Airworthiness Directives; GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 11, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49091-49094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12588]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-0234; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-01215-A; 
Amendment 39-22742; AD 2024-08-09]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

[[Page 49092]]


ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Model GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes. This AD 
is prompted by reports of insufficient electrical bonding of the 
solenoid (relay) box assembly that could result in degraded 
performance, errors, or intermittent failures of equipment connected to 
electrical Bus 1, Bus 2, associated electrical control, and protective 
devices fitted within or attached to the solenoid box. This AD requires 
inspecting for an existing wire connecting the relay box earth point to 
the ground power socket, and if one is not present, installing a 
mechanical connection. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective July 16, 2024.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 16, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-0234; 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 GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd, 
GippsAero Technical Services, P.O. Box 881, Morwell, Victoria 3840, 
Australia; phone: +61 (0)3 5172 1200; email: gippsaero.com.au">TECHPUBS@gippsaero.com.au; 
website: gippsaero.com.au.
    <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-2024-0234.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
phone: (816) 329-4059; 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 GA8 Airvan 
(Pty) Ltd Model GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes. The NPRM published in the 
Federal Register on February 23, 2024 (89 FR 13620). The NPRM was 
prompted by AD GA8/11, dated November 21, 2023 (also referred to as the 
MCAI), issued by Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which is the aviation 
authority for Australia. The MCAI states that operators made two 
reports and a few anecdotal reports of intermittent system 
discrepancies attributed to insufficient electrical bonding of the 
solenoid (relay) box assembly. Without a dedicated solenoid box 
electrical bonding connection, these airplanes may suffer degraded 
performance, errors, or intermittent failures of equipment connected to 
electrical Bus 1, Bus 2, associated electrical control, and protective 
devices fitted within or attached to the solenoid box. The majority of 
Model GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes were produced with the relay box 
electrically bonded to the airframe via the relay box lid and the 
hardware (screws) holding it in place. The relay box did not have a 
dedicated bonding point or mechanical connection.
    The MCAI requires doing the actions specified in GippsAero Service 
Bulletin SB-GA8-2023-216, Issue 1, dated February 24, 2023 (GippsAero 
SB-GA8-2023-216, Issue 1). These actions include inspecting for an 
existing wire connecting the relay box earth point to the ground power 
socket, and if one is not present, installing a mechanical connection.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require inspecting for an existing 
wire connecting the relay box earth point to the ground power socket, 
and if one is not present, installing a mechanical connection. The FAA 
is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-0234.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the costs.

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 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 GippsAero SB-GA8-2023-216, Issue 1. This service 
information specifies procedures for inspecting for an existing wire 
connecting the relay box earth point to the ground power socket, and if 
one is not present, installing a mechanical connection.
    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 applicability is Gippsland Aeronautics Model GA8 Series 
airplanes. The applicability in this AD are GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Model 
GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes because that is what is on the FAA type 
certificate.
    Part A, step 4. of the Accomplishment Instructions in GippsAero SB-
GA8-2023-216, Issue 1, specifies to proceed to the Documentation 
section to update the airplane logbook, but that action is not 
specifically required by this AD as current FAA regulations already 
require a logbook entry for compliance with AD actions.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 62 airplanes of U.S. 
registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 49093]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspect for mechanical connection.....  1 work-hour x $85 per                 $0             $85          $5,270
                                         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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Install mechanical connection.................  1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85            $170            $255
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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:

2024-08-09 GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd: Amendment 39-22742; Docket No. 
FAA-2024-0234; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-01215-A.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective July 16, 2024.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Model GA8 airplanes, all 
serial numbers up to and including GA8-20-262; and Model GA8-TC320 
airplanes, all serial numbers up to and including GA8-TC 320-20-261; 
certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2497, Electrical 
Power System Wiring.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of insufficient electrical 
bonding of the solenoid (relay) box assembly. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to address possible missing mechanical connections. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in degraded 
electrical equipment performance, errors, or intermittent failures 
of equipment connected to electrical Bus 1, Bus 2, associated 
electrical control and protective devices fitted within or attached 
to the solenoid box, which could lead to loss of equipment essential 
for safe flight.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective 
date of this AD, inspect for a mechanical connection between the 
relay box earth point to the ground power socket in accordance with 
Part A, steps 1. through 4. of the Accomplishment Instructions in 
GippsAero Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2023-216, Issue 1, dated February 
24, 2023 (GippsAero SB-GA8-2023-216, Issue 1), except where step 4. 
specifies to proceed to the Documentation section to update the 
airplane logbook, that action is not specifically required by this 
AD.
    (2) If no mechanical connection between the relay box earth 
point to the ground power socket is found during the inspection 
required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, before further flight, 
install a mechanical connection in accordance with Part B, steps 1. 
through 3. of the Accomplishment Instructions in GippsAero SB-GA8-
2023-216, Issue 1.

(h) 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 (i) 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,

[[Page 49094]]

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local Flight 
Standards District Office/certificate holding district office.

(i) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Doug Rudolph, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (816) 329-4059; email: 
[email protected].

(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) GippsAero Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2023-216, Issue 1, dated 
February 24, 2023.
    Note 1 to paragraph (j)(2)(i): The date on the first page of 
this document is February 24, 2023, and the date on the subsequent 
pages is February 25, 2023.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact GA8 
Airvan (Pty) Ltd, GippsAero Technical Services, P.O. Box 881, 
Morwell, Victoria 3840, Australia; phone: +61 (0)3 5172 1200; email: 
gippsaero.com.au">TECHPUBS@gippsaero.com.au; website: gippsaero.com.au.
    (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, isit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on May 22, 2024.
James D. Foltz,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-12588 Filed 6-10-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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