[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 2 (Thursday, January 3, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 275-277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-31602]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 2 / Thursday, January 3, 2013 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 275]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1346; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-047-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; REIMS Aviation S.A. Airplanes

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
REIMS AVIATION S.A. Model F406 airplanes. 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 fretting (wear and/or chafing) found between the elevator 
pushrod assembly and horizontal tail structure, which could cause the 
elevator pushrod to jam and could result in loss of control. We are 
issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 19, 
2013.

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.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
REIMS Aviation Industries, A[eacute]rodrome de Reims Prunay, 51360 
Prunay, France; telephone: 03.26.48.46.65; fax: 03.26.49.18.57; 
Internet: http://www.geciaviation.com/en/. You may review copies of the 
referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 
901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

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: Albert Mercado, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4119; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected].

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-2012-1346; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-047-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://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. 2012-0164, dated August 28, 2012 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    During maintenance, fretting has been found between the elevator 
pushrod assembly and horizontal tail structure on Reims F406 
aeroplanes. In addition, bending was found on a pushrod assembly 
Part Number (P/N) 6015034-1. The investigation has not yet 
established the exact cause(s) of these occurrences.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
failure of a pushrod and consequent jamming of the elevator 
controls, possibly resulting in loss of control of the aeroplane.
    For the reasons described above, this AD requires inspection of 
the pushrods and horizontal tail structure to detect fretting, 
bending or eccentricity and, depending on findings, replacement with 
a serviceable pushrod, or repair. This AD also requires the return 
on replaced pushrods to RAI for investigation.
    This AD is considered to be an interim action and further AD 
action may follow.

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

Relevant Service Information

    REIMS Aviation Industries has issued Service Bulletin No. F406-70, 
dated July 16, 2012. 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.

[[Page 276]]

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 7 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 4 work-hours per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $2,380, or $340 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 2.5 work-hours and require parts costing $1,900, for a cost 
of $2,112.50 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 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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

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

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:

REIMS Aviation S.A.: Docket No. FAA-2012-1346; Directorate 
Identifier 2012-CE-047-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by February 19, 2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Reims Aviation S.A. Model F406 airplanes, 
serial numbers F406-0001 through F406-0096, certificated in any 
category.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of fretting (wear and/or 
chafing) found between the elevator pushrod assembly and horizontal 
tail structure. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct any 
discrepancies with the elevator pushrod assembly and the horizontal 
tail structure, which could cause the elevator pushrod to fail. 
Failure of the elevator pushrod could cause the flight control to 
jam, which could result in loss of control.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions:
    (1) Within the next 4 months after the effective date of this 
AD, inspect the elevator pushrod assemblies, part number (P/N) 
6015034-1, and the horizontal tail structure following the 
Accomplishment Instructions in REIMS Aviation Industries Service 
Bulletin No. F406-70, dated July 16, 2012.
    (2) Before further flight after the inspection required in 
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, if fretting is found on the horizontal 
tail structure, or the clearance between the elevator pushrod 
assemblies and the horizontal tail structure is found to be 
insufficient, or looseness at riveted end fittings is found on the 
elevator pushrods, contact REIMS Aviation Industries at the address 
specified in paragraph (h) of this AD for a repair scheme and 
incorporate the repair scheme.
    (3) Before further flight after the inspection required in 
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, if bending or eccentricity of an 
elevator pushrod is found that exceeds the allowable limits, replace 
each affected elevator pushrod with a serviceable part following 
REIMS Aviation Industries Service Bulletin No. F406-70, dated July 
16, 2012.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

    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: Albert Mercado, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4119; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[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.
    (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, a federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person 
is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a 
penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless 
that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control 
Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 
2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is 
estimated to be approximately 5 minutes per response, including the 
time for reviewing instructions, completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this 
burden and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to 
the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 
2012-0164, dated August 28, 2012, and REIMS Aviation Industries 
Service Bulletin No. F406-70, dated July 16, 2012, for related 
information. For service information related to this AD, contact 
REIMS Aviation Industries, A[eacute]rodrome de Reims Prunay, 51360 
Prunay,

[[Page 277]]

France; telephone: 03.26.48.46.65; fax: 03.26.49.18.57; Internet: 
http://www.geciaviation.com/en/. You may review copies of the 
referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
(816) 329-4148.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 27, 2012.
John Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-31602 Filed 1-2-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P