Airworthiness Directives; Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd. Model GA8 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 25, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61547-61549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-21176]



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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 205 / Tuesday, October 25, 2005 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 61547]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22639; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-48-AD; 
Amendment 39-14346; AD 2005-22-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd. Model 
GA8 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd. (Gippsland) Model GA8 airplanes. This 
AD requires you to repetitively inspect the upper and lower grooves of 
the forward cargo door slide for cracks, excessive wear, and excessive 
width. This AD also requires you to replace the forward cargo door 
slide if any of the above conditions are found during any inspection. 
This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information 
(MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Australia. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the forward cargo door slide 
caused by cracks, excessive wear, or excessive width. This failure 
could result in the cargo door detaching from the airplane in flight, 
potentially causing damage by hitting the back end of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on November 17, 2005.
    As of November 17, 2005, the Director of the Federal Register 
approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed 
in the regulation.
    We must receive any comments on this AD by November 25, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following to submit comments on this AD:
    <bullet> DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    <bullet> Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-001.
    <bullet> Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    To get the service information identified in this AD, contact 
Gippsland Aeronautics, PO Box 881, Morwell, Victoria 3840, Australia; 
telephone: +61 (0) 3 5172 1200; facsimile: +61 (0) 3 5172 1201; e-mail: 
[email protected].
    To view the comments to this AD, go to http://dms.dot.gov. The 
docket number is FAA-2005-22639; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-48-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    What events have caused this AD? The Civil Aviation Safety 
Authority (CASA), which is the airworthiness authority for Australia, 
recently notified FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on all 
Gippsland Model GA8 airplanes. The CASA reports that excessive wear in 
the slide of the forward cargo door was found during a routine 
inspection.
    What is the potential impact if FAA took no action? If not 
prevented, cracks, excessive wear, or excessive width in the forward 
cargo door slide could cause the door slide to fail. This failure could 
result in the cargo door detaching from the airplane in flight, 
potentially causing damage by hitting the back end of the airplane.
    Is there service information that applies to this subject? 
Gippsland has issued Mandatory Service Bulletin No. SB-GA8-2005-23, 
Issue 2, dated September 13, 2005.
    What are the provisions of this service information? The service 
bulletin specifies repetitively inspecting the forward cargo door slide 
for cracks, signs of excessive wear, and excessive width. The service 
bulletin also specifies replacing the forward cargo door slide with a 
new cargo door slide, part number GA8-521022-149, if any of the above 
conditions are found during any inspection.
    What action did the CASA take? The CASA classified this service 
bulletin as mandatory and issued Australian AD Number AD/GA8/3, dated 
September 27, 2005, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these 
airplanes in Australia.
    Did the CASA inform the United States under the bilateral 
airworthiness agreement? These Gippsland Model GA8 airplanes are 
manufactured in Australia and are type-certificated for operation in 
the United States under the provisions of section 21.29 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the applicable bilateral 
airworthiness agreement.
    Under this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the CASA has kept us 
informed of the situation described above.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    What has FAA decided? We have examined the CASA's findings, 
reviewed all available information, and determined that we need to 
issue an AD for products of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States.
    Since the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist 
or develop on other Gippsland Model GA8 airplanes of the same type 
design that are registered in the United States, we are issuing this AD 
to prevent failure of the forward cargo door slide caused by cracks, 
excessive wear, or excessive width. This failure could result in the 
cargo door detaching from the airplane in flight, potentially causing 
damage by hitting the back end of the airplane.
    What does this AD require? This AD requires you to repetitively 
inspect the upper and lower grooves of the forward cargo door slide for 
cracks, excessive wear, and excessive width. This AD also requires you 
to replace the forward cargo door slide if any of the above

[[Page 61548]]

conditions are found during any inspection.
    In preparing this rule, we contacted type clubs and aircraft 
operators to get technical information and information on operational 
and economic impacts. We did not receive any information through these 
contacts. If received, we would have included a discussion of any 
information that may have influenced this action in the rulemaking 
docket.
    How does the revision to 14 CFR part 39 affect this AD? On July 10, 
2002, we published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR 47997, July 
22, 2002), which governs FAA's AD system. This regulation now includes 
material that relates to altered products, special flight permits, and 
alternative methods of compliance. This material previously was 
included in each individual AD. Since this material is included in 14 
CFR part 39, we will not include it in future AD actions.

Comments Invited

    Will I have the opportunity to comment before you issue the rule? 
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public 
comment; however, we invite you to submit any written relevant data, 
views, or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include the docket number, ``FAA-2005-22639; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-48-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We will post all comments we receive, without change, to 
http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact 
with FAA personnel concerning this AD.
    Using the search function of our docket Web site, anyone can find 
and read the comments received into any of our dockets, including the 
name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed the comment on 
behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). This is docket 
number FAA-2005-22639; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-48-AD. You may 
review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register 
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    Are there any specific portions of this AD I should pay attention 
to? We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. If you contact 
us through a nonwritten communication and that contact relates to a 
substantive part of this AD, we will summarize the contact and place 
the summary in the docket. We will consider all comments received by 
the closing date and may amend this AD in light of those comments and 
contacts.

Docket Information

    Where can I go to view the docket information? You may view the AD 
docket that contains the AD, any comments received, and any final 
disposition in person at the DMS Docket Offices between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office 
(telephone 1-800-647-5227) is located on the plaza level of the 
Department of Transportation NASSIF Building at the street address 
stated in ADDRESSES. You may also view the AD docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov. The comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after the DMS receives them.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    What authority does FAA have for issuing this rulemaking action? 
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 AD.

Regulatory Findings

    Will this AD impact various entities? We have determined that this 
AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. 
This AD 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.
    Will this AD involve a significant rule or regulatory action? For 
the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    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); 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.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD (and 
other information as included in the Regulatory Evaluation) and placed 
it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by sending a 
request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket 
No. FAA-2005-22639; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-48-AD'' in your 
request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

0
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

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 (AD):

2005-22-02 Gippsland Aeronautics Pty. Ltd.: Amendment 39-14346; 
Docket No. FAA-2005-22639; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-48-AD.

When Does This AD Become Effective?

    (a) This AD becomes effective on November 17, 2005.

Are Any Other ADs Affected by This Action?

    (b) None.

What Airplanes Are Affected by This AD?

    (c) This AD affects Model GA8 airplanes, all serial numbers, 
that are certificated in any category.

What Is the Unsafe Condition Presented in This AD?

    (d) This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for 
Australia. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the forward 
cargo door slide caused by cracks, excessive wear, or excessive 
width. This failure could result in the cargo door detaching from 
the airplane in flight, potentially causing damage by hitting the 
back end of the airplane.

[[Page 61549]]

What Must I Do To Address This Problem?

    (e) To address this problem, you must do the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Do the following:         Initially within the  As specified in
(i) Inspect the upper and      next 20 hours time-   Gippsland
 lower grooves of the          in-service (TIS)      Aeronautics
 forward cargo door slide      after November 17,    Mandatory Service
 for cracks and excessive      2005 (the effective   Bulletin SB-GA8-
 wear; and.                    date of this AD).     2005-23, Issue 2,
(ii) Measure the width of      Repetitively          Date of Issue:
 the grooves to ensure the     thereafter at         September 13, 2005.
 grooves are no more than      intervals not to
 0.145 inches in width         exceed 100 hours
 (excessive width).            TIS.
-----------------------------
(2) If any crack, excessive   Replace before        As specified in
 wear, or excessive width is   further flight        Gippsland
 found during any inspection   after the             Aeronautics
 required in paragraph         inspection in which   Mandatory Service
 (e)(1) of this AD, replace    the damage is         Bulletin SB-GA8-
 the door slide with a new     found. After the      2005-23, Issue 2,
 door slide, part number GA8-  replacement,          Date of Issue:
 521022-149.                   continue with the     September 13, 2005.
                               repetitive
                               inspections
                               required by
                               paragraph (e)(1) of
                               this AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

May I Request an Alternative Method of Compliance?

    (f) You may request a different method of compliance or a 
different compliance time for this AD by following the procedures in 
14 CFR 39.19. Unless FAA authorizes otherwise, send your request to 
your principal inspector. The principal inspector may add comments 
and will send your request to the Manager, Standards Office, Small 
Airplane Directorate, FAA. For information on any already approved 
alternative methods of compliance, contact Doug Rudolph, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; facsimile: 
(816) 329-4090.

Is There Other Information That Relates to This Subject?

    (g) Australian AD Number AD/GA8/3, dated September 27, 2005, 
also addresses the subject of this AD.

Does This AD Incorporate Any Material by Reference?

    (h) You must do the actions required by this AD following the 
instructions in Gippsland Aeronautics Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-
GA8-2005-23, Issue 2, Date of Issue: September 13, 2005. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of this service bulletin in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. To get a copy of this service information, 
contact Gippsland Aeronautics, PO Box 881, Morwell, Victoria 3840, 
Australia; telephone: +61 (0) 3 5172 1200; facsimile: +61 (0) 3 5172 
1201; e-mail: [email protected]. To review copies of this 
service information, go to the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at NARA, go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html or call (202) 
741-6030. To view the AD docket, go to the Docket Management 
Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-001 or on 
the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is Docket No. 
FAA-2005-22639; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-48-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 18, 2005.
David R. Showers,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-21176 Filed 10-24-05; 8:45 am]
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