Airworthiness Directives; Alpha Aviation Design Limited (Type Certificate No. A48EU formerly held by APEX Aircraft and AVIONS PIERRE ROBIN), Model R2160 Airplanes

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 26, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 77262-77264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21923]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-26492; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-77-AD; 
Amendment 39-14861; AD 2006-26-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Alpha Aviation Design Limited (Type 
Certificate No. A48EU formerly held by APEX Aircraft and AVIONS PIERRE 
ROBIN), Model R2160 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Alpha Aviation Model R2160 airplanes. This AD requires you to 
inspect the fuel pressure indication system for leakage at the end of 
the adapter in the fuel pressure indication system. This AD results 
from the possibility of fuel leakage at the end of the adapter in the 
fuel pressure indication system. We are issuing this AD to detect, 
correct, and prevent fuel leaks in the fuel pressure indicating system. 
This failure could allow fuel to leak near the exhaust manifold and 
lead to a fire.

[[Page 77263]]


DATES: This AD becomes effective on January 30, 2007.
    We must receive any comments on this AD by January 25, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this AD.
    <bullet> DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    To get the service information identified in this AD, contact Alpha 
Aviation Ltd., Ingram Road, Hamilton Airport RD 2, Hamilton 2021, New 
Zealand; phone: 011 64 7 843 7070; fax: 011 64 7 843 8040.
    To view the comments to this AD, go to http://dms.dot.gov. The 
docket number is FAA-2006-26492; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-77-AD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, 
901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 
329-4146; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA), which is the 
airworthiness authority for New Zealand, recently notified FAA that an 
unsafe condition may exist on certain Alpha Aviation Model R2160 
airplanes. The CAA reports that there is the possibility of fuel 
leakage at the end of the adapter in the fuel pressure indication 
system.
    This condition, if not corrected, could allow fuel leaks near the 
exhaust manifold and result in a fire.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    These Alpha Aviation Model R2160 airplanes were manufactured in 
France, their state of design authority is New Zealand, and they are 
type-certificated for operation in the United States under the 
provisions of section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 
21.29) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement.
    Under this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the CAA has kept us 
informed of the situation described above. We are issuing this AD 
because we evaluated all the information and determined the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design. This AD requires periodic inspection 
of the adaptor for leaks and repair if a leak is found.

Cost Impact

    None of the Alpha Aviation Model R2160 airplanes affected by this 
action are on the U.S. Register. All airplanes included in the 
applicability of this rule currently are operated by non-U.S. operators 
under foreign registry; therefore, they are not directly affected by 
this AD action. However, the FAA considers this rule necessary to 
ensure that the unsafe condition is addressed in the event that any of 
these subject airplanes are imported and placed on the U.S. Register.
    Should an affected airplane be imported and placed on the U.S. 
Register, accomplishment of the required action would take 
approximately 1 work-hour at an average labor rate of $80 per work-
hour. There are no parts required for this AD. Based on these figures, 
the total cost impact of this AD would be $80 per airplane that would 
become registered in the United States.

Comments Invited

    Because there are no affected airplanes on the U.S. register, it 
has no adverse economic impact and imposes no additional burden on any 
person. Therefore, prior notice and public procedures hereon are 
unnecessary. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2006-
26492; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-77-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the AD. We will consider 
all comments received by the closing date and may amend the AD in light 
of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive concerning this AD.

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 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We 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 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 regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket that contains the AD, the regulatory 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information on the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; or in person at the Docket Management 
Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5227) is 
located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments 
will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator,

[[Page 77264]]

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 (AD):
2006-26-03 Alpha Aviation Design Limited (Type Certificate No. A48EU 
formerly held by APEX Aircraft and AVIONS PIERRE ROBIN): Amendment 
39-14861; Docket No. FAA-2006-26492; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-
77-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This AD becomes effective on January 30, 2007.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model R2160 airplanes, serial numbers 
142, 143, 144, 147, 148, and 151 through 155, that are certificated 
in any category.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD is the result of the possibility of fuel leakage at 
the end of the adapter in the fuel pressure indication system. We 
are issuing this AD to detect and correct fuel leaks in the fuel 
pressure indicating system. This failure could allow fuel to leak 
near the exhaust manifold and lead to a fire.

Compliance

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions                  Compliance          Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the fuel pressure     Before further      Perform a visual
 system indication adaptor (part   flight after        inspection.
 number 52.46.11.000 or FAA        January 30, 2007    Figure 1 of Robin
 approved equivalent part          (the effective      Aviation Service
 number) for indication of fuel    date of this AD)    Letter No 37 rev.
 leakage.                          and thereafter at   2 dated April 4,
                                   intervals not to    2000, shows a
                                   exceed 50 hours     view of the fuel
                                   time-in-service.    pressure
                                                       indicator system.
(2) If any leak is found, repair  Before further      Perform a repair
 the leak.                         flight after        program approved
                                   inspection          specifically for
                                   required by         this AD by the
                                   paragraph (e)(1)    FAA.
                                   of this AD.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (f) The Manager, Standards Staff, FAA, ATTN: Karl Schletzbaum, 
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 
Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4146; 
fax: (816) 329-4090, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, 
if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (g) This AD is related to the Civil Aviation Authority of New 
Zealand AD DCA/R2000/33, dated June 29, 2006, which references 
Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC) AD F-2001-391(a), 
dated October 3, 2001.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (h) None.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 15, 2006.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E6-21923 Filed 12-22-06; 8:45 am]
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