Airworthiness Directives; True Flight Holdings LLC Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 130 (Monday, July 12, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36491-36493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14687]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0541; Project Identifier AD-2021-00453-A; 
Amendment 39-21639; AD 2021-14-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; True Flight Holdings LLC Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
True Flight Holdings LLC Models AA-1, AA-1A, AA-1B, AA-1C, and AA-5 
airplanes. This AD was prompted by the report of an accident of an 
airplane exhibiting bondline corrosion and delamination of the 
horizontal stabilizers. This AD requires inspecting the horizontal 
stabilizers, including the bondlines, for cracks, buckles, corrosion, 
delamination, rust, and previous repair and repairing or replacing 
parts and applying corrosion inhibitor as necessary. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective July 27, 2021.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 27, 
2021.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by August 26, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this final rule, contact True 
Flight Holdings LLC, 2300 Madison Highway, Valdosta, GA 31601; phone: 
(229) 242-6337; email: [email protected]. 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 and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0541.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0541; 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, any 
comments received, and other information. The street address for the 
Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred Caplan, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; 
phone: (404) 474-5507; fax: (404) 474-5606; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA received a report of an accident involving a True Flight 
Holdings LLC Model AA-5 airplane that occurred on January 19, 2021. 
During flight, the outboard elevator attach bracket on the horizontal 
stabilizer detached causing loss of elevator control and significant 
damage to the airplane. An investigation identified corrosion and 
delamination of the airplane skin bondlines around the area of the 
horizontal stabilizer where the elevator attach bracket was attached. 
Multiple field reports have identified additional instances of 
corrosion and delamination of skin bondlines around the horizontal 
stabilizer and other primary structures.
    All Models AA-1, AA-1A, AA-1B, AA-1C, and AA-5 Traveler airplanes 
have horizontal stabilizers that are similar in design and use the same 
attachment method for the elevators. The affected airplanes are 
constructed using a metal-to-metal bonding process. While the bond 
adhesive remains structurally sound throughout the aging process, 
factors such as corrosion and freezing moisture may compromise the 
structural integrity of some of the bond joints. This can lead to 
delamination of the skin from the primary structure.
    Field reports indicate that bondline inspections are not being 
adequately performed during routine inspections. The FAA has determined 
that a more thorough inspection is necessary to reliably identify 
corrosion and delamination of bondlines in these critical areas, 
including the horizontal stabilizer.
    This condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced 
structural integrity with consequent loss of control of the airplane. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency has determined the 
unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in 
other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed True Flight Aerospace Service Bulletin SB-195, 
Revision A, dated June 1, 2021 (True Flight SB-195, Revision A). This 
service information specifies procedures for inspecting the primary 
structure and flight controls for cracks, buckles, corrosion, 
delamination, rust, and previous repair and repairing or replacing 
parts and applying corrosion inhibitor as necessary.
    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 ADDRESSES.

Other Related Service Information

    The FAA also reviewed True Flight Aerospace Service Kit 125, 
Revision B. This service information specifies procedures for repairing 
bondline delamination of flight controls and structures.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the service 
information already described, except as discussed under ``Differences 
Between the AD and the Service Information.''

Differences Between the AD and the Service Information

    True Flight SB-195, Revision A applies to Models AA1, AA-1A, AA-1B, 
AA-1C, AA5, AA-5A, and AA-5B airplanes. However, this AD only

[[Page 36492]]

applies to Models AA-1, AA-1A, AA-1B, AA-1C, and AA-5 airplanes. Also, 
this AD only requires the Part B inspection and repair from True Flight 
SB-195, Revision A. Actions for the airplanes not affected by this AD 
are specified in Part A of True Flight SB-195, Revision A, thus the 
reason for reduced applicability. In addition, True Flight SB-195, 
Revision A, specifies a reporting requirement, but this AD does not.

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.
    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to 
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public 
justifies foregoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule 
because cracks, buckles, corrosion, delamination, rust, and previous 
repair of the horizontal stabilizers could result in reduced integrity 
and lead to loss of control of the airplane. Additionally, the 
compliance time for the inspection of the horizontal stabilizers is 
within 25 hours time-in-service or before the next 100 hour or annual 
inspection, whichever occurs first, a time period of up to 3 months 
based on the average utilization rate of these airplanes. This time 
period is shorter than the time necessary for the public to comment and 
for publication of the final rule. Accordingly, notice and opportunity 
for prior public comment are impracticable and contrary to the public 
interest 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.

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-2021-0541 and Project Identifier 
AD-2021-00453-A'' 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 Fred 
Caplan, Aviation Safety Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337. Any commentary that the FAA 
receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in 
the public docket for this rulemaking.

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 prior notice and 
comment, RFA analysis is not required.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 1,113 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
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                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
              Action                      Labor cost             Parts cost           product        operators
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Inspection for delamination and     3 work-hours x $85     Not applicable.......            $255        $283,815
 corrosion.                          per hour = $255.
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    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary repairs 
that would be required based on the results of the inspection. The 
agency has no way of determining the number of airplanes that might 
need these repairs:

                                               On-Condition Costs
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                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
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Installation of rivets and repair of bondlines  8 work-hours x $85 per hour =               $115            $795
 of the horizontal stabilizers.                  $680.
Treatment of inside of the horizontal           1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85             104             189
 stabilizers with corrosion inhibitor.
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[[Page 36493]]

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

    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.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

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

2021-14-12 True Flight Holdings LLC: Amendment 39-21639; Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0541; Project Identifier AD-2021-00453-A.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective July 27, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to True Flight Holdings LLC Models AA-1, AA-1A, 
AA-1B, AA-1C, and AA-5 airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated 
in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code: 5512, Horizontal 
Stabilizer, Plate/Skin; 5522, Elevator, Plates/Skin Structure.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by corrosion and delamination of the 
horizontal stabilizer bondlines. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
detect and address cracks, buckles, corrosion, delamination, rust, 
and previous repair of the horizontal stabilizers. The unsafe 
condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced structural 
integrity with consequent loss of control of the airplane.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Inspection of Bondlines of the Horizontal Stabilizers

    Within the next 25 hours time-in-service or at the next 
scheduled 100 hour or annual inspection after the effective date of 
this AD, whichever occurs first, inspect the horizontal stabilizers, 
paying particular attention to the bondlines, for cracks, buckles, 
corrosion, delamination, rust, and previous repair in accordance 
with paragraphs 1. and 3. of Part B of True Flight Aerospace Service 
Bulletin SB-195, Revision A, dated June 1, 2021 (True Flight SB-195, 
Revision A). If there is any crack, buckle, corrosion, delamination, 
rust, or previous repair, before further flight, repair or replace 
the affected part in accordance with paragraphs 1.c. and 2. through 
4. of True Flight SB-195, Revision A, as applicable.

(h) No Reporting Requirement

    True Flight SB-195, Revision A specifies notifying True Flight 
Holdings LLC of compliance with the service bulletin; however, this 
AD does not contain that requirement.

(i) Special Flight Permit

    A special flight permit is prohibited.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Atlanta ACO 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 certification office, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in Related Information.
    (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 Fred Caplan, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia 
Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: (404) 474-5507; fax: (404) 
474-5606; 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) True Flight Aerospace Service Bulletin SB-195, Revision A, 
dated June 1, 2021.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For True Flight Aerospace service information identified in 
this AD, contact True Flight Holdings LLC, 2300 Madison Highway, 
Valdosta, GA 31601; phone: (229) 242-6337; email: 
[email protected].
    (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Policy and 
Innovation Division, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For 
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, email: [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on June 25, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-14687 Filed 7-9-21; 8:45 am]
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