[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 7, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9537-9539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-01768]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0048; Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-035-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Slingsby Aviation 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 
Slingsby Aviation Ltd. Models T67M260 and T67M260-T3A airplanes that 
would supersede AD 2015-11-01. 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 failure of a brake master cylinder pivot pin, which could 
cause the rudder pedal mechanism to detach from the brake 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 March 24, 2017.

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 
Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, The Airport, Newmarket Road, 
Cambridge, CB5 8RX, UK; telephone: +44 (0) 1223 399856; fax: +44 (0) 
7825365617; email: [email protected]; Internet: 
www.marshalladg.com. 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
0048; 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: Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4165; 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-2017-0048; 
Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-035-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

    On May 18, 2015, we issued AD 2015-11-01, Amendment 39-18164 (80 FR 
30136; May 27, 2015). That AD required actions intended to address an 
unsafe condition on Slingsby Aviation Ltd. Models T67M260 and T67M260-
T3A airplanes and was based on mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another 
country.
    Since we issued AD 2015-11-01, new service information was issued 
to revise the inspection instructions and to add a new initial 
inspection period after

[[Page 9538]]

replacement of the brake master cylinder pivot pins.
    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
AD 2016-0214, dated October 27, 2016 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    An occurrence was reported where pivot pin Part Number (P/N) 
T67M-45-539, of rudder pedal assembly #4, installed on the right 
hand (RH) side of the aeroplane (RH seat, RH pedal) failed during 
taxi. This caused the rudder pedal mechanism to detach from the 
brake master cylinder.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could cause the 
rudder linkages to rotate out of their normal orientation, possibly 
resulting in jammed rudder controls and consequent loss of control 
of the aeroplane.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Slingsby Advanced 
Composites Ltd, trading as Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group 
(hereafter called ``Marshall'' in this AD) issued Service Bulletin 
(SB) SBM 200 to provide inspection instructions.
    Consequently, EASA issued Emergency AD 2015-0065-E to require 
repetitive inspections of the brake cylinder pivot pins of rudder 
pedal assemblies #1 and #4 and, depending on findings, replacement 
of the affected pivot pin(s).
    Since that AD was issued, Marshall published SBM 200 Revision 2 
to revise the inspection instructions and to introduce a new initial 
inspection period after replacement of brake master cylinder pivot 
pins on an aeroplane.
    For the reason described above, this AD retains the requirements 
of EASA AD 2015-065-E, which is superseded, but requires the use of 
the revised inspection instructions. This AD also allows deferring 
the next due inspection after replacement of the pins.

You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0048.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Slingsby Aviation Ltd. trading as Marshall Aerospace and Defence 
Group has issued Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group Service Bulletin 
SBM 200, Revision 2, dated December 2015. The service bulletin 
describes procedures for inspection of the brake master cylinder pivot 
pin. This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section of this 
NPRM.

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 6 work-hours per 
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost 
about $50 per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $1,680, or $560 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take about .5 work-hour and require parts costing $100, for a cost of 
$142.50 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 removing Amendment 39-18164 (80 FR 
30136; May 27, 2015), and adding the following new AD:

Slingsby Aviation Ltd.: Docket No. FAA-2017-0048; Directorate 
Identifier 2016-CE-035-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by March 24, 2017.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2015-11-01; Amendment 39-18164 (80 FR 30136; 
May 27, 2015) (``AD 2015-11-01'').

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Slingsby Aviation Ltd. Models T67M260 and 
T67M260-T3A airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any 
category.

(d) Subject

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

(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 failure of a 
brake master cylinder pivot pin, which could

[[Page 9539]]

cause the rudder pedal mechanism to detach from the brake cylinder. 
We are issuing this proposed AD to detect and correct discrepancies 
of the brake master cylinder pivot pin, which could lead to 
detachment of the rudder pedal mechanism from the brake master 
cylinder with consequent loss of control.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions in paragraphs 
(f)(1) through (3) of this AD:
    (1) Within 300 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective 
date of this AD or within 300 hours TIS after the last inspection 
required by AD 2015-11-01, whichever occurs first, and repetitively 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 300 hours TIS or 12 months, 
whichever occurs first, inspect the brake master cylinder pivot pins 
part number (P/N) T67M-45-539 installed on rudder pedal assemblies 
number 1 and number 4. Do this action following paragraph C. 
INSPECTION of the Accomplishment Instructions in Marshall Aerospace 
and Defense Group Service Bulletin SBM 200, Revision 2, dated 
December 2015 (SBM 200, Revision 2).
    (2) If any cracking or distortion of the brake master cylinder 
pivot pins is found or the pivot pin fails the dimensional check 
during any of the inspections required in paragraph (f)(1) of this 
AD, before further flight, replace the affected pivot pin with a 
serviceable part following paragraph C. INSPECTION of the 
Accomplishment Instructions in SBM 200, Revision 2.
    (3) Replacement of the brake master cylinder pivot pins as 
required by paragraph (f)(2) of this AD does not terminate the 
repetitive inspections required by paragraph (f)(1) of this AD. If 
both brake master cylinder pivot pins are replaced at the same time, 
the first repetitive inspection after replacement of the pivot pins 
can be deferred until 1,000 hours TIS after replacement of the pivot 
pins.

(g) Credit for Actions Accomplished in Accordance With Previous Service 
Information

    This AD provides credit for any inspections required in 
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD if completed before the effective date 
of this AD following the Accomplishment Instructions of Marshall 
Aerospace and Defense Group Service Bulletin SBM 200, Revision 1, 
dated April 2015.

(h) 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: Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090; email:. 
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.

(i) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI EASA AD 2016-0214, dated October 27, 2016, for 
related information. You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at 
http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2017-0048. For service information related to this AD, contact 
Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, The Airport, Newmarket Road, 
Cambridge, CB5 8RX, UK; telephone: +44 (0) 1223 399856; fax: +44 (0) 
7825365617; email: [email protected]; Internet: 
www.marshalladg.com. 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 January 18, 2017.
Melvin Johnson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-01768 Filed 2-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P