[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 57 (Friday, March 22, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20354-20360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05477]


 ========================================================================
 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. 89, No. 57 / Friday, March 22, 2024 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 20354]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-0470; Project Identifier AD-2023-00694-A]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Textron Aviation Inc. (Type Certificate 
Previously Held by Cessna Aircraft Company) Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron) (type certificate previously held 
by Cessna Aircraft Company) Model 525, 525A, and 525B airplanes with 
Tamarack active technology load alleviation system (ATLAS) winglets 
installed per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. SA03842NY. This 
proposed AD was prompted by a report of an un-annunciated failure of 
the ATLAS system. This proposed AD would require installing placards on 
the left-hand inboard edge of the Tamarack active camber surface (TACS) 
and revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) for your 
airplane. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition 
on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 6, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-0470; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 
docket contains this NPRM, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     For material identified in this NPRM, contact Tamarack 
Aerospace Group, Inc., 2021 Industrial Drive, Sandpoint, ID 83864; 
phone: (208) 597-4568; website: tamarackaero.com/customer-support.
     You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, 
MO 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call (817) 222-5110.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Caldejon, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712; phone: 
(206) 231-3534; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2024-0470; Project Identifier 
AD-2023-00694-A'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The 
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to 
Anthony Caldejon, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 3960 Paramount 
Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712. Any commentary that the FAA receives 
which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the 
public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA received a report that, while accomplishing a reliability 
improvement program, Tamarack discovered the potential for a failure of 
the ATLAS system in which a loss of load alleviation would be un-
annunciated. The manufacturer's investigation revealed that failure of 
either of one of a pair of opto-isolators within the ATLAS Control Unit 
(ACU) can prevent an enable signal from being sent to the TACS Control 
Units (TCUs).
    The ATLAS system is installed on Textron Model 525, 525A, and 525B 
airplanes under STC No. SA03842NY and lessens the increased wing loads 
associated with the installation of winglets. The ATLAS is designed to 
detect flight conditions and modify airflow at the wing tip 
accordingly. The ATLAS will draw power constantly to operate the logic 
circuit and provide power to the actuators to maintain TACS position.
    The TCUs include the linear electric actuators and motor 
controllers that move the TACS. Since the enable signals are not 
monitored after the opto-isolators, the ACU cannot detect whether the 
generated signal is reaching the TCUs. The TCUs rely on the enable 
signal to determine whether to respond

[[Page 20355]]

to commands from the ACU. If one of the opto-isolators fails, the ACU 
would not be able to detect that the TCUs were not enabled and the TCUs 
would not respond to commands from the ACU. Thus, the system would be 
operating in a mode of un-annunciated loss of load alleviation. The 
flight crew would be unaware of a malfunction of the load alleviation 
function of ATLAS and could fly the airplane into conditions that 
exceed the limit load. In addition, fatigue concerns could result in 
cracking of the airplane's primary structure. If not addressed, this 
condition could result in loss of continued safe flight and landing of 
the airplane.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Tamarack Aerospace Service Bulletin SBATLAS-57-06, 
Issue A, dated April 19, 2023. This service information specifies 
procedures for installing placards on the left-hand inboard edge of the 
TACS to enhance visibility of TACS movement during night operations.
    The FAA also reviewed the following AFM supplements, which contain, 
among other items, instructions for pre-flight checks of the ATLAS 
system before taxi. These documents are distinct because they apply to 
different airplane models.
     Tamarack Aerospace Cessna Citation Model 525, 525-0001 
thru -0359, AFM Supplement TAG-1101-0099 CA/DD/M023, Tamarack Active 
Technology Load Alleviation System (Atlas) Winglets, Issue D, dated 
September 20, 2023.
     Tamarack Aerospace Cessna Citation Model 525, 525-0360 
through -0599, AFM Supplement TAG-1101-1099 CA/DD/M037, Tamarack Active 
Technology Load Alleviation System (Atlas) Winglets, Issue D, dated 
September 20, 2023.
     Tamarack Aerospace Cessna Citation Model 525, 525-0600 
through -0684 and -0686 through -0701, AFM Supplement TAG-1101-1099 CA/
DD/M038, Tamarack Active Technology Load Alleviation System (Atlas) 
Winglets, Issue D, dated September 20, 2023.
     Tamarack Aerospace Cessna Citation Model 525, 525-0685 and 
-0800 and on, AFM Supplement TAG-1101-M099 CA/DD/M088, Tamarack Active 
Technology Load Alleviation System (Atlas) Winglets, Issue D, September 
20, 2023.
     Tamarack Aerospace Cessna Citation Model 525A, 525A-0001 
thru -0299, AFM Supplement TAG-1102-0099 CAS/AFM0003, Tamarack Active 
Technology Load Alleviation System (Atlas) Winglets, Issue C, September 
20, 2023.
     Tamarack Aerospace Cessna Citation Model 525A, 525A-0300 
and on, AFM Supplement TAG-1102-P099 CAS/AFM0004, Tamarack Active 
Technology Load Alleviation System (Atlas) Winglets, Issue C, September 
20, 2023.
     Tamarack Aerospace Cessna CitationJet Model 525B, 525B-
0001 thru 525B-0056 and 525B-0058 thru 525B-0450, AFM Supplement TAG-
1103-0099 CAS/AFM0001, Tamarack Active Technology Load Alleviation 
System (Atlas) Winglets, Issue C, September 20, 2023.
     Tamarack Aerospace Cessna CitationJet Model 525B, 525B-
0057 and 525B-0451 and on, AFM Supplement TAG-1103-P099 CAS/AFM0002, 
Tamarack Active Technology Load Alleviation System (Atlas) Winglets, 
Issue D, September 20, 2023.
    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 ADDRESSES.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require installing placards on the left-hand 
inboard edge of the TACS and revising the existing AFM for your 
airplane. Revising the AFM for your airplane by updating the Normal 
Procedures section may be performed by the owner/operator (pilot) 
holding at least a private pilot certificate may revise the AFM for 
your airplane and must enter compliance with the applicable paragraph 
of this proposed AD into the airplane maintenance records in accordance 
with 14 CFR 43.9(a) and 91.417(a)(2)(v). The pilot may perform this 
action because it only involves revising the flight manual. This action 
could be performed equally well by a pilot or mechanic. This is an 
exception to the FAA's standard maintenance regulations.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 148 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Install placards......................  0.50 work-hour x $85.00              $20          $62.50          $9,250
                                         per hour = $42.50.
Revise AFM............................  1 work-hour x $85 per                  0              85          12,580
                                         hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA 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:

[[Page 20356]]

    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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 airworthiness 
directive:

Textron Aviation Inc. (Type Certificate Previously Held by Cessna 
Aircraft Company): Docket No. FAA-2024-0470; Project Identifier AD-
2023-00694-A.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by May 6, 2024.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate 
previously held by Cessna Aircraft Company) Model 525, 525A, and 
525B airplanes, all serial numbers (S/Ns), certificated in any 
category, with Tamarack active technology load alleviation system 
(ATLAS) winglets installed in accordance with Supplemental Type 
Certificate No. SA03842NY.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2770, Gust Lock/
Damper System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of an un-annunciated failure of 
the ATLAS system. The FAA is issuing this AD to address un-
annunciated loss of load alleviation which, if not addressed, could 
lead to the flight crew flying the airplane into conditions that 
exceed the limit load, as well as fatigue cracking in the airplane's 
primary structure. This could result in loss of continued safe 
flight and landing of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    Within 60 hours time-in-service or 6 months after the effective 
date of this AD, whichever occurs first, do the actions required by 
paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) of this AD.
    (1) Install placards on the left-hand Tamarack active camber 
surface (TACS) in accordance with steps 1 through 3 of the 
Accomplishment Instructions in Tamarack Aerospace Service Bulletin 
SBATLAS-57-06, Issue A, dated April 19, 2023.
    (2) Revise the Normal Procedures section of the existing 
airplane flight manual (AFM) for your airplane by adding the 
information in Figure 1 to paragraph (g)(2) of this AD under 
``Before Taxi'' or by incorporating the AFM supplement applicable to 
your airplane identified in Figure 2 to paragraph (g)(2) of this AD. 
Using a different document with information identical to this 
information under ``Before Taxi'' in the AFM for your airplane is 
acceptable for compliance with the requirements of this paragraph. 
The owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a private pilot 
certificate may revise the existing AFM for your airplane and must 
enter compliance with the applicable paragraph of this AD into the 
airplane maintenance records in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a) and 
91.417(a)(2)(v). The record must be maintained as required by 14 CFR 
91.417, 121.380, or 135.439.
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[[Page 20357]]

Figure 1 to Paragraph (g)(2)--ATLAS Check Procedure
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP22MR24.000


[[Page 20358]]



Figure 2 to Paragraph (g)(2)--Tamarack ATLAS AFM Supplements
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP22MR24.001


[[Page 20359]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP22MR24.002

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(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, West Certification Branch, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the manager of the West Certification Branch, send it to 
the attention of the person identified in paragraph (i) of this AD 
and email it to [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local Flight Standards District Office/certificate holding 
district office.

(i) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Anthony Caldejon, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, 
CA 90712; phone: (206) 231-3534; email: [email protected].

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Tamarack Aerospace Cessna Citation Model 525, 525-0001 thru 
-0359, Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) Supplement TAG-1101-0099 CA/DD/
M023, Tamarack Active Technology Load Alleviation System (Atlas) 
Winglets, Issue D, dated September 20, 2023.
    (ii) Tamarack Aerospace Cessna Citation Model 525, 525-0360 thru 
-0599, AFM Supplement TAG-1101-1099 CA/DD/M037, Tamarack Active 
Technology Load Alleviation System (Atlas) Winglets, Issue D, dated 
September 20, 2023.
    (iii) Tamarack Aerospace Cessna Citation Model 525, 525-0600 
through -0684 and -0686 through -0701, AFM Supplement TAG-1101-1099 
CA/DD/M038, Tamarack Active Technology Load Alleviation System 
(Atlas) Winglets, Issue D, dated September 20, 2023.
    (iv) Tamarack Aerospace Cessna Citation Model 525, 525-0685 and 
-0800 and on, AFM Supplement TAG-1101-M099 CA/DD/M088, Tamarack 
Active Technology Load Alleviation System (Atlas) Winglets, Issue D, 
September 20, 2023.
    (v) Tamarack Aerospace Cessna Citation Model 525A, 525A-0001 
thru -0299, AFM Supplement TAG-1102-0099 CAS/AFM0003, Tamarack 
Active Technology Load Alleviation System (Atlas) Winglets, Issue C, 
September 20, 2023.
    (vi) Tamarack Aerospace Cessna Citation Model 525A, 525A-0300 
and on, AFM Supplement TAG-1102-P099 CAS/AFM0004, Tamarack Active 
Technology Load Alleviation System (Atlas) Winglets, Issue C, 
September 20, 2023.
    (vii) Tamarack Aerospace Cessna CitationJet Model 525B, 525B-
0001 thru 525B-0056 and 525B-0058 thru 525B-0450, AFM Supplement 
TAG-1103-0099 CAS/AFM0001, Tamarack Active Technology Load 
Alleviation System (Atlas) Winglets, Issue C, September 20, 2023.
    (viii) Tamarack Aerospace Cessna CitationJet Model 525B, 525B-
0057 and 525B-0451 and on, AFM Supplement TAG-1103-P099 CAS/AFM0002, 
Tamarack Active Technology Load Alleviation System (Atlas) Winglets, 
Issue D, September 20, 2023.
    (ix) Tamarack Aerospace Service Bulletin SBATLAS-57-06, Issue A, 
dated April 19, 2023.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Tamarack Aerospace Group, Inc., 2021 Industrial Drive, Sandpoint, ID 
83864; phone: (208) 597-4568; website: tamarackaero.com/customer-support.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas 
City, MO 64106. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
    (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].


[[Page 20360]]


    Issued on March 11, 2024.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-05477 Filed 3-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P