Airworthiness Directives; Aircraft Industries a.s. Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 103 (Wednesday, May 29, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32081-32084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12517]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0456; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-011-AD; 
Amendment 39-17462; AD 2013-11-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Aircraft Industries a.s. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Aircraft Industries a.s. Model L-420 airplanes. This AD results from 
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 in-flight engine flame out occurred at take-off with water 
injection after reduction of engine power. We are issuing this AD to 
require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective June 18, 2013.
    We must receive comments on this AD by July 15, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You may review copies of the referenced service information at the 
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106.

[[Page 32082]]

For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
(816) 329-4148.

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 this AD, 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.

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

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued AD 
No. 2013-0097, dated April 24, 2013 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    Currently, the automatic switching off of the water injection 
system as installed on L-410 and L-420 aeroplanes stops the water 
injection into the engines during engine power reduction when 
throttle control levers pass the position corresponding to 88-92% of 
gas generator speed.
    During a recent event, in-flight engine flame out occurred at 
take-off with water injection after reduction of engine power.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to further events 
of uncommanded in-flight engine shut-down or power loss, possibly 
resulting in forced landing, with consequent damage to the aeroplane 
and injury to occupants.
    Prompted by this occurrence, a procedure has been developed, 
instructing the flight crew to switch off the water injection 
system, prior to engine power reduction, to prevent any possible 
engine flame out.
    For the reasons described above, this AD requires an amendment 
of the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) by implementation of a procedure 
to manually switch off the water injection system, prior to any 
engine power reduction.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they 
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. We are issuing this AD because we 
evaluated all information provided by the State of Design Authority and 
determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or 
develop on other products of the same type design.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies 
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because there 
are no airplanes currently on the U.S. registry and thus, does not have 
any impact upon the public. Therefore, we find that notice and 
opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary and that good 
cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public 
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2013-0456; Directorate 
Identifier 2013-CE-011-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of 
those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 0 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it will take about 1 work-hour 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 the AD on U.S. 
operators to be $0, or $0 per product.

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 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),
    (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.

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:


[[Page 32083]]


2013-11-02 Aircraft Industries a.s.: Amendment 39-17462; Docket No. 
FAA-2013-0456; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-011-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective June 18, 
2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Aircraft Industries a.s. Model L-420 
airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 82: Water 
Injection.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) originated 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 in-flight engine 
flame out occurred at take-off with water injection after reduction 
of engine power. We are issuing this AD to correct this condition, 
which, if not corrected, could lead to further events of uncommanded 
in-flight engine shut-down or power loss, possibly resulting in 
forced landing, with consequent damage to the airplane and injury to 
occupants.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, within 30 days after June 18, 2013 (the 
effective date of this AD), amend the applicable airplane flight 
manual (AFM) by inserting a copy of Appendix 1 of this AD, opposite 
the appropriate AFM page on which the water injection procedure is 
described.

(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.

(h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.: 
2013-0097, dated April 24, 2013, for related information.

Appendix 1 to AD 2013-11-02

AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL (AFM)

PROCEDURE TO CONTROL WATER INJECTION SYSTEM for Aircraft Industries 
a.s. Model L-420 Airplanes

Appendix 1--AFM procedure

Procedure to Control Water Injection System

    WATER INJECTION circuit        ON
     breakter.
    TCL..........................  TQ=min. 60%
    WATER INJECTION/ON push-       Push and hold till amber
     button.                       WATER INJECTION signal comes on (on
                                    the front control panel)
Before throttling back power:      .....................................
    WATER INJECTION/OFF push-      Push and check amber
     button.                       WATER INJECTION signal extinguishes
 

                                   [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR29MY13.000
                                   


[[Page 32084]]

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 20, 2013.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-12517 Filed 5-28-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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