Airworthiness Directives; GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 165 (Tuesday, August 25, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52266-52268]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18492]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0615; Product Identifier 2018-CE-053-AD; Amendment 
39-21214; AD 2020-17-09]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for GA8 
Airvan (Pty) Ltd Models GA8 and GA8-TC320 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 a design change to the fuselage strut pick up ribs No. 5 
and 6 that requires a reduced life limit. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective September 29, 2020.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of September 29, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact GA8 
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]. You may view this referenced 
service information at the FAA Airworthiness Products Section, 
Operational Safety Branch, 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 https://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket No. FAA-2019-0615.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-
0615; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this final rule, the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the 
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. 
The address for Docket Operations is 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: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, 
901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 
329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The FAA issued an NPRM to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that 
would apply to GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Models GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes. 
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on August 12, 2019 (84 FR 
39782). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products and was based on MCAI originated by an aviation 
authority of another country. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority 
(CASA), which is the aviation authority for Australia, issued AD No. 
AD/GA8/10, dated October 17, 2018 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), which states:

Airworthiness Limitations are promulgated in the GippsAero Service 
Manual [Airworthiness Limitations Section] ALS Chapter 4 
Airworthiness Limitations. The change to the Airworthiness 
Limitations by GippsAero on 15 May 2018 was the result of the 
manufacturer changing the design of the fuselage strut pick up ribs 
no. 5 and 6. The revised rib designs have a different life 
limitation to the earlier rib designs. These Airworthiness 
Limitations are approved by CASA and non-compliance with these 
limitations could result in an unsafe condition developing. The 
Service Manual Chapter 4 Airworthiness Limitations dated 15 May 2018 
are mandatory in Australia however foreign National Aviation 
Authorities may not automatically require revision of service 
manuals without the issue of this AD.

    While the U.S. type certificate holder is GA8 Airvan C/O GippsAero, 
service manuals for the GA8 and GA8-TC320 model airplanes are issued by 
GippsAero.
    The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the internet at: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2019-0615-0002.

Comments

    The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in 
developing this AD. The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the 
determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety 
and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    GippsAero has issued GippsAero, Model GA8, GA8 Airplane Service 
Manual, C01-00-04, Chapter 4, Airworthiness Limitations, dated May 14, 
2018; and GippsAero Model GA8-TC 320, GA8-TC 320 Airplane Service 
Manual, C01-00-06, Chapter 4, Airworthiness Limitations, dated May 14, 
2018. For the applicable airplane model indicated on the documents, 
these revised airworthiness limitations establish life limits for 
certain fuselage strut pick up ribs No. 5 and 6. 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

    The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 30 products of U.S. 
registry. The FAA also estimates that it will take

[[Page 52267]]

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, the FAA estimates the cost of this AD on 
U.S. operators to be $2,550, or $85 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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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:

2020-17-09 GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd: Amendment 39-21214; Docket No. 
FAA-2019-0615; Product Identifier 2018-CE-053-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective September 
29, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

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

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 5: Time Limits.

(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 a change to the 
airworthiness limitations because of a design change by the 
manufacturer to the fuselage strut pick up ribs No. 5 and 6. The FAA 
is issuing this AD to require a revision of the airplane service 
manuals and incorporate new airworthiness limitations.

(f) Actions and Compliance

    Unless already done, before further flight, comply with the 
actions in paragraphs (f)(1) through (3) of this AD.
    (1) Remove and replace Chapter 4, Airworthiness Limitations, in 
your airplane existing service manual with GippsAero Model GA8, GA8 
Airplane Service Manual, C01-00-04, Chapter 4, Airworthiness 
Limitations, dated May 14, 2018, or GippsAero Model GA8-TC 320, GA8-
TC 320 Airplane Service Manual, C01-00-06, Chapter 4, Airworthiness 
Limitations, dated May 14, 2018, as applicable to your model 
airplane.
    (2) Remove from service each part listed in Chapter 4, 
Airworthiness Limitations, in your airplane service manual that has 
reached or exceeded its new life limit.
    (3) Except as provided in paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, no 
alternative life limits may be approved for the parts listed in 
GippsAero Model GA8, GA8 Airplane Service Manual, C01-00-04, Chapter 
4, Airworthiness Limitations, dated May 14, 2018, or GippsAero Model 
GA8-TC 320, GA8-TC 320 Airplane Service Manual, C01-00-06, Chapter 
4, Airworthiness Limitations, dated May 14, 2018.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, International Validation Branch, 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, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, 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.

 (h) Related Information

    Refer to MCAI issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for 
the Commonwealth of Australia AD No. AD/GA8/10, dated October 17, 
2018, for related information. The MCAI can be found in the AD 
docket on the internet at: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2019-0615-0002.

(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) GippsAero Model GA8, GA8 Airplane Service Manual, C01-00-04, 
Chapter 4, Airworthiness Limitations, dated May 14, 2018.
    (ii) GippsAero Model GA8-TC 320, GA8-TC 320 Airplane Service 
Manual, C01-00-06, Chapter 4, Airworthiness Limitations, dated May 
14, 2018.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact GA8 
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].
    (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 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 
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2019-0615.
    (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, email: [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.


[[Page 52268]]


    Issued on August 18, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-18492 Filed 8-24-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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