[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 240 (Friday, December 15, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59555-59557]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27043]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1184; Product Identifier 2017-CE-029-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace Limited Airplanes

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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[[Page 59556]]

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL 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 incorrectly marked and annunciated low oil 
pressure indication warnings. 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 January 29, 
2018.

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 
Pacific Aerospace Limited, Airport Road, Hamilton, Private Bag 3027, 
Hamilton 3240, New Zealand; telephone: +64 7 843 6144; facsimile: +64 7 
843 6134; email: [email protected]; internet: 
www.aerospace.co.nz. You may review this referenced service information 
at the FAA, Policy and Innovation Division, 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-
1184; 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: Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4144; 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-2017-1184; 
Product Identifier 2017-CE-029-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 Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the aviation authority 
for New Zealand, has issued AD No. DCA/750XL/19, dated September 7, 
2017 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe 
condition for Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes and was 
based on mandatory continuing airworthiness information originated by 
an aviation authority of another country. The MCAI states:

The low oil pressure warnings are incorrectly marked and annunciated 
on certain Pacific Aerospace 750XL aircraft. This AD introduces the 
requirements in Pacific Aerospace Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) 
PACSB/XL/088, dated 11 August 2017, to correct low oil pressure 
indication warnings.

    You may examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
1184.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Pacific Aerospace Limited has issued Pacific Aerospace Mandatory 
Service Bulletin (MSB) PACSB/XL/088, dated August 11, 2017; and Pacific 
Aerospace temporary revisions XL/POH/00/001, XUPOH/02/001, XUPOH/03/
001, and XUPOH/03/002 (co-published as one document), all dated August 
18, 2017. The service bulletin describes procedures for adjustment or 
replacement of the low oil pressure light, pressure switch, and 
indicator. The temporary revisions correct the reference to the 
incorrect instrument markings in the Pilots Operating Handbook (POH). 
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 22 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 2 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 $500 per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $14,740, or $670 per product.

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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C.

[[Page 59557]]

In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is normally a function 
of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but during this 
transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the authority 
to issue ADs applicable to small airplanes and domestic business jet 
transport airplanes to the Director of the Policy and Innovation 
Division.

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:

Pacific Aerospace Limited: Docket No. FAA-2017-1184; Product 
Identifier 2017-CE-029-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by January 29, 2018.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pacific Aerospace Limited 750XL airplanes, 
all serial numbers up to XL217, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 79: Engine Oil.

(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 incorrectly 
marked and annunciated low oil pressure indication warnings. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent engine oil pressure from dropping below 
safe limits, which could cause possible engine damage or failure.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions as appropriate in 
paragraph (f)(1) through (4) of this AD:
    (1) For airplanes with Pilots Operating Handbook (POH) AIR 2825: 
Within the next 30 days after the effective date of this AD, insert 
Pacific Aerospace temporary revisions XL/POH/00/001, XL/POH/02/001, 
and XUPOH/03/001 (co-published as one document), all dated August 
18, 2017, into the Pacific Aerospace Limited (PAL) 750XL POH AIR 
2825.
    (2) For airplanes with Pilots Operating Handbook (POH) AIR 3237: 
Within the next 30 days after the effective date of this AD, insert 
Pacific Aerospace temporary revisions XL/POH/00/001, XUPOH/02/001, 
XUPOH/03/001, and XUPOH/03/002 (co-published as one document), all 
dated August 18, 2017, into the PAL 750XL POH AIR 3237.
    (3) For Pacific Aerospace 750XL airplanes up to S/N XL217: 
Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective 
date of this AD or within the next 12 months after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs first, replace the pressure switch 
for the low oil pressure light per the instructions in Part A of 
Pacific Aerospace Limited Mandatory Service Bulletin (PALMSB) PACSB/
XL/088, dated August 11, 2017.
    (4) For Pacific Aerospace 750XL airplanes up to S/N XL217 fitted 
with PIN INS 60-8 oil pressure/temperature indicator: Within the 
next 100 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD or within the 
next 12 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
first, replace the oil pressure/temperature indicator per the 
instructions in Part B of PALMSB PACSB/XL/088, dated August 11, 
2017.

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Small Airplane Standards Branch, 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: Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4144; 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) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD 
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be 
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, Small Airplane 
Standards Branch, FAA; or The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which 
is the aviation authority for New Zealand.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the aviation 
authority for New Zealand MCAI AD No. DCA/750XL/19, dated September 
7, 2017; Pacific Aerospace Mandatory Service Bulletin PACSB/XL/088, 
dated August 11, 2017, and Pacific Aerospace temporary revisions XL/
POH/00/001, XUPOH/02/001, XUPOH/03/001, and XUPOH/03/002 (co-
published as one document), all dated August 18, 2017; for related 
information. You may examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-
2017-1184. For service information related to this AD, contact 
Pacific Aerospace Limited, Airport Road, Hamilton, Private Bag 3027, 
Hamilton 3240, New Zealand; telephone: +64 7 843 6144; facsimile: 
+64 7 843 6134; email: [email protected]; internet: 
www.aerospace.co.nz. You may review this referenced service 
information at the FAA, Policy and Innovation Division, 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 11, 2017.
Melvin J. Johnson,
Deputy Director, Policy & Innovation Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-27043 Filed 12-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P