Airworthiness Directives; GA200 (Pty) Ltd Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 248 (Thursday, December 27, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 76232-76234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30627]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0946; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-037-AD; 
Amendment 39-17294; AD 2012-18-10 R1]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; GA200 (Pty) Ltd Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for 
all GA200 (Pty) Ltd Models GA200 and GA200C 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 failure of the wing strut bolt through the main spar. We 
are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition 
on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 31, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of January 31, 
2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of 
September 14, 2012 (77 FR 55686, September 11, 2012).

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the Docket 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 GippsAero, 
P.O. Box 881, Morwell, Victoria 3840, Australia, telephone: + 61 (0) 3 
5172 1200; fax + 61 (0) 3 5172 1201; email: [email protected]; 
Internet: www.gippsaero.com. 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 October 15, 2012 (77 
FR 62466), and proposed to revise AD 2012-18-10, Amendment 39-17187 (77 
FR 55686, September 11, 2012).
    Since we issued AD 2012-18-10, Amendment 39-17187 (77 FR 55686, 
September 11, 2012), the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which 
is the aviation authority for the Commonwealth of Australia, has issued 
AD AD/GA200/1, Amendment 1, dated September 21, 2012 (referred to after 
this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products.
    The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the specified 
products. The MCAI states that:

    As a result of a reported case of failure of a strut on a GA200C 
aircraft, GippsAero has issued a mandatory service bulletin to alert 
operators and maintenance organisations and to provide inspection 
and rectification actions.
    This Airworthiness Directive makes this inspection and 
rectification action mandatory. Failure to complete the actions 
required by this service bulletin may result in wing strut bolt 
failure, resulting in wing structural failure.
    Amendment 1 is issued to revise the repeat inspection compliance 
time to 500 hours (previously 100 hours). The requirement service 
bulletin is also revised to provide a corrective action if the 
inboard (upper) strut fitting hole is found to be larger than 
specified. The initial inspection compliance time of 10 hours 
remains unchanged.

    This AD retains the actions required in AD 2012-18-10, Amendment 
39-17187 (77 FR 55686, September 11, 2012), changes the compliance time 
for the repetitive inspections from intervals of 100 hours time-in-
service (TIS) to intervals of 500 hours TIS, and incorporates the 
revised service bulletin that includes repair instructions in lieu

[[Page 76233]]

of contacting the manufacturer. You may obtain further information by 
examining the MCAI in the AD docket.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (77 FR 62466, October 15, 
2012) 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 62466, October 15, 2012) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (77 FR 62466, October 15, 2012).

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 3 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it will take about 2 work-hours per product to 
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate 
is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. 
operators to be $510, or $170 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions will 
take about 2 work-hours and require parts costing $400, for a cost of 
$570 per product. We have no way of determining the number of products 
that may need these actions.

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 (77 FR 62466, October 15, 
2012), 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 removing Amendment 39-17187 (77 FR 
55686, September 11, 2012) and adding the following new AD:

2012-18-10 R1 GA200 (Pty) Ltd: Amendment 39-17294; Docket No. FAA-
2012-0946; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-037-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective January 31, 
2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD revises AD 2012-18-10, Amendment 39-17187 (77 FR 55686, 
September 11, 2012).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to GA200 (Pty) Ltd Models GA200 and GA200C 
airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 57: Wings.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another 
country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as failure of the 
wing strut bolt through the main spar. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent failure of the wing strut bolt, which could result in wing 
failure.

 (f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) Within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) after September 14, 
2012 (the effective date retained from AD 2012-18-10, Amendment 39-
17187 (77 FR 55686, September 11, 2012)), inspect the inboard strut 
fitting following GippsAero Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-GA200-
2012-08, Issue 1, dated August 22, 2012 (which is incorporated by 
reference in AD 2012-18-10); or GippsAero Mandatory Service Bulletin 
SB-GA200-2012-08, Issue 2, dated September 4, 2012. Repetitively 
thereafter inspect at intervals not to exceed 500 hours TIS 
following GippsAero Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-GA200-2012-08, 
Issue 2, dated September 4, 2012. The inspection procedures remain 
the same; however, the revised service bulletin provides repair 
instructions in lieu of contacting the manufacturer.
    (2) If the 100-hour TIS repetitive inspection previously 
required in AD 2012-18-10, Amendment 39-17187 (77 FR 55686, 
September 11, 2012) has already been done before January 31, 2013 
(the effective date of this AD) following GippsAero Mandatory 
Service Bulletin SB-GA200-2012-08, Issue 1, dated August 22, 2012 
(which is incorporated by reference in AD 2012-18-10), the next 
required inspections are due at intervals not to exceed 500 hours 
TIS after the last inspection following GippsAero Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB-GA200-2012-08, Issue 2, dated September 4, 2012.
    (3) If any discrepancies are found during any of the inspections 
required by paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this AD, before further 
flight after the inspection in which the discrepancy is found, take 
all necessary corrective actions following GippsAero Mandatory 
Service Bulletin SB-GA200-2012-08, Issue 1, dated August 22, 2012 
(which is incorporated by reference in AD 2012-18-10); or GippsAero 
Mandatory

[[Page 76234]]

Service Bulletin SB-GA200-2012-08, Issue 2, dated September 4, 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 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 (CASA) AD AD/
GA200/1, Amendment 1, dated September 21, 2012; GippsAero Mandatory 
Service Bulletin SB-GA200-2012-08, Issue 1, dated August 22, 2012; 
and GippsAero Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-GA200-2012-08, Issue 2, 
dated September 4, 2012, for related information.

(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.
    (3) The following service information was approved for IBR on 
January 31, 2013.
    (i) GippsAero Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-GA200-2012-08, Issue 
2, dated September 4, 2012.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (4) The following service information was approved for IBR on 
September 14, 2012 (77 FR 55686, September 11, 2012).
    (i) GippsAero Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-GA200-2012-08, Issue 
1, dated August 22, 2012.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (5) For GippsAero service information identified in this AD, 
contact GippsAero, P.O. Box 881, Morwell, Victoria 3840, Australia, 
telephone: + 61 (0) 3 5172 1200; fax + 61 (0) 3 5172 1201; email: 
[email protected]; Internet: www.gippsaero.com.
    (6) You may view this service information at 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.
    (7) 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 December 12, 2012.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-30627 Filed 12-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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