Airworthiness Directives; Aircraft Industries a.s. Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 130 (Monday, July 12, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36483-36485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13637]



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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 130 / Monday, July 12, 2021 / Rules 
and Regulations

[[Page 36483]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0510; Project Identifier 2019-CE-058-AD; Amendment 
39-21629; AD 2021-14-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Aircraft Industries a.s. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Aircraft Industries a.s. Models L-420, L 410 UVP-E20, and L 410 UVP-E20 
CARGO 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 identifies the unsafe condition as cracking 
of the retaining bolt on the nose landing gear (NLG) control. The FAA 
is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 2, 2021.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of August 2, 
2021.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by August 26, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://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.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Aircraft 
Industries, a.s., 686 04 Kunovice, Czech Republic; phone: +420 572 817 
664; fax: +420 572 816 112; email: [email protected]; website: http://www.let.cz/en/bulletin. You may view this service information at the 
FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 
Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148. It is also available at 
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for locating Docket No. FAA-
2021-0510.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0510; 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 
MCAI, any comments received, and other information. The street address 
for Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International 
Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; 
phone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments 
about this final rule. Send your comments to an address listed under 
ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0510 and Project Identifier 
2019-CE-058-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this final rule because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this final rule.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this AD, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Doug 
Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, MO 64106. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not 
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for 
this rulemaking.

Background

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has 
issued EASA AD 2019-0308, dated December 18, 2019 (referred to after 
this as ``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on Aircraft 
Industries a.s. Models L-410 UVP-Turbolet, L-410 UVP-E, L 410 UVP-E9, L 
410 UVP-LW, L 410 UVP-E-LW, L 410 UVP-E20, L 410 UVP-E20 CARGO and L-
420 airplanes. The MCAI states:

    Malfunction of the steering on the nose landing gear was 
reported by L-410 operators. Investigation determined that the 
malfunction was due to loss of the vertical pin further to a 
cracking of the retaining bolt on the nose landing gear control.

[[Page 36484]]

    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to 
reduced control of the aeroplane during taxiing, take-off and 
landing.
    To address this potential unsafe condition, Aircraft Industries 
developed an improved pin and issued the applicable SB [service 
bulletin] to provide inspection and modification instructions.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-
time inspection of the the [sic] nose landing gear leg to determine 
if an affected part is installed, and replacement of affected parts 
with improved pins.

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0510.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed LET Aircraft Industries Mandatory Bulletin SB No. 
L-420/021a, Revision 1, dated October 29, 2019, as applicable to Model 
L-420 airplanes; and LET Aircraft Industries Mandatory Bulletin SB No. 
L410UVP-E/144a, Revision 1, dated October 29, 2019, as applicable to 
Models L 410 UVP-E20 and L 410 UVP-E20 CARGO airplanes. For the 
airplane models specified on each document, the service information 
contains procedures for inspecting the NLG steering lever assembly 
vertical pin and replacing it if part number (P/N) L3 223 016 with a 
retaining bolt is installed. 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.

FAA's Determination

    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, it has 
notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. The FAA is issuing this AD 
because it evaluated all information provided by the State of Design 
Authority and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information already described. This AD also prohibits installing a 
vertical pin P/N L3 223 016 in the NLG steering lever assembly on any 
airplane.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI

    The MCAI applies to Models L-410 UVP-Turbolet, L-410 UVP-E, L 410 
UVP-E9, L 410 UVP-LW, and L 410 UVP-E-LW. This AD does not because 
those models do not have an FAA type certificate.

Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective 
Date

    Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 
U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and 
comment procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds 
that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to 
the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good 
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking 
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA 
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days, 
upon a finding of good cause.
    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, it is 
unlikely that the FAA will receive any adverse comments or useful 
information about this AD from U.S. operators. Accordingly, notice and 
opportunity for prior public comment are unnecessary pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B). In addition, the FAA finds that good cause exists 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less 
than 30 days for the same reasons the FAA found good cause to forego 
notice and comment.

Costs of Compliance

    There are currently no affected airplanes on the U.S. registry. In 
the event an affected product becomes a U.S.-registered product, the 
following is an estimate of the costs to comply with this AD.
    The FAA estimates that it would take .5 work-hour per airplane to 
comply with the inspection required by this AD. The average labor rate 
is $85 per work-hour. Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the 
cost of this AD to be $42.50 per airplane.
    In addition, the FAA estimates that replacing the vertical pin, if 
necessary, would take 1 work-hour and require parts costing $2,000 for 
a cost of $2,085 per airplane.

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 Flexibility Act

    The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not 
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt 
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because FAA has determined 
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without notice and comment, 
RFA analysis is not required.

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 that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866, and
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

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.

[[Page 36485]]

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2021-14-02 Aircraft Industries a.s.: Amendment 39-21629; Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0510; Project Identifier 2019-CE-058-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective August 2, 
2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Aircraft Industries a.s. Models L-420, L 410 
UVP-E20, and L 410 UVP-E20 CARGO airplanes, all serial numbers, 
certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 3250, Landing Gear 
Steering System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    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 identifies the unsafe condition as cracking of the 
retaining bolt on the nose landing gear (NLG) control. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to prevent loss of the NLG vertical pin, which, if 
not addressed, could result in reduced airplane control during 
taxing, takeoff, and landing.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspection and Replacement

    (1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, inspect 
the NLG to determine if vertical pin part number (P/N) L3 223 016 
with retaining bolt is installed on the NLG steering lever assembly. 
If vertical pin P/N L3 223 016 is installed, before further flight, 
replace the vertical pin with vertical pin P/N L3 223 316 by 
following sections B. and C. of the Instruction for Implementation 
in LET Aircraft Industries Mandatory Bulletin SB No. L-420/021a, 
Revision 1, dated October 29, 2019; or LET Aircraft Industries 
Mandatory Bulletin SB No. L410UVP-E/144a, Revision 1, dated October 
29, 2019, as applicable to your airplane model.
    (2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install a 
vertical pin P/N L3 223 016 in the NLG steering lever assembly on 
any airplane.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) 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. 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 International Validation Branch, send 
it to the attention of the person identified in Related Information, 
paragraph (i)(1) of this AD or email: [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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Doug Rudolph, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, 
International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2020-0308, dated December 18, 2019, for more information. You may 
examine the EASA AD in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2021-0510.

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference 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) LET Aircraft Industries Mandatory Bulletin SB No. L-420/
021a, Revision 1, dated October 29, 2019.
    (ii) LET Aircraft Industries Mandatory Bulletin SB No. L410UVP-
E/144a, Revision 1, dated October 29, 2019.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Aircraft Industries, a.s., 686 04 Kunovice, Czech Republic; phone: 
+420 572 817 664; fax: +420 572 816 112; email: [email protected]; website: 
http://www.let.cz/en/bulletin.
    (4) You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 
Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the availability 
of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148. It is also 
available at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for locating 
Docket No. FAA-2021-0510.
    (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.

    Issued on June 21, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-13637 Filed 7-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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