[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 16, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12468-12469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5631]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0261; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-008-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Quartz Mountain Aerospace, Inc. Model 
11E 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 all 
Quartz Mountain Aerospace, Inc. Model 11E airplanes. This proposed AD 
would require you to clean and lubricate the aileron pushrod bearings. 
This proposed AD results from reports of the aileron control stick 
force increasing and of the controls being very noisy. We are proposing 
this AD to detect and correct insufficient lubrication and residual 
metallic paint particles in the pushrod end ball joints, which could 
result in difficulty actuating aileron controls sometime during flight 
after takeoff. This condition could lead to difficulty controlling the 
airplane in flight.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 30, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this 
proposed AD:
     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.
    Quartz Mountain Aerospace, Inc. is in liquidation. For service/or 
continued airworthiness information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact Manager, Fort Worth Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, ATTN: 
Garry D. Sills, Aerospace Engineer, Rotorcraft Directorate--Airplane 
Certification Office, ASW-150, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 
76193; telephone: (817) 222-5154; facsimile: (817) 222-5960.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garry D. Sills, Aerospace Engineer, 
Rotorcraft Directorate--Airplane Certification Office, ASW-150, 2601 
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76193; telephone: (817) 222-5154; fax: 
(817) 222-5960.

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-
2010-0261; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-008-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.
    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 concerning this proposed AD.

Discussion

    We have received reports of the aileron control stick force 
increasing and of the controls being very noisy on Quartz Mountain 
Aerospace, Inc. Model 11E airplanes. This condition may not be 
detectable before takeoff. In one actual instance, the condition 
occurred during flight. The stick force increased after preflight 
inspection and after takeoff. The airplane was operated by a student 
pilot, who had trouble flying the airplane when this occurred, and the 
certified flight instructor (CFI) had to take control and land the 
airplane. Lubricating the rod end removed the condition.
    Inspection revealed the left and right aileron push rod forward 
ends at the bellcrank were dry due to no lubrication.
    Further examination of the pushrod end ball joint hardware by the 
manufacturer found that the ball joint surfaces were additionally 
contaminated with specks of metallic paint as well as not being 
lubricated. A review of manufacturer build procedures found airplane 
painting with the rod ends exposed. Production procedures were changed 
to prevent further contamination.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to difficulty 
controlling the airplane in flight.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed Quartz Mountain Aerospace Service Bulletin No. SB 
09-02, dated May 5, 2009.
    The service information describes procedures for cleaning and 
lubricating the aileron pushrod bearings.

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 clean and lubricate the aileron pushrod bearings.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 12 airplanes in the 
U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the proposed cleaning and 
lubrication:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Total cost per   Total cost on
                          Labor cost                              Parts cost        airplane      U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85.............................             $10              $95           $1,140
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[[Page 12469]]

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://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 Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) 
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, Incorporation by 
reference, 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:

Quartz Mountain Aerospace, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2010-0261; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-008-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by April 30, 2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model 11E airplanes, all serial numbers, 
that are certificated in any category.

Subject

    (d) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 27: Flight 
Controls.

Unsafe Condition

    (e) This AD results from reports of the aileron control stick 
force increasing and of the controls being very noisy. We are 
issuing this AD to detect and correct insufficient lubrication and 
residual metallic paint particles in the rod end ball joints, which 
could result in difficulty actuating aileron controls sometime 
during flight after takeoff. This failure could lead to difficulty 
controlling the airplane in flight.

Compliance

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Clean and lubricate the   With the next 10      Follow Quartz
 aileron pushrod bearings.     hours time-in-        Mountain Aerospace
                               service (TIS) after   Service Bulletin
                               the effective date    No. SB 09-02, dated
                               of this AD.           May 5, 2009.
(2) Lubricate the aileron     Within 50 hours TIS   Follow Quartz
 pushrod bearings.             after the cleaning    Mountain Aerospace
                               and lubrication       Service Bulletin
                               required by           No. SB 09-02, dated
                               paragraph (f)(1) of   May 5, 2009.
                               this AD.
                               Thereafter,
                               repetitively at
                               intervals not to
                               exceed 50 hours TIS.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Special Flight Permit

    (g) Under 14 CFR part 39.23, a special flight is not permitted 
for this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (h) The Manager, Fort Worth Aircraft Certification 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: 
Garry D. Sills, Aerospace Engineer, Rotorcraft Directorate--Airplane 
Certification Office, ASW-150, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 
76193; telephone: (817) 222-5154; facsimile: (817) 222-5960. 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.

Related Information

    (i) Quartz Mountain Aerospace, Inc. is in liquidation. To get 
copies of the service/continued airworthiness information referenced 
in this AD, contact Manager, Fort Worth Aircraft Certification 
Office, FAA, ATTN: Garry D. Sills, Aerospace Engineer, Rotorcraft 
Directorate--Airplane Certification Office, ASW-150, 2601 Meacham 
Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76193; telephone: (817) 222-5154; fax: 
(817) 222-5960. 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.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 9, 2010.
Sandra J. Campbell,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-5631 Filed 3-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P