[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 96 (Monday, May 19, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28647-28649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11476]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0311; Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-014-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. 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 
Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. Models FA-200-160, FA-200-180, and FA-200-
180AO 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 
deterioration of brake performance due to seal defects caused by 
deterioration due to age of the O-rings of the brake master cylinder. 
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 July 3, 2014.

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 
Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd., AEROSPACE COMPANY, 1-11 YOUNAN 1 CHOME 
UTSUNOMIYA TOCHIGI, JAPAN 320-8564; telephone: +81-28-684-7253; fax: 
+81-28-684-7260; email: none; Internet: http://www.fhi.co.jp/english/outline/section/aero.html. You may review this 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.

[[Page 28648]]

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0311; 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; 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-2014-0311; 
Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-014-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 Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), which is the aviation 
authority for Japan, has issued AD No. TCD-8396-2014, dated April 21, 
2014 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe 
condition for Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. Models FA-200-160, FA-200-
180, and FA-200-180AO airplanes and was based on mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information originated by an aviation authority of 
another country. The MCAI was issued based on reports of deterioration 
of brake performance due to seal defects caused by deterioration due to 
age of the O-rings of the brake master cylinder on the affected 
airplanes, which could result in reduced or loss of control during 
ground operations. The MCAI requires repetitive replacement of any O-
ring of the brake master cylinders. You may examine the MCAI on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
Docket No. FAA-2014-0311.

Relevant Service Information

    Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. has issued Service Bulletin No. 200-
016, dated April 17, 2014. 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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 3 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour 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 the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $255, or $85 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about 8 work-hours and require parts costing $10, for a cost of 
$690 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. Amend Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd.: Docket No. FAA-2014-0311; Directorate 
Identifier 2014-CE-014-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by July 3, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. Models FA-200-
160, FA-200-180, and

[[Page 28649]]

FA-200-180AO airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any 
category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 32: Landing 
Gear.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by 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 deterioration of 
brake performance due to seal defects caused by deterioration due to 
age of the O-rings of the brake master cylinders. We are issuing 
this proposed AD to prevent the deterioration of brake performance, 
which could result in reduced or loss of control during ground 
operations.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions required by 
paragraphs (f)(1) through (f)(3) of this AD:
    (1) As of the effective date of this AD, if the brake master 
cylinder O-rings have accumulated more than 1,000 hours time-in-
service (TIS) or 5 years since the last replacement of any O-ring or 
if the replacement date of any O-ring cannot be determined, within 
50 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD or 1 year after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, replace any O-
ring following Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. Service Bulletin No. 200-
016, dated April 17, 2014.
    (2) As of the effective date of this AD, every time the brake 
master cylinder is replaced, inspect the manufacture date on the 
data tag of the brake master cylinder or the last replacement date 
of any O-ring by referring to the airframe logbook.
    (3) During any inspection of the manufacture date of the brake 
master cylinder or the last replacement date of any O-ring as 
required by paragraph (f)(2) of this AD, if it is determined that 
the O-rings have accumulated more than 5 years since the manufacture 
date on the data tag of the brake master cylinder or the last 
replacement date of the brake master cylinder O-rings, or if the 
manufacture date on the data tag on the brake master cylinder and 
the last replacement date of any brake master cylinder O-ring cannot 
be determined, before further flight, replace all brake master 
cylinder O-rings when installed on the airplane following Fuji Heavy 
Industries Ltd. Service Bulletin No. 200-016, dated April 17, 2014.

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

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) AD No. TCD-
8396-2014, dated April 21, 2014, for related information. You may 
examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-0311. For service 
information related to this AD, contact Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd., 
AEROSPACE COMPANY, 1-11 YOUNAN 1 CHOME UTSUNOMIYA TOCHIGI, JAPAN 
320-8564; telephone: +81-28-684-7253; fax: +81-28-684-7260; email: 
none; Internet: http://www.fhi.co.jp/english/outline/section/aero.html. You may review this 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 May 12, 2014.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-11476 Filed 5-16-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P