Airworthiness Directives; Alpha Aviation Concept Limited Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 24, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 77374-77376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29833]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0759; Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-028-AD; 
Amendment 39-18052; AD 2014-26-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Alpha Aviation Concept Limited 
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 Alpha 
Aviation Concept Limited Model R2160 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 paint adherence defects inside the engine air intake box 
and cohesion defects inside the laminated ducting from the filter to 
the air intake box. We are issuing this AD to require actions to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 28, 2015.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of January 28, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2014-0759; 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 Alpha 
Aviation, 59 Hautapu Road, RD 1, Cambridge 3493, New Zealand; 
telephone: +64 7 827 0528; fax: +64 7 929 2878; Internet: 
www.alphaaviation.co.nz. You may review this 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: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, 
901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 
329-4123; 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 add an AD that would apply to Alpha Aviation Concept Limited 
Model R2160 airplanes. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register 
on October 2, 2014 (79 FR 59465). The NPRM proposed to correct an 
unsafe condition for the specified products and was based on mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation 
authority of another country. The MCAI states:

    To prevent loss of engine power due to a possible paint 
adherence defect inside the engine air intake box, accomplish the 
following:
    Inspect the engine air intake box (including the deflection 
flap) and the engine air intake ducting (include the area downstream 
of the filter) per Alpha Aviation Service Bulletin No. AA-SB-71-007 
dated August 2014 or later approved revisions.
    If any defects are found, replace affected parts per SB No. AA-
SB-71-007 before further flight.

    The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2014-0759-0002.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (79 FR 59465, October 2, 
2014) 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 (79 FR 59465, October 2, 2014) for correcting the unsafe 
condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (79 FR 59465, October 2, 2014).

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 10 products of U.S. registry. 
We also estimate that it would 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 this AD on U.S. 
operators to be $850, or $85 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would 
take

[[Page 77375]]

about 6 work-hours and require parts costing $1,000, for a cost of 
$1,510 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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0759; 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:

2014-26-01 Alpha Aviation Concept Limited: Amendment 39-18052; 
Docket No. FAA-2014-0759; Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-028-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective January 28, 
2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Alpha Aviation Concept Limited Model R2160 
airplanes, serial numbers 001 to 378, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 73: Engine Fuel 
& Control.

(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 paint adherence 
defects inside the engine air intake box and cohesion defects inside 
the laminated ducting from the filter to the air intake box. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent paint defects from entering the engine 
which could cause loss of power.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, do the actions in paragraphs (f)(1) through 
(f)(4) of this AD:
    (1) Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after 
January 28, 2015 (the effective date of this AD) and repetitively 
thereafter every 100 hours TIS, inspect any painted engine air 
intake box (including the deflection flap) and the air intake 
ducting (including the area downstream of the filter) for paint 
adherence defects such as peeling, blistering, or bubbling following 
Alpha Aviation Service Bulletin (SB) No. AA-SB-71-007, Revision 0, 
dated August 2014.
    (2) If any defects are found during the inspection required in 
paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further flight, replace the 
affected parts with airworthy parts following Alpha Aviation Service 
Bulletin No. AA-SB-71-007, Revision 0, dated August 2014.
    (3) As of January 28, 2015 (the effective date of this AD), do 
not install a painted engine air intake box or a repaired engine air 
duct on any affected airplane.
    (4) The replacement of defective parts is not a terminating 
action to the repetitive inspection of painted engine intake 
components required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD.

(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: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; phone: (816) 329-4123; 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 Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) AD DCA/R2000/25A, 
dated August 28, 2014, for related information. The MCAI can be 
found in the AD docket on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2014-0759-0002.

(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) Alpha Aviation Service Bulletin (SB) No. AA-SB-71-007, 
Revision 0, dated August 2014.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Alpha Aviation Concept Limited service information 
identified in this AD, contact Alpha Aviation, 59 Hautapu Road, RD 
1, Cambridge 3493, New Zealand; telephone: +64 7 827 0528; fax: +64 
7 929 2878; Internet: www.alphaaviation.co.nz.
    (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Small 
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For

[[Page 77376]]

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/ibr-locations.html

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 15, 2014.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-29833 Filed 12-23-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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