Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace Limited Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 7, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69165-69167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26495]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0213; Project Identifier 2018-CE-036-AD; Amendment 
39-21818; AD 2021-23-19]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace Limited Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes. This AD 
results from 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 insufficient separation of ground terminations 
for individual power sources and static grounds. This AD requires 
inspecting and separating, if applicable, the battery and generator 
common ground connections on the airframe. The FAA is issuing this AD 
to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 11, 2022.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of January 11, 
2022.

[[Page 69166]]


ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, Level 15, Asteron 
Centre, 55 Featherston Street, Wellington 6011; phone: +64 4 560 9400; 
fax: +64 4 569 2024; email: [email protected]. You may review 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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0213; 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 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: Mike Kiesov, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation 
Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-
4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain serial-numbered 
Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes with the battery 
installed within the engine bay at the firewall. The NPRM published in 
the Federal Register on August 9, 2021 (86 FR 43446). The NPRM was 
based on MCAI from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the 
aviation authority for New Zealand. The CAA issued DCA/750XL/30, dated 
July 5, 2018 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an 
unsafe condition for Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes. 
The MCAI states:

    The ground connections for the individual power sources (BATT & 
GEN [battery and generator]) have been connected at a common ground 
point on the aircraft. DCA/750XL/30 is issued to mandate the 
instructions in Pacific Aerospace Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) 
PACSB/XL/104 issue 1, dated 2 May 2018, or later approved revision 
to separate the common ground connection on the airframe for the 
individual power sources (BATT & GEN).

    The CAA advises the root cause is a deviation from the approved 
engineering data. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to the 
loss of primary and secondary power sources from corrosion of the 
ground connection or failure of the fastening hardware, which could 
result in the simultaneous loss of multiple systems. According to the 
CAA, this condition was observed on the production line and has been 
corrected for new airplanes in production. The MCAI requires inspecting 
the battery ground connections and separating the ground connections as 
necessary. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0213.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require detecting and correcting 
ground terminations with insufficient separation on individual power 
sources and static grounds for continued airworthiness. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

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

Conclusion

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to 
the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it 
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI. The 
FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety requires 
adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD 
to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is adopted 
as proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Pacific Aerospace Mandatory Service Bulletin 
PACSB/XL/104, Issue 1, dated May 2, 2018. The service information 
specifies procedures for inspecting the battery ground connections and 
separating the ground connections 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 the ADDRESSES section.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 23 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    The FAA also estimates that it would take about 1 work-hour per 
airplane to comply with the grounding connection inspection of this AD. 
The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of the 
inspection on U.S. operators to be $1,955, or $85 per airplane.
    In addition, the FAA estimates that any necessary action to 
separate the connections would take about 3 work-hours and require 
parts costing $25, for a cost of $280 per airplane. The FAA has no way 
of determining the number of airplanes that may need these actions.
    The FAA has included all costs in this cost estimate. According to 
the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this AD may be covered 
under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected operators.

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 this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,

[[Page 69167]]

    (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.

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:

2021-23-19 Pacific Aerospace Limited: Amendment 39-21818; Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0213; Project Identifier 2018-CE-036-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective January 11, 2022.

 (b) Affected ADs

    None.

 (c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL 
airplanes, serial numbers up to and including 222, certificated in 
any category, with the battery installed within the engine bay at 
the firewall.

 (d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2400, Electrical 
Power System.

 (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 identifies the unsafe condition as insufficient 
separation of ground terminations for individual power sources and 
static grounds. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct 
ground terminations with insufficient separation, which could lead 
to loss of primary and secondary power sources if the ground 
connection fails and consequent simultaneous loss of multiple 
airplane systems.

 (f) Compliance

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

 (g) Inspection and Corrective Action

    (1) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, 
inspect the battery installation in the engine bay to determine if 
the ground leads connect to a single ground stud as shown in the 
Accomplishment Instructions, figure 2, of Pacific Aerospace 
Mandatory Service Bulletin PACSB/XL/104, Issue 1, dated May 2, 2018 
(PACSB/XL/104I1).
    (2) If the ground leads connect to a single ground stud, before 
further flight, separate the battery ground lead connections by 
following the Accomplishment Instructions, steps 4 through 36, of 
PACSB/XL/104I1.

 (h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, 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 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 Mike Kiesov, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, 
Kansas City, MO 64106; (816) 329-4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of New Zealand AD 
DCA/750XL/30, dated July 5, 2018, for related information. You may 
examine the CAA AD at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0213.

(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) Pacific Aerospace Mandatory Service Bulletin PACSB/XL/104, 
Issue 1, dated May 2, 2018.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Pacific Aerospace Limited service information identified 
in this AD, contact the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, 
Level 15, Asteron Centre, 55 Featherston Street, Wellington 6011; 
phone: +64 4 560 9400; fax: +64 4 569 2024; email: [email protected].
    (4) You may view this service information at 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.
    (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 November 4, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-26495 Filed 12-6-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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