Airworthiness Directives; Britten-Norman Aircraft, Ltd. Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 83 (Monday, April 29, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33218-33220]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09083]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-0044; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00629-A; 
Amendment 39-22736; AD 2024-08-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Britten-Norman Aircraft, Ltd. 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 all 
Britten-Norman Aircraft, Ltd. Model BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2A-2, BN-2A-3, BN-
2A-6, BN-2A-8, BN-2A-9, BN-2A-20, BN-2A-21, BN-2A-26, BN-2A-27, BN-2B-
20, BN-2B-21, BN-2B-26, BN-2B27, BN-2T, BN2T-4R, and BN2T-4S airplanes; 
and Model BN2A MK. III, BN2A MK. III-2, and BN2A MK. III-3 airplanes. 
This AD is prompted by reports of electrical cable (Koiled Kord) and 
flight control cables interference with the control column. This AD 
requires inspecting for interference between the control column, rudder 
pedal adjuster cable, and any wiring (including the Koiled Kord) 
concurrently with performing a flight control full and free movement 
inspection, and taking corrective actions if necessary. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective June 3, 2024.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 3, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-0044; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (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.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
    <bullet> For service information, contact Britten-Norman Aircraft 
Ltd., Bembridge Airport, Bembridge, Isle of Wight, PO35 5PR United 
Kingdom; phone: +44 20 3371 4000; email: norman.com">customer.support@britten-norman.com; website: britten-norman.com/approvals-technical-publications.
    <bullet> 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 (817) 222-5110. It is also available at 
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-0044.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Penelope Trease, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
phone: (303) 342-1094; 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 all Britten-Norman 
Aircraft, Ltd. Model BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2A-2, BN-2A-3, BN-2A-6, BN-2A-8, 
BN-2A-9, BN-2A-20, BN-2A-21, BN-2A-26, BN-2A-27, BN-2B-20, BN-2B-21, 
BN-2B-26, BN-2B-27, BN-2T, BN2T-4R, and BN2T-4S airplanes; and Model 
BN2A MK. III, BN2A MK. III-2, and BN2A MK. III-3 airplanes. The NPRM 
published in the Federal Register on February 1, 2024 (89 FR 6452). The 
NPRM was prompted by AD G-2022-0017, dated September 20, 2022 (also 
referred to as the MCAI), issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), 
which is the aviation authority for the United Kingdom (UK). The MCAI 
states that there have been occurrences of flight control restriction 
in pitch during the pilot's full and free flight control checks prior 
to take-off. Investigations into these occurrences revealed 
interference between the routing of the Koiled Kord, flight control 
cables, and control column, which could restrict the full and free 
movement of the flight controls. An incorrectly routed Koiled Kord 
could snag the rudder pedal adjustment cable, draw it towards the 
control column tube where it could snag the aileron control stop, and 
restrict movement of the control column tube. This increased load on 
the rudder pedal adjustment cable could unlock the adjustment 
mechanism, permitting the rudder pedals to freely move forward and aft. 
One of the investigations also revealed that a correctly routed Koiled 
Kord was entangled with an incorrectly routed rudder pedal adjustment 
cable, which resulted in snagging the aileron control stop. In order to 
address this condition, the MCAI requires an inspection using Britten-
Norman

[[Page 33219]]

Service Bulletin SB 398, Issue 2, dated May 30, 2022 (Britten-Norman SB 
398, Issue 2), to ensure the Koiled Kord is correctly routed behind the 
instrument panel and that the rudder pedal adjustment cable and Koiled 
Kord are not interfering with each other.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require inspecting for 
interference between the control column, rudder pedal adjuster cable, 
and any wiring (including the Koiled Kord) concurrently with performing 
a flight control full and free movement inspection, and taking 
corrective actions if necessary. Interference between the Koiled Kord, 
flight control cables, and the control column, if not addressed, could 
result in loss of control of the airplane during flight.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-0044.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

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

Conclusion

    These products have been approved by the aviation authority of 
another country and are 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 referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data, 
considered the comment received, and determined that air safety 
requires adopting the 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 Britten-Norman SB 398, Issue 2, which specifies 
procedures for inspecting the cable routing behind the instrument panel 
to determine if the cables and wiring to the instrument panel, wiring 
in the surrounding area, the rudder pedal adjuster cable, and the 
Koiled Kord are routed securely and there is clearance to allow full 
and free movement of the flight controls, and if interference is found, 
securely tying the cables so they are clear of the control column for 
its full range of motion. 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 specifies that if any interference is found during the 
inspection for interference between the control column, rudder pedal 
adjuster cable, and any wiring (including the Koiled Kord) while 
performing a flight control full and free movement check, complete the 
operator feedback form in Appendix A of Britten-Norman SB 398, Issue 2, 
and return it to Britten-Norman Aircraft, Ltd. That action is not 
required by this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 72 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspect for interference and full and   1 work-hour x $85 per                 $0             $85          $6,120
 free movement.                          hour = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary actions 
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 actions:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Action                          Labor cost           Parts cost          Cost per  product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Correct Koiled Kord cable routing......  Up to 3 work-hours x $85               $0  Up to $255.
                                          per hour = $255.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

[[Page 33220]]

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:

2024-08-03 Britten-Norman Aircraft, Ltd.: Amendment 39-22736; Docket 
No. FAA-2024-0044; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00629-A.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective June 3, 2024.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Britten-Norman Aircraft Ltd airplanes, all 
serial numbers, certificated in any category, identified in 
paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this AD.
    (1) Model BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2A-2, BN-2A-3, BN-2A-6, BN-2A-8, BN-
2A-9, BN-2A-20, BN-2A-21, BN-2A-26, BN-2A-27, BN-2B-20, BN-2B-21, 
BN-2B-26, BN-2B-27, BN-2T, BN2T-4R, and BN2T-4S airplanes.
    (2) Model BN2A MK. III, BN2A MK. III-2, and BN2A MK. III-3 
airplanes.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2797, Flight Control 
System Wiring.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of electrical cable (Koiled 
Kord) and flight control cables interference with the control 
column. The FAA is issuing this AD to address interference between 
the Koiled Kord, flight control cables, and the control column, 
which could restrict the full and free movement of the flight 
controls. This unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
loss of control of the airplane during flight.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Definition

    For the purposes of this AD, a Koiled Kord is the coiled 
electrical cable that carries the wires from switches on the control 
yoke, through the control column tube, to the rear of the instrument 
panel. It exits the control column tube behind the instrument panel 
and continues to a terminal block.

(h) Required Actions

    (1) Within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective 
date of this AD, inspect for interference between the control 
column, rudder pedal adjuster cable, and any other wiring, including 
the Koiled Kord, in accordance with Sections 6 and 7(1) of Britten-
Norman Service Bulletin SB 398, Issue 2, dated May 30, 2022 
(Britten-Norman SB 398, Issue 2), while concurrently performing a 
control column full and free movement inspection, in accordance with 
Section 8 of Britten-Norman SB 398, Issue 2, to inspect for free 
play, friction, binding, non-linear forces, and any remaining 
interference.
    (2) If interference between the control column, the rudder pedal 
adjuster cable, and any other wiring, including the Koiled Kord, or 
any free play, friction, binding, non-linear forces, or any 
remaining interference was found during the inspections required by 
paragraph (h)(1) of this AD, before further flight, securely tie any 
interfering electrical cables clear of the control column for its 
full range of motion and perform a final full and free movement 
inspection in accordance with Section 8 of Britten-Norman SB 398, 
Issue 2, to inspect for free play, friction, binding, non-linear 
forces, and any remaining interference. If there is any free play, 
friction, binding, non-linear forces, or any remaining interference, 
before further flight resolve these issues in accordance with a 
method approved by the Manager, International Validation Branch, 
FAA; or the Civil Aviation Authority United Kingdom (CAA UK); or 
Britten-Norman Aircraft Ltd.'s CAA UK Design Organization Approval 
(DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-
authorized signature.

(i) 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. 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, mail 
it to the address identified in paragraph (j)(2) of this AD or email 
to: [email protected]. If mailing information, also submit 
information by email. 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.

(j) Additional Information

    (1) Refer to CAA UK AD G-2022-0017, dated September 20, 2022, 
for related information. This CAA UK AD may be found in the AD 
docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-0044.
    (2) For more information about this AD, contact Penelope Trease, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (303) 342-1094; email: 
[email protected].

(k) 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) Britten-Norman Service Bulletin SB 398, Issue 2, dated May 
30, 2022.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For service information, contact Britten-Norman Aircraft 
Ltd., Bembridge Airport, Bembridge, Isle of Wight, PO35 5PR United 
Kingdom; phone: +44 20 3371 4000; email: norman.com">customer.support@britten-norman.com; website: britten-norman.com/approvals-technical-publications.
    (4) 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 (817) 222-5110.
    (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on April 15, 2024.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-09083 Filed 4-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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