[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 210 (Wednesday, October 30, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64894-64896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25703]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 210 / Wednesday, October 30, 2013 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 64894]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0924; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-032-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; B-N Group Ltd. Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for B-N
Group Ltd. Models 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, BN2A MK. III, BN2A MK. III-2, and BN2A MK. III-3
airplanes. This proposed AD results from 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 damage of
the cable sliding end assembly and installation of the incorrect end
fitting on engine control cable assemblies. We are issuing this
proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these
products.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 16,
2013.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Britten-Norman Aircraft Limited, Commodore House, Mountbatten Business
Centre, Millbrook Road East, Southampton SO15 1HY, United Kingdom;
telephone: +44 20 3371 4000; fax: +44 20 3371 4001; email:
[email protected]; Internet: http://www.britten-norman.com/customer-support/. You may review this referenced service information at the
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri
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 on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Taylor Martin, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4138; fax: (816) 329-4090; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2013-0924;
Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-032-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
AD No.: 2013-0215, dated September 16, 2013 (referred to after this as
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified
products. The MCAI states:
Britten-Norman Aircraft Limited has been made aware of two
occurrences where a failure of engine control cable assemblies has
caused engine control difficulties. In both reported cases, the
cable sliding end assemblies were in poor condition and in both
cases, an incorrect end-fitting was installed which may have
contributed to the failures.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in
reduced engine control, possibly resulting in reduced control of the
aeroplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition, Britten-Norman
Aircraft have issued Service Bulletin (SB) 334 to provide inspection
instructions.
For the reason described above, this AD requires a one-time
inspection and functional test of the engine control cables and,
depending on findings, replacement of the cables.
You may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-
2013-0924.
Relevant Service Information
Britten-Norman Aircraft Limited has issued Service Bulletin No. SB
334, Issue 1, dated August 30, 2013. The actions described in this
service information are intended to correct the unsafe condition
identified in the MCAI.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the
[[Page 64895]]
MCAI and service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD
because we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe
condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of
the same type design.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 101 products of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour per
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on
U.S. operators to be $8,585, or $85 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would
take about 10 work-hours and require parts costing $4,800 (4 per
airplane), for a cost of $5,650 per product. We have no way of
determining the number of products that may need these actions.
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 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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(4) 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 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
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 AD:
B-N Group Ltd.: Docket No. FAA-2013-0924; Directorate Identifier
2013-CE-032-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by December 16, 2013.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to B-N Group Ltd. Models 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, BN2A MK. III, BN2A
MK. III-2, and BN2A MK. III-3 airplanes, all serial numbers,
certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 76: Engine
Controls.
(e) Reason
This 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 damage of the
cable sliding end assembly and installation of the incorrect end
fitting on engine control cable assemblies. We are issuing this AD
to detect and correct damage of the cable sliding end assembly
(cracking, distortion, corrosion) and incorrect end fittings on the
engine control assemblies, which could lead to reduced engine
control with consequent loss of control.
(f) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the following actions:
(1) Within the next 6 months after the effective date of this
AD, do a one-time inspection of the engine control cable assemblies,
part number (P/N) 137835, P/N 172449-1, P/N 17250, and P/N 172451,
and surrounding areas for damage (cracking, distortion, corrosion)
and correct cable end-fitting and to assure the wire locking is
intact following section 6 ACTION of Britten-Norman Aircraft Limited
Service Bulletin No. SB 334, Issue 1, dated August 30, 2013.
(2) If no discrepancies are found during the inspection required
in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, inspect the control linkages for
proper adjustment and, before further flight, make any necessary
changes following section 6 ACTION of Britten-Norman Aircraft
Limited Service Bulletin No. SB 334, Issue 1, dated August 30, 2013.
(3) If any discrepancies are found during the inspection
required in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD and/or the control linkages
cannot be properly adjusted as specified in paragraph (f)(2) of this
AD, before further flight, replace the engine control cable assembly
with a serviceable unit following section 6 ACTION of Britten-Norman
Aircraft Limited Service Bulletin No. SB 334, Issue 1, dated August
30, 2013.
(4) After the effective date of this AD, do not install on any
airplane engine control cable assemblies, part number (P/N) 137835,
P/N 172449-1, P/N 17250, and P/N 172451, unless they are new or have
been inspected as required in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) of this
AD and found free of any discrepancies and have proper adjustment.
(g) Other FAA AD Provisions
The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
Standards Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this
AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send
information to ATTN: Taylor Martin, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4138; fax: (816) 329-4090; email:
[email protected]. Before using any approved AMOC on any
airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify your appropriate
principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight Standards District Office
(FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO.
(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement in this AD to obtain
corrective actions from a manufacturer or other source, use these
actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective actions are considered
FAA-approved if they are approved by the State of Design Authority
(or their delegated agent). You are required to assure the product
is airworthy before it is returned to service.
(h) Related Information
Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.:
2013-0215, dated September 16, 2013, for related information. You
may examine the MCAI on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2013-
[[Page 64896]]
0924. For service information related to this AD, contact Britten-
Norman Aircraft Limited, Commodore House, Mountbatten Business
Centre, Millbrook Road East, Southampton SO15 1HY, United Kingdom;
telephone: +44 20 3371 4000; fax: +44 20 3371 4001; email:
[email protected]; Internet: http://www.britten-norman.com/customer-support/. You may review this referenced service
information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of
this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 23, 2013.
Earl Lawrence,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-25703 Filed 10-29-13; 8:45 am]
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