Airworthiness Directives; GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14810-14812]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06234]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-1123; Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-037-AD; 
Amendment 39-18120; AD 2015-06-02]
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 Model GA8-TC320 airplanes. This AD results from

[[Page 14811]]

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 missing required engine mount fire seal washers, which 
could reduce the engine retention capability in the event of a fire. We 
are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition 
on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 24, 2015.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of April 24, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
1123; 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 GA 8 Airvan 
(Pty) Ltd, c/o GippsAero Pty Ltd, Attn: Technical Services, P.O. Box 
881, Morwell Victoria 3840, Australia; telephone: +61 03 5172 1200; 
fax: +61 03 5172 1201; email: [email protected]; Internet: http://www.gippsaero.com/customer-support/technical-publications.aspx. You may 
view 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. 
It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-1123.

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 add an AD that would apply to GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Model 
GA8-TC320 airplane. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on 
January 6, 2015 (80 FR 419). 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:

    A recent review of the engine mount installation on the GA8-TC 
320 aircraft has highlighted the omission of engine mount fire seal 
washers during the assembly process.
    The current engine mount configuration does not meet the 
certification basis for the aircraft, specifically regulation 23.865 
of the Federal Aviation Regulations of the United States of America, 
where engine mounts located in designated fire zones are required to 
be suitably shielded so that they are capable of withstanding the 
effects of a fire.
    The Gippsland Aeronautics GA8-TC 320 aircraft require the 
installation of an approved steel washer at each of the engine mount 
locations to address a potential risk of reduced engine retention 
capability in the event of a fire.

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2014-1123-0002.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (80 FR 419, January 6, 
2015) 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 (80 FR 419, January 6, 2015) for correcting the unsafe condition; 
and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 419, January 6, 2015).

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed GippsAero Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2014-115, 
Issue 1, dated October 6, 2014. The GippsAero Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB-GA8-2014-115, Issue 1, dated October 6, 2014 describes 
procedures for inspecting the orientation of the engine isolator mounts 
to verify proper installation, re-installing if necessary, and 
installing steel washers on the forward side of each side of the engine 
isolator mounts. This service information is reasonably available; see 
ADDRESSES for ways to access this service information.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 13 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 5 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 $10 
per product.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. 
operators to be $5,655, or $435 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.

[[Page 14812]]

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-
1123; 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:

2015-06-02 GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd: Amendment 39-18120; Docket No. 
FAA-2014-1123; Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-037-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective April 24, 
2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

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

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 71: Power Plant.

(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 missing required 
engine mount fire seal washers, which could reduce the engine 
retention capability in the event of a fire. We are issuing this AD 
to detect and correct the omission of steel washers at each isolator 
mount location, which, if not corrected, could result in reduced 
engine retention capability in the event of a fire.

 (f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, comply with this AD within the compliance 
times specified in paragraphs (f)(1) through (f)(4) of this AD:
    (1) Within the next 300 hours time-in-service after April 24, 
2015 (the effective date of this AD) or within the next 12 months 
after April 24, 2015 (the effective date of this AD), whichever 
occurs first, inspect the orientation of the engine isolator mounts 
to verify that the mounts have been installed properly following the 
Accomplishment Instructions in GippsAero Mandatory Service Bulletin 
SB-GA8-2014-115, Issue 1, dated October 6, 2014.
    (2) Before reinstalling the engine isolator mounts following the 
inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, before further 
flight, install a part number J-2218-61 steel washer on the forward 
side of each of the four engine isolator mounts, following the 
Accomplishment Instructions in GippsAero Mandatory Service Bulletin 
SB-GA8-2014-115, Issue 1, dated October 6, 2014.
    (3) If during the inspection required in paragraph (f)(1) of 
this AD, any of the engine isolator mounts are found to not comply 
with the specifications found in the Accomplishment Instructions of 
GippsAero Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2014-115, Issue 1, dated 
October 6, 2014, before further flight, re-install the isolators to 
the correct orientation, or if damage is found, replace with 
airworthy parts.

 (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 No. AD/
GA8/8, dated November 24, 2014. You may examine the MCAI on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
Docket No. FAA-2014-1123.

(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-GA8-2014-115, Issue 
1, dated October 6, 2014.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For GippsAero service information identified in this AD, 
contact GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd, c/o GippsAero Pty Ltd, Attn: 
Technical Services, P.O. Box 881, Morwell Victoria 3840, Australia; 
telephone: + 61 03 5172 1200; fax: +61 03 5172 1201; email: 
[email protected]; Internet: http://www.gippsaero.com/customer-support/technical-publications.aspx.
    (4) You may view this 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. In addition, you can access this service information 
on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2014-1123.
    (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 March 12, 2015.
Robert Busto,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-06234 Filed 3-19-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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