Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace Limited Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 7, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69161-69163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26496]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0711; Project Identifier 2019-CE-024-AD; Amendment 
39-21814; AD 2021-23-16]
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 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 chafing of the engine fuel feed line hoses. 
This AD requires inspecting the engine fuel feed line hoses and the 
electrical wiring and rerouting all fuel lines. 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.

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 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-2021-0711.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0711; 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, 
General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, 
FAA, 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 fitted with an air 
conditioner and/or standby alternator. The NPRM published in the 
Federal Register on August 27, 2021 (86 FR 48086). The NPRM was 
prompted by MCAI originated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), 
which is the aviation

[[Page 69162]]

authority for New Zealand. The CAA of New Zealand has issued AD DCA/
750XL/37, effective April 25, 2019 (referred to after this as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for certain Pacific Aerospace 
Limited Model 750XL airplanes. The MCAI states:

    DCA/750XL/37 is prompted by a review of the installation of the 
engine fuel lines and the electrical installation forward of the 
engine firewall on aircraft fitted with an air conditioner and/or a 
standby alternator, including those aircraft configured for the 
installation of an air conditioner and/or a standby alternator. It 
was found that the engine fuel feed lines hoses could possibly chafe 
against the adjacent electrical wiring and the ignition exciter, 
which could result in a fuel leak and possible fire. The [CAA] AD is 
issued to introduce the corrective actions in Pacific Aerospace 
Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) PACSB/XL/113 issue 2, dated 8 March 
2019.

    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0711.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received a comment from an individual who supported the 
NPRM without change.

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 and 
service information referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant 
data, considered any comments received, 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/113, Issue 2, dated March 8, 2019. The service information 
contains procedures for inspecting the engine fuel feed line hoses and 
the electrical wiring for chafing or damage, rerouting all fuel lines 
and the fuel transducer and pressure switch wiring (including 
installing P clips), and inspecting the fuel hose for chafing and 
replacing chafed fire sleeves or fuel hoses if 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.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI

    The MCAI requires an inspection at the next 150 hour maintenance 
inspection or within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS), whichever 
occurs later, while this AD requires those actions within 50 hours TIS 
or at the next annual inspection after the effective date of this AD, 
whichever occurs later. If there is no chafing and damage found during 
the inspection, the MCAI requires certain follow-on actions at the next 
300 hour maintenance inspection or within the next 50 hours TIS, 
whichever is later. This AD requires those actions within 50 hours TIS 
or at the next annual inspection, whichever occurs later, because there 
is no regulatory requirement for operators in the U.S. to have 150-hour 
or 300-hour maintenance inspections.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 23 airplanes of U.S. 
registry. The FAA also estimates that it will take about 5 work-hours 
per airplane and require parts costing $20 per airplane to comply with 
the inspection and re-routing that are required by this AD. The average 
labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
    Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the inspection and re-
routing cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be $10,235, or $445 per 
airplane.
    The FAA has included all known costs in its 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 that 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.

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:

2021-23-16 Pacific Aerospace Limited:Amendment 39-21814; Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0711; Project Identifier 2019-CE-024-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 101 through 215 inclusive, 220, 8001, and 
8002, certificated in any category, that are fitted with an air 
conditioner and/or a standby alternator, including airplanes 
configured for the installation of an air conditioner and/or a 
standby alternator, as

[[Page 69163]]

shown in Figure 1 of Part A in Pacific Aerospace Mandatory Service 
Bulletin PACSB/XL/113, Issue 2, dated March 8, 2019 (MSB PACSB/XL/
113, Issue 2).

 (d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2820, Aircraft Fuel 
Distribution, and 2497, Electrical Power System Wiring.

 (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 describes the unsafe condition as chafing of the 
engine fuel feed line hoses. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent 
chafing of the engine fuel feed line hoses with electrical wiring 
and the ignition exciter located forward of the engine firewall. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in a fuel leak and 
fire.

 (f) Compliance

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

 (g) Required Actions

    Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) or at the next annual 
inspection after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 
later, inspect the engine fuel feed line hoses and the electrical 
wiring for chafing and damage in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions, Part A steps (3) and (4), in MSB PACSB/XL/113, Issue 
2.
    (1) If there is any chafing or damage that penetrates the orange 
outer covering of the fuel line fire sleeve or if there is any 
chafed or damaged electrical wiring, before further flight, inspect 
the fuel hose for chafing, replace any chafed fire sleeve or fuel 
hose, and reroute all fuel lines in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions, Part B, in MSB PACSB/XL/113, Issue 2.
    (2) If there are no chafed or damaged engine fuel feed line 
hoses and no chafed or damaged electrical wiring, within 50 hours 
TIS or at the next annual inspection, whichever occurs later, 
reroute all fuel lines in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions, Part B, in MSB PACSB/XL/113, Issue 2.

 (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, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, 
International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas 
City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) Refer to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of New Zealand AD 
DCA/750XL/37, effective April 25, 2019, for more information. You 
may examine the CAA AD in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-
2021-0711.

 (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/113, 
Issue 2, dated March 8, 2019.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact the 
CAA 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 2, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-26496 Filed 12-6-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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