Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace Limited Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes. This proposed 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 installation of the wing leading edge tank fuel pickup assembly in a pre-stressed condition, which could cause cracks in the wing spar web or the fuel pickup assembly pipe. This proposed AD would require inspecting the angle of the support bracket on the wing leading edge tank fuel pickup assembly and taking any necessary corrective actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES:

The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 7, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: (202) 493-2251.
• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. For service information identified in this AD, contact the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, Level 15, Asteron Centre, 55 Featherston Street, Wellington 6011; phone: +64 4 560 9400; fax: +64 4 569 202; email: info@caa.govt.nz.

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.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0576; 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 NPRM, the MCAI, any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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: mike.kiesov@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include “Docket No. FAA-2021-0576; Project Identifier 2019-CE-008-AD” at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposal because of those comments.

Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov,, including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as “PROPIN.” The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Mike Kiesov, Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the aviation authority for New Zealand, has issued AD No. DCA/750XL/36, effective date February 7, 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/36 is prompted by a review of the installation of the wing leading edge fuel pickup assemblies. It was found that the fuel pickup assemblies could have been installed in a pre-stressed condition, which could result in cracks in the wing spar web, or cracks in the fuel pickup pipe. The [CAA] AD is issued to introduce the instructions in Pacific Aerospace Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) PACSB/XL/109 issue 1, dated 16 January 2019.

The MCAI requires inspecting the installation of the fuel pickup assembly and the wing spar web on both wings and, if any defects are found, taking all necessary corrective actions. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0576.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Pacific Aerospace Mandatory Service Bulletin PACSB/XL/109, Issue 1, dated January 16, 2019. The service information contains procedures for inspecting the wing leading edge tank fuel pickup assembly to determine if the assembly is under stress and for additional inspections and corrective actions 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 the ADDRESSES section.

FAA's Determination

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 is issuing this NPRM after determining the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service information already described.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 23 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it would take about 1 work-hour per airplane to comply with the inspection that would be required by this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.

Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the inspection cost of this proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $1,955, or $85 per airplane.

In addition, the FAA estimates that any necessary follow-on actions would take 4 work-hours and require parts costing $500, for a cost of $840 per airplane. The FAA has no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need these actions.

The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this proposed 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

The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed regulation:

(1) Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866,

(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(3) Would 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 Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive:

Pacific Aerospace Limited: Docket No. FAA-2021-0576; Project Identifier 2019-CE-008-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by September 7, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes, serial numbers 177, 186 through 213, 220, 8001, and 8002, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 3600, Pneumatic System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and address an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as installation of the wing leading edge tank fuel pickup assembly in a pre-stressed condition, which could cause cracks in the wing spar web or the fuel pickup assembly pipe. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent cracks in the wing spar web and the fuel pickup pipe. This condition could result in reduced structural integrity of the wing spar or cause a fuel leak, which could result in an engine fire.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

Within 165 hours time-in-service after the effective date of this AD, inspect the angle of the support bracket on the wing leading edge tank fuel pickup assembly and, before further flight, take any necessary additional actions and corrective actions by following the Accomplishment Instructions in Pacific Aerospace Mandatory Service Bulletin PACSB/XL/109, Issue 1, dated January 16, 2019.

(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 Related Information or email: 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov.

(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: mike.kiesov@faa.gov.

(2) Refer to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of New Zealand AD No. DCA/750XL/36, dated February 7, 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-2021-0578.

(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, Level 15, Asteron Centre, 55 Featherston Street, Wellington 6011; phone: +64 4 560 9400; fax: +64 4 569 202; email: info@caa.govt.nz. You may review this referenced 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.