Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-802 and AT-802A Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 189 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57405-57407]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15819]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24710; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-29-AD; 
Amendment 39-14779; AD 2006-20-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-802 and AT-
802A Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor) Models AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes. 
This AD requires you to repetitively inspect the attach angles on the 
firewall mounted hopper rinse tank shelf for damage and/or cracks and 
replace damaged and/or cracked attach angles with steel attach angles. 
Replacing the attach angles with steel attach angles terminates the 
repetitive inspection requirement. Reports of an uncommanded change in 
the engine power setting caused by separation of the hopper rinse tank 
shelf from the firewall prompted this AD. We are issuing this AD to 
detect and correct damage and/or cracks in the attach angles on the 
firewall mounted hopper rinse tank shelf, which could result in failure 
of the attach angles. This failure could lead to shelf movement under 
maneuver load and shifting of the engine power cables, which could 
result in an uncommanded engine power setting change.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on November 3, 2006.
    As of November 3, 2006, the Director of the Federal Register 
approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed 
in the regulation.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact Air 
Tractor, Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374; telephone: (940) 564-
5616; fax: (940) 564-5612.
    To view the AD docket, go to the Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 
Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-001 or on the internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-2006-24710; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-CE-29-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, 
ASW-150 (c/o MIDO-43), 10100 Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio, 
Texas 78216; telephone: (210) 308-3365; fax: (210) 308-3370.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On June 13, 2006, we issued a proposal to amend part 39 of the 
Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that 
would apply to certain Air Tractor Models AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes. 
This proposal was published in the Federal Register as a notice of 
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on June 20, 2006 (71 FR 35398). The NPRM 
proposed to require you to repetitively inspect the attach angles on 
the firewall mounted hopper rinse tank shelf for damage and/or cracks 
and replace damaged and/or cracked attach angles. Replacing the attach 
angles with steel attach angles, part number 60568-3, would terminate 
the proposed repetitive inspection requirement.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received one comment from Carroll Communications. The 
comment is in reference to wind turbine radar interference.
    We determined the comment is not relevant to this AD. We are not 
changing the final rule AD action based on the comment.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that 
air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed 
except for minor editorial corrections. We have determined that these 
minor corrections:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 219 airplanes in the U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to do the inspection:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Total cost per
             Labor cost                    Parts cost             airplane        Total cost on U.S.  operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $80 an hour = $80....  Not applicable........                $80  $80 x 219 = $17,520.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements 
that will be required based on the results of the inspection. We have 
no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need this 
replacement:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Labor cost                    Parts cost                Total cost for each airplane
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 work-hours x $80 an hour = $240.........            $105  $240 + $105 = $345.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    We are 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 AD.

[[Page 57406]]

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that 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. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this AD (and 
other information as included in the Regulatory Evaluation) and placed 
it in the AD Docket.
    You may get a copy of this summary by sending a request to us at 
the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2006-
24710; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-29-AD'' in your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (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. FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2006-20-10 Air Tractor, Inc.: Amendment 39-14779; Docket No. FAA-
2006-24710; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-29-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective on November 3, 2006.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Models AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes, all 
serial numbers beginning with 802/802A-0001 through 802/802A-0219, 
that are certificated in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from reports of an uncommanded change in 
engine power setting caused by separation of a hopper rinse tank 
shelf from the firewall. We are issuing this AD to detect and 
correct damage and/or cracks in the attach angles on the firewall 
mounted hopper rinse tank shelf, which could result in failure of 
the attach angles. This failure could lead to shelf movement under 
maneuver load and shifting of the engine power cables, which could 
result in an uncommanded engine power setting change.

Compliance

    (e) To address this problem, you must do the following, unless 
already done:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Actions                           Compliance                           Procedures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Visually inspect the three attach  Initially inspect within the   Follow Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter
 angles on the firewall mounted         next 100 hours time-in-        <greek-i>248, dated August 31, 2005.
 hopper rinse tank shelf for damage     service (TIS) after November
 and/or cracks.                         3, 2006 (the effective date
                                        of this AD). If no damage
                                        and/or cracks are found,
                                        repetitively inspect
                                        thereafter at intervals not
                                        to exceed 100 hours TIS.
                                        Replacing all three attach
                                        angles with steel attach
                                        angles, part number (P/N)
                                        60568-3 (or FAA-approved
                                        equivalent P/N), terminates
                                        the repetitive inspection
                                        requirement of this AD.
(2) If you find any damage and/or      Before further flight after    Follow Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter
 cracks on any of the three attach      the inspection in which        <greek-i>248, dated August 31, 2005.
 angles during any inspection           damage and/or cracks are
 required in paragraph (e)(1) of this   found. Replacing all three
 AD, replace all three attach angles    attach angles with steel
 with steel attach angles, P/N 60568-   attach angles, P/N 60568-3
 3 (or FAA-approved equivalent P/N).    (or FAA-approved equivalent
                                        P/N), terminates the
                                        repetitive inspection
                                        requirement of paragraph
                                        (e)(1) of this AD.
(3) You may replace the aluminum       As of November 3, 2006 (the    Follow Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter
 attach angles on the firewall          effective date of this AD).    <greek-i>248, dated August 31, 2005.
 mounted hopper rinse tank shelf with
 steel attach angles, P/N 60568-3 (or
 FAA-approved equivalent P/N), at any
 time to terminate the repetitive
 inspections required in paragraph
 (e)(1) of this AD.
(4) Do not install aluminum attach     As of November 3, 2006 (the    Not applicable.
 angles on the hopper rinse tank        effective date of this AD).
 shelf attach angles.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (f) 14 CFR 21.303 allows for replacement parts through parts 
manufacturer approval (PMA). The phrase ``or FAA-approved equivalent 
P/N'' in this AD is intended to allow for the installation of parts 
approved through identicality to the design of the replacement 
parts. Equivalent replacement parts to correct the unsafe condition 
under PMA (other than identicality) may also be installed provided 
they meet current airworthiness standards, which include those 
actions cited in this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g) The Manager, Fort Worth Airplane Certification Office, FAA, 
ATTN: Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, ASW-150 (c/o MIDO-43), 
10100 Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio, Texas 78216; telephone: 
(210) 308-3365; fax: (210) 308-3370, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (h) You must do the actions required by this AD following the 
instructions in Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter <greek-i>248, 
dated August 31, 2005. The Director of the Federal Register approved 
the incorporation by reference of this service bulletin in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. To get a copy of 
this service information, contact Air Tractor Inc., P.O. Box 485, 
Olney, Texas 76374; telephone: (940) 564-5616; fax: (940) 564-5612. 
To review copies of this service information, go to the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of this material at NARA, go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html or call (202) 741-6030. To 
view the AD docket, go to the Docket

[[Page 57407]]

Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-0001 
or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is FAA-
2006-24710; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-29-AD.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 18, 2006.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E6-15819 Filed 9-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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