Airworthiness Directives; Eagle Aircraft Pty. Ltd. Model 150B Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 91 (Thursday, May 10, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23834-23836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-11457]



[[Page 23834]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-CE-22-AD; Amendment 39-12223; AD 2001-09-16]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eagle Aircraft Pty. Ltd. Model 150B 
Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to certain Eagle Aircraft Pty. Ltd. (Eagle) Model 150B 
airplanes. This AD requires you to inspect the rudder cables for 
fraying, broken strands, etc. (referred to as damage), and replace any 
damaged cables. This AD also requires you to replace the rudder cable 
pulleys with larger diameter pulleys to eliminate the possibility of 
further damage. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority 
for Australia. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect 
and correct damaged rudder cables caused by chafing of the cable 
against the pulleys. Continued airplane operation with damaged cables 
could result in rudder cable system failure with possible loss of 
airplane control.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on June 29, 2001.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of June 
29, 2001.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information referenced in this AD 
from Eagle Aircraft Pty. Ltd., Lot 700 Cockburn Road, Henderson WA 6166 
Australia; telephone: (08) 9410 1077; facsimile: (08) 9410 2430. You 
may examine this information at the Federal Aviation Administration 
(FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 2000-CE-22-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol 
Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fredrick A. Guerin, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 
Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712; telephone: (562) 627-
5232; facsimile: (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This AD?

    The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which is the 
airworthiness authority for Australia, notified FAA that an unsafe 
condition may exist on certain Eagle Model 150B airplanes. The CASA 
reports an occurrence where frayed rudder cables were found on an Eagle 
Model 150B airplane. Further investigation reveals that the diameter of 
the rudder cable pulleys is too small and cables rub against these 
pulleys.

What Are the Consequences If the Condition Is Not Corrected?

    Continued airplane operation with damaged cables could result in 
rudder cable system failure with possible loss of airplane control.

Has FAA Taken Any Action To This Point?

    We issued a proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to 
certain Eagle Model 150B airplanes. This proposal was published in the 
Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on January 
2, 2001 (66 FR 59). The NPRM proposed to require you to:
--Inspect the rudder cables for fraying, broken strands, etc. (referred 
to as damage), and replace any damaged cables; and
--Replace the rudder cable pulleys with larger diameter pulleys to 
eliminate the possibility of further damage.

Was the Public Invited To Comment?

    Interested persons were afforded an opportunity to participate in 
the making of this amendment. We have given due consideration to the 
comment received.

Comment Disposition

What Is the Commenter's Concern?

    Eagle Aircraft Pty. Ltd requests that FAA withdraw the AD because 
pulley replacement kits to correct the unsafe condition have been 
shipped to the United States and all affected airplanes models may 
already be in compliance with this AD.

What Is FAA's Response To the Concern?

    We do not concur. Although there may be airplanes on the U.S. 
Register that have already incorporated the kit installation, the AD is 
still justified. Issuing an AD is the only way to assure that:
--The installation of the pulley replacement kit is incorporated on any 
U.S.-registered airplane;
--The actions are accomplished on any airplane that is imported from 
another country and placed on the U.S. Register; and
--The installation continues to be incorporated on all U.S. registered 
airplanes.

    We have not changed the AD as a result of this comment.

FAA's Determination

What Is FAA's Final Determination on This Issue?

    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, we have determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
minor editorial corrections. We determined that these minor 
corrections:

--Will not change the meaning of the AD; and
--Will not add any additional burden upon the public than was already 
proposed.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Does This AD Impact?

    We estimate that this AD affects 5 airplanes in the U.S. registry.

What Is the Cost Impact of This AD on Owners/Operators of the Affected 
Airplanes?

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the inspection of the 
rudder cable and replacement of the rudder cable pulley:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Total cost   Total cost
            Labor cost              Parts cost      per        on U.S.
                                                  airplane    operators
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 workhours  x  $60..............         $286         $586       $2,930
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 23835]]

    Replacement cables, if necessary, will cost $305 perairplane. We 
have no way of determining the number of rudder cables that will be 
found damaged during the inspection.

Compliance Time of this AD

What Is the Compliance Time of This AD?

    The compliance time of this AD will be to accomplish the inspection 
and rudder cable pulley replacement ``within the next 100 hours time-
in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD'' and to 
accomplish any necessary cable replacement ``prior to further flight 
after the inspection.''

Why Are the Compliance Times of the Australian AD Different From the 
Compliance Times in This AD?

    The Australian AD requires (on Eagle Model 150B airplanes 
registered in Australia) the inspection within the next 5 hours of 
service and requires the pulley replacement within 100 hours of 
operation. These are the compliance times specified in the service 
information.
    We do not have justification to require the inspection within 5 
hours of service. We use compliance times such as this when we have 
identified an urgent safety of flight situation. We believe that 100 
hours TIS will give the owners/operators of the affected airplanes 
enough time to have the inspection and replacement accomplished without 
compromising the safety of the airplanes.
    By accomplishing both the inspection and replacement at the same 
time, the owners/operators of the affected airplanes only have their 
airplanes out of service once instead of twice.

Regulatory Impact

Does This AD Impact Various Entities?

    The regulations adopted herein will 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.

Does This AD Involve a Significant Rule or Regulatory Action?

    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is 
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; 
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) 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. A copy of the final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under the 
caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    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]

    2. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:

2001-09-16  Eagle Aircraft Pty. Ltd.: Amendment 39-12223; Docket No. 
2000-CE-22-AD.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects 
Model 150B airplanes, serial numbers 001 through 030, that are 
certificated in any category.
    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the above airplanes must comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to detect and correct damaged rudder cables 
caused by chafing of the cable against the pulleys. Continued 
airplane operation with damaged cables could result in rudder cable 
system failure with possible loss of airplane control.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the rudder        Within the next 100   In accordance with
 cables for fraying, broken    hours time-in-        Eagle Service
 strands, etc. (referred to    service (TIS) after   Bulletin No. 1059,
 as damage).                   June 29, 2001 (the    dated January 21,
                               effective date of     1999.
                               this AD).
(2) Replace any rudder        Prior to further      In accordance with
 cables found damaged during   flight after the      the instructions in
 the inspection.               inspection.           the maintenance
                                                     manual, as
                                                     specified in Eagle
                                                     Service Bulletin
                                                     No. 1059, dated
                                                     January 21, 1999.
(3) Replace the rudder cable  Prior to further      In accordance with
 pulleys with new rudder       flight after the      Eagle Service
 cable pulleys, part numbers   inspection.           Bulletin No. 1076,
 MS20220-1 and MS20220-2,                            Revision 2, dated
 change pulley attachment,                           December 14, 1999.
 and reduce cable tension.
(4) Do not install any        As of June 29, 2001   Not applicable.
 rudder cable pulleys that     (the effective date
 are not part numbers          of this AD).
 MS20220-1 and MS20220-2
 (with all associated
 hardware).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? You may use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time if:
    (1) Your alternative method of compliance provides an equivalent 
level of safety; and
    (2) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office 
(ACO), approves your alternative. Submit your request through an FAA 
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send 
it to the Manager, Los Angeles ACO.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, 
or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For 
airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the 
performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/
operator must request approval for an alternative method of 
compliance in accordance with paragraph (e) of this AD. The request 
should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, 
alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; 
and, if you have not eliminated the unsafe condition, specific 
actions you propose to address it.


[[Page 23836]]


    (f) Where can I get information about any already-approved 
alternative methods of compliance? Contact Fredrick A. Guerin, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 
3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712; telephone: 
(562) 627-5232; facsimile: (562) 627-5210.
    (g) What if I need to fly the airplane to another location to 
comply with this AD? The FAA can issue a special flight permit under 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate your airplane to a location where 
you can accomplish the requirements of this AD.
    (h) Are any service bulletins incorporated into this AD by 
reference? Actions required by this AD must be done in accordance 
with Eagle Service Bulletin No. 1059, dated January 21, 1999, and 
Eagle Service Bulletin No. 1076, Rev. 2, dated December 14, 1999. 
The Director of the Federal Register approved this incorporation by 
reference under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You can get 
copies from Eagle Aircraft Pty. Ltd., Lot 700 Cockburn Road, 
Henderson WA 6166 Australia. You can look at copies at the FAA, 
Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 
506, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (i) When does this amendment become effective? This amendment 
becomes effective on June 29, 2001.

    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in Australian AD 
Number X-TS/2, effective December 24, 2000.


    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 1, 2001.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-11457 Filed 5-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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