M-4.......................................  All serial numbers.
M-4-180C..................................  All serial numbers.
M-4-180V..................................  47001T through 47014T.
M-4-210...................................  All serial numbers.
M-4-210C..................................  All serial numbers.
M-4-210S..................................  All serial numbers.
M-4-220C..................................  All serial numbers.
M-4-220S..................................  All serial numbers.
M-4C......................................  All serial numbers.
M-4S......................................  All serial numbers.
M-4T......................................  All serial numbers.
M-5-180C..................................  All serial numbers.
M-5-200...................................  All serial numbers.
M-5-210C..................................  All serial numbers.
M-5-210TC.................................  All serial numbers.
M-5-220C..................................  All serial numbers.
M-5-235C..................................  All serial numbers.
M-6-180...................................  8020C, 8043C, 8065C through
                                             8067C.
M-6-235...................................  7249C, 7356C, 7379C through
                                             7444C, 7446C through 7450C,
                                             7452C through 7459C, 7461C
                                             through 7466C, 7468C,
                                             7469C, 7471C through 7475C,
                                             7488C through 7514C, 7516C
                                             through 7522C.
M-7-235...................................  4001C through 4132C, 12001C,
                                             12002C.
M-7-235A..................................  24001C.
M-7-235B..................................  23001C through 23105C.
M-7-235C..................................  25001C through 25106C.
M-7-260...................................  26001C through 26021C.
M-7-260C..................................  30001C through 30040C.
M-7-420A..................................  35001C.
M-7-420AC.................................  29001C, 29003C through
                                             29007C.
M-8-235...................................  15001C through 15006C.
MT-7-235..................................  18001C through 18097C,
                                             18099C, 18100C.
MT-7-260..................................  27001C through 27014C.
MT-7-420..................................  51001C, 51002C.
MX-7-160..................................  19001C through 19046C.
MX-7-160C.................................  34001C.
MX-7-180..................................  11001C through 11097C.
MX-7-180A.................................  20001C through 20064C.
MX-7-180AC................................  33001C through 33010C.

[[Page 71541]]

 
MX-7-180B.................................  22001C through 22025C,
                                             22027C.
MX-7-180C.................................  28001C through 28027C.
MX-7-235..................................  10001C through 10122C.
MX-7-420..................................  13001C through 13003C.
MXT-7-160.................................  17001C through 17008C.
MXT-7-180.................................  14000C through 14125C.
MXT-7-180A................................  21001C through 21096C.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from two reports of accidents where reversed 
elevator control rigging was a factor. We are issuing this AD to 
reduce the likelihood of a mechanic rigging the elevator controls 
backwards, which could result in elevator movement in the opposite 
direction from control input. This failure could lead to loss of 
control.

Compliance

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

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               Actions                             Compliance                            Procedures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Using yellow enamel paint, color  Before the next time the elevator     Follow Maule Aerospace Technology,
 code the following:                   control cable is disconnected for     Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No.
(i) the top of the rear elevator       any reason or within the next 12      30, dated March 4, 2008.
 control horn;                         calendar months after December 30,
(ii) the elevator control cable end    2008 (the effective date of this
 attached to the top of the rear       AD), whichever occurs first.
 control horn;
(iii) the bottom of the forward
 elevator control horn; and
(iv) the elevator control cable end
 attached to the bottom of the
 forward control horn
(2) Insert the following text into    Before the next time the elevator     Follow Maule Aerospace Technology,
 the rigging procedure section of      control cable is disconnected for     Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin No.
 your FAA-approved maintenance         any reason or within the next 12      30, dated March 4, 2008. You may
 program (e.g. maintenance manual):    calendar months after December 30,    insert a copy of this AD or you may
``CAUTION--BEFORE FLIGHT WHENEVER      2008 (the effective date of this      insert the text located on the
 ELEVATOR CABLES ARE RECONNECTED OR    AD), whichever occurs first.          bottom of page 3 of Maule Aerospace
 NEW CABLES INSTALLED: Always check                                          Technology, Inc. Mandatory Service
 operation of elevators after a                                              Bulletin No. 30, dated March 4,
 cable reconnect by pulling back on                                          2008, into the FAA-approved
 the control and ascertain that the                                          maintenance program (e.g., 1
 elevators are in the UP position.''                                         maintenance manual).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) The Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
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: Gerald Avella, Aerospace Engineer, One Crown Center, 1895 
Phoenix Blvd., Suite 450, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone: (770) 
703-6066; fax: (770) 703-6097; e-mail: [email protected]. 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.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (g) You must use Maule Aerospace Technology, Inc. Mandatory 
Service Bulletin No. 30, dated March 4, 2008, 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 Maule 
Aerospace Technology, Inc., 2099 Georgia Highway 133 South, 
Moultrie, Georgia 31788; telephone: (229) 985-2045; fax: (229) 985-
2048; e-mail: [email protected]; Internet: http://www.mauleairinc.com.
    (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 10, 2008.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-27364 Filed 11-24-08; 8:45 am]
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