Airworthiness Directives; Quest Aircraft Design, LLC Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14702-14704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05898]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-5318; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-035-AD; 
Amendment 39-18437; AD 2016-06-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Quest Aircraft Design, LLC Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Quest Aircraft Design, LLC Model KODIAK 100 airplanes. This AD was 
prompted by a report of limited control yoke movement of the elevator 
control system due to cushion edging jammed in the elevator control 
anti-rotation guide slot. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the 
elevator control system cushion edging for proper condition; replacing 
the cushion edging; and at a specified time terminating the repetitive 
inspections by installing wear pads on the elevator bearing assemblies. 
We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 22, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of April 22, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact Quest 
Aircraft Design, LLC, 1200 Turbine Drive, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864; 
telephone: (208) 263-1111; toll free: (866) 263-1112; email: 
[email protected]; Internet: www.questaircraft.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. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket No. FAA-2015-5318.

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-2015-
5318; 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 address for the Docket Office (telephone: 800-
647-5527) is 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Herron, Aerospace Engineer, 
Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 
Renton, Washington 98057; phone: (425) 917-6469; fax: (425) 917-6591; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Quest Aircraft 
Design, LLC Model KODIAK 100 airplanes. The NPRM published in the 
Federal Register on November 5, 2015 (80 FR 68477). The NPRM was 
prompted by a report of limited control yoke movement of the elevator 
control system due to cushion edging jammed in the elevator control 
anti-rotation guide slot. The NPRM proposed to require repetitively 
inspecting the elevator control system cushion edging for proper 
condition; replacing the cushion edging; and at a specified time 
terminating the repetitive inspections by installing wear pads on the 
elevator bearing assemblies. We are issuing this AD to correct the 
unsafe condition on these products.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM (80 
FR 68477, November 5, 2015) and the FAA's response to each comment.

Request To Include Revised Service Bulletin

    Quest Aircraft Design revised one of the related service bulletins 
and requested that Quest Aircraft Company KODIAK 100 Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB14-07, Revision 01, dated November 23, 2015, be incorporated 
into the final rule AD action.
    We agree. We revised this AD as requested.

Request To Reference Only the Field Service Instructions

    Quest Aircraft Design stated that the instructions for doing the 
actions required in the AD are actually contained in the Field Service 
Instructions (FSIs) issued by Quest

[[Page 14703]]

Aircraft and that there is no need to include reference to the related 
service bulletins since they are basically cover letters that point to 
the FSIs for the instructions. The commenter requested to have the 
related service bulletins removed from the AD to make the AD clearer to 
the reader and to eliminate any confusion.
    We agree that the FSIs contain the instructions for completing the 
actions required in this AD; however, the service bulletins contain 
additional pertinent information, such as company contact information 
and FAA approval status that is not included in the associated FSI.
    We do not agree that the service bulletins should be removed from 
the AD. We did not revise this AD as requested.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, 
and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
this AD with the changes described previously and minor editorial 
changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM (80 FR 68477, November 5, 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 68477, November 5, 2015).
    We also determined that these changes will not increase the 
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this AD.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Quest Aircraft Company KODIAK 100 Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB14-07, Revision 01, dated November 23, 2015; Quest Aircraft 
KODIAK Mandatory Service Bulletin SB14-07, dated August 26, 2014; Quest 
Aircraft Company Field Service Instruction, Elevator Control System--
Cushion Edging Inspection, Report No. FSI-105, Revision 00, not dated; 
Quest Aircraft KODIAK 100 Recommended Service Bulletin SB15-01, dated 
March 26, 2015; and Quest Aircraft Field Service Instruction, Yoke 
Anti-Rotation Guide Wear Pad Upgrade, Report No. FSI-108, Revision 00, 
not dated. The service information describes procedures for 
repetitively inspecting the cushion edging installed on the elevator 
control anti-rotation guide for proper condition, wear, and security, 
and replacing if necessary; and removing the cushion edging and 
installing wear pads on the pilot and co-pilot arms of the elevator 
bearing assemblies as a terminating action to the repetitive 
inspections of the cushion edging. This service information is 
reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it 
through their normal course of business or by the means identified in 
the ADDRESSES section.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 60 airplanes of U.S. registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                                     Estimated Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                          Labor cost                 Parts cost           Cost per product            Cost on U.S. operators
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspect the cushion edging on each    .5 work-hour x $85 per hour   Not applicable........  $42.50 per inspection.  $2,550 per inspection.
 side of the elevator control anti-    = $42.50 per inspection.
 rotation guide slot.
Required terminating action for       3 work-hours x $85 per hour   $200..................  $455..................  $27,300.
 repetitive inspections--replace       = $255.
 cushion edging with wear pads.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements 
that will be required based on the results of the inspection. We have 
no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need this 
replacement:

                           On-Condition Costs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Cost
            Action                Labor cost       Parts cost      per
                                                                 product
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace cushion edging.......   1 work-hour x              $20   $105
                               $85 per hour =
                                          $85
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the manufacturer, some 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

    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 DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),

[[Page 14704]]

    (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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2016-06-06 Quest Aircraft Design, LLC: Amendment 39-18437; Docket 
No. FAA-2015-5318; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-035-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This AD is effective April 22, 2016.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Quest Aircraft Design, LLC Model KODIAK 100 
airplanes, all serial numbers 100-0001 through 100-0149, that are 
certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association 
(ATA) of America Code 2730; Elevator Control System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of limited control yoke 
movement due to cushion edging jammed in the elevator control anti-
rotation guide slot. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of 
the elevator control system, which could result in loss of control.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Inspect Cushion Edging

    Before further flight April 22, 2016 (after the effective date 
of this AD) and repetitively thereafter at intervals not to exceed 
50 hours time-in-service until the terminating action specified in 
paragraph (i) of this AD is done, inspect the cushion edging, part 
number (P/N) M22529/2-3R-25, located on each side of the elevator 
control anti-rotation guide slot, P/N 100-619-0008, for the pilot 
and co-pilot control yoke assemblies, following section 5.1 Cushion 
Edging Inspection of Quest Aircraft Company Field Service 
Instruction, Elevator Control System--Cushion Edging Inspection, 
Report No. FSI-105, Revision 00, not dated, as specified in Quest 
Aircraft KODIAK Mandatory Service Bulletin SB14-07, dated August 26, 
2014; and Quest Aircraft Company KODIAK 100 Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB14-07, Revision 01, dated November 23, 2015.

(h) Replace Cushion Edging

    If damage or wear is found during any inspection required in 
paragraph (g) of this AD, before further flight, replace the cushion 
edging following section 5.3 of Quest Aircraft Company Field Service 
Instruction, Elevator Control System--Cushion Edging Inspection, 
Report No. FSI-105, Revision 00, not dated, as specified in Quest 
Aircraft KODIAK Mandatory Service Bulletin SB14-07, dated August 26, 
2014; and Quest Aircraft Company KODIAK 100 Mandatory Service 
Bulletin SB14-07, Revision 01, dated November 23, 2015.

(i) Install Wear Pads (Terminating Action for the Repetitive 
Inspections)

    Within 1 year after April 22, 2016 (the effective date of this 
AD), remove the cushion edging, P/N M22529/2-3R-25, installed on the 
elevator control anti-rotation guide, and install wear pads, P/N 
100-619-0037, on the elevator bearing assembly link arm following 
section 5. Instructions, including all subsections, of Quest 
Aircraft Field Service Instruction, Yoke Anti-Rotation Guide Wear 
Pad Upgrade, Report No. FSI-108, Revision 00, not dated, as 
specified in Quest Aircraft KODIAK 100 Recommended Service Bulletin 
SB15-01, dated March 26, 2015. Installing all four wear pads on the 
pilot and co-pilot arms of the elevator bearing assemblies 
terminates the repetitive inspections required in paragraph (g) of 
this AD.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 
CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local 
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending 
information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in paragraph (k) of this AD. 
Information may be emailed to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(k) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact David Herron, 
Aerospace Engineer, Seattle ACO, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 
Washington 98057; phone: (425) 917-6469; fax: (425) 917-6591; email: 
[email protected].

(l) 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) Quest Aircraft Company KODIAK 100 Mandatory Service Bulletin 
SB14-07, Revision 01, dated November 23, 2015.
    (ii) Quest Aircraft KODIAK Mandatory Service Bulletin SB14-07, 
dated August 26, 2014.
    (iii) Quest Aircraft Company Field Service Instruction, Elevator 
Control System--Cushion Edging Inspection, Report No. FSI-105, 
Revision 00, not dated.
    (iv) Quest Aircraft KODIAK 100 Recommended Service Bulletin 
SB15-01, dated March 26, 2015.
    (v) Quest Aircraft Field Service Instruction, Yoke Anti-Rotation 
Guide Wear Pad Upgrade, Report No. FSI-108, Revision 00, not dated.
    (3) For Quest Aircraft Design, LLC service information 
identified in this AD, contact Quest Aircraft Design, LLC, 1200 
Turbine Drive, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864; telephone: (208) 263-1111; 
toll free: (866) 263-1112; email: [email protected]; 
Internet: www.questaircraft.com.
    (4) 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. In addition, you can access this service information 
on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2015-5318.
    (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 10, 2016.
Pat Mullen,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-05898 Filed 3-17-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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