Airworthiness Directives; GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 232 (Monday, December 3, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 71489-71491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28821]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1007; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-031-AD; 
Amendment 39-17274; AD 2012-24-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for GA 8 
Airvan (Pty) Ltd Models GA8 and GA8-TC320 Airplanes. This AD results 
from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 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 burnt electrical connectors leading to the left-hand 
wingtip pitot heater, which may result in loss of airspeed indication. 
We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 7, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of January 7, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at Document Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 
20590.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Gippsland 
Aeronautics, Attn: Technical Services, P.O. Box 881, Morwell Victoria 
3840, Australia; telephone: + 61 03 5172 1200; fax: + 61 03 5172 1201; 
Internet: http://www.gippsaero.com/customer-support/technical-publications.aspx. 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.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on September 19, 2012 
(77 FR 58052). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for 
the specified products. The MCAI states:

    CASA has received a number of Service Difficulty Reports 
regarding the pitot probe heater connector. The loss of pitot heat 
in Instrument Meteorological Condition (IMC) may lead to the loss of 
airspeed indication. This may lead to the loss of control of the

[[Page 71490]]

aeroplane. Remedial action is to replace the connector with a 
terminal block.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for 
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (77 FR 58052, September 19, 2012) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 29 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it would take about 4 work-hours per product to 
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate 
is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $100 per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S. 
operators to be $12,760, or $440 per product.
    According to the manufacturer, all of the costs of this AD may be 
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected 
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected 
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify 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),
    (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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; 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 the NPRM, 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.

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 FAA amends 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:

2012-24-04 GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd: Amendment 39-17274; Docket No. 
FAA-2012-1007; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-031-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective January 7, 
2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Models GA8 and GA8-
TC320 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 30, Ice and Rain 
Protection.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by burnt electrical connectors leading to 
the left-hand wingtip pitot heater, which may result in loss of 
airspeed indication. We are issuing this AD to modify the pitot heat 
wiring on the left-hand wingtip with a terminal block to prevent 
loss of heating to the pitot system, which could result in loss of 
airspeed indication.

 (f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, within the next 100 hours time-in-service 
after January 7, 2013 (the effective date of this AD) or at the next 
annual inspection after January 7, 2013 (the effective date of this 
AD), whichever occurs later, modify the pitot heat wiring connector 
at the left wingtip, following GippsAero Mandatory Service Bulletin 
SB-GA8-2012-77, Issue 3, dated March 23, 2012.

(g) 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: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; 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) 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.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, a federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person 
is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a 
penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless 
that collection of information displays a current valid OMB Control 
Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 
2120-0056. Public reporting for

[[Page 71491]]

this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 5 
minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, 
completing and reviewing the collection of information. All 
responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Comments 
concerning the accuracy of this burden and suggestions for reducing 
the burden should be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence Ave. 
SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: Information Collection Clearance 
Officer, AES-200.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI Civil Aviation Safety Authority AD/GA8/6, dated 
August 6, 2012; and GippsAero Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-GA8-
2012-77, Issue 3, dated March 23, 2012, for related information. For 
service information related to this AD, contact Gippsland 
Aeronautics, Attn: Technical Services, P.O. Box 881, Morwell 
Victoria 3840, Australia; telephone: +61 03 5172 1200; fax: +61 03 
5172 1201; Internet: http://www.gippsaero.com/customer-support/technical-publications.aspx. 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.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) 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) GippsAero Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2012-77, Issue 
3, dated March 23, 2012;
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For GippsAero service information identified in this AD, 
contact Gippsland Aeronautics, Attn: Technical Services, P.O. Box 
881, Morwell Victoria 3840, Australia; telephone: +61 03 5172 1200; 
fax: +61 03 5172 1201; Internet: http://www.gippsaero.com/customer-support/technical-publications.aspx.
    (4) 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.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/index.html.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 21, 2012.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-28821 Filed 11-30-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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