Airworthiness Directives; B-N Group Ltd. BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2B, BN-2T, and BN-2T-4R Series (All Individual Models Included in Type A17EU Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) A17E, Revision 16, Dated December 9, 2002) Airplanes, 54438-54441 [06-7706]
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<![CDATA[
54438
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
Vol. 71, No. 179
Friday, September 15, 2006
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.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
9 CFR Part 3
[Docket No. APHIS–2006–0044]
Animal Welfare; Elephants
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of petition and request
for comments; extension of comment
period.
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with PROPOSALS
AGENCY:
14:48 Sep 14, 2006
Jkt 208001
Dr.
Barbara Kohn, Senior Staff Veterinarian,
Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River Road
Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737–1234;
(301) 734–7833.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SUMMARY: We are extending the
comment period for our notice of
petition and request for comments
concerning the handling, care,
treatment, and transport of elephants
covered by the Animal Welfare Act.
This action will allow interested
persons additional time to prepare and
submit comments.
DATES: We will consider all comments
that we receive on or before November
9, 2006.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov, select
‘‘Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service’’ from the agency drop-down
menu, then click ‘‘Submit.’’ In the
Docket ID column, select APHIS–2006–
0044 to submit or view public
comments and to view supporting and
related materials available
electronically. Information on using
Regulations.gov, including instructions
for accessing documents, submitting
comments, and viewing the docket after
the close of the comment period, is
available through the site’s ‘‘User Tips’’
link.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Please send four copies of your
comment (an original and three copies)
to Docket No. APHIS–2006–0044,
Regulatory Analysis and Development,
PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700
River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD
20737–1238. Please state that your
VerDate Aug<31>2005
comment refers to Docket No. APHIS–
2006–0044.
Reading Room: You may read any
comments that we receive on Docket
No. APHIS–2006–0044 in our reading
room. The reading room is located in
room 1141 of the USDA South Building,
14th Street and Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading
room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except
holidays. To be sure someone is there to
help you, please call (202) 690–2817
before coming.
Other Information: Additional
information about APHIS and its
programs is available on the Internet at
https://www.aphis.usda.gov.
On August
9, 2006, we published in the Federal
Register (71 FR 45438–45439, Docket
No. APHIS–2006–0044) a notice of
petition and request for comments. That
document notified the public that the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service had received a petition from In
Defense of Animals requesting that we
issue an interpretive rule or policy to
clarify the space and living conditions
required for captive elephants, and that
we enforce the Animal Welfare Act and
its implementing regulations by
requiring that exhibitors fully comply
with the regulations. We solicited
comments from the public regarding the
petition, and whether we should
continue to regulate the handling, care,
treatment, and transport of elephants
covered by the Animal Welfare Act
under the general standards in the
regulations or promulgate specific
standards for elephants. We also
requested comments regarding what
should be included in such standards.
Comments on the notice were
required to be received on or before
October 10, 2006. We are extending the
comment period on Docket No. APHIS–
2006–0044 for an additional 30 days.
This action will allow interested
persons additional time to prepare and
submit comments.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2131–2159; 7 CFR 2.22,
2.80, and 371.7.
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of
September 2006.
Nick Gutierrez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E6–15328 Filed 9–14–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2006–25688; Directorate
Identifier 2006–CE–44–AD]
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; B–N Group
Ltd. BN–2, BN–2A, BN–2B, BN–2T, and
BN–2T–4R Series (All Individual
Models Included in Type A17EU
Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) A17E,
Revision 16, Dated December 9, 2002)
Airplanes
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new
airworthiness directive (AD) for all B–N
Group Ltd. BN–2, BN–2A, BN–2B, BN–
2T, and BN–2T–4R series (all individual
models included in Type Certificate
Data Sheet (TCDS) A17EU, Revision 16,
dated December 9, 2002) airplanes. This
proposed AD would require you to
inspect the horizontal stabilizer
attachment bolts and anchor nuts for
damage and wear and replace damaged
and/or worn parts with new, modified
parts. If no damaged or worn parts are
found during the proposed inspection,
this proposed AD would require you to
replace the horizontal stabilizer
attachment bolts and anchor nuts at a
specified time with new, modified parts.
This proposed AD results from
mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI) issued by the
airworthiness authority for the United
Kingdom. We are proposing this AD to
detect and correct damaged and/or worn
horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts
and anchor nuts, which would result in
failure of the horizontal stabilizer. This
failure could result in loss of control.
DATES: We must receive comments on
this proposed AD by October 16, 2006.
E:\FR\FM\15SEP1.SGM
15SEP1
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 179 / Friday, September 15, 2006 / Proposed Rules
Use of the following
addresses to comment on this proposed
AD:
• DOT Docket Web site: Go to
https://dms.dot.gov and follow the
instructions for sending your comments
electronically.
• Government-wide rulemaking Web
site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov.
and follow the instructions for sending
your comments electronically.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility;
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building,
Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590–
0001.
• Fax: (202) 493–2251.
• 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.
For service information identified in
this proposed AD, contact B–N Group
Ltd., Bembridge Airport, Isle of Wight,
PO35 5PR, United Kingdom; telephone:
+44 (0) 1983 872511; fax: +44 (0) 1983
873246.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Albert J. Mercado, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901
Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri, 64106; telephone: (816) 329–
4119; facsimile: (816) 329–4090.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ADDRESSES:
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with PROPOSALS
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written
relevant data, views, or arguments
regarding this proposed AD. Send your
comments to an address listed under the
ADDRESSES section. Include the docket
number, ‘‘FAA–2006–25688; Directorate
Identifier 2006–CE–44–AD’’ at the
beginning of your comments. We
specifically invite comments on the
overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of
the proposed AD. We will consider all
comments received by the closing dat
and may amend the proposed AD in
light of those comments.
We will post all comments we
receive, without change, to https://
dms.dot.gov, including any personal
information you provide. We will also
post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact we receive
concerning this proposed AD.
Discussion
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA),
which is the airworthiness authority for
the United Kingdom, notified the FAA
that an unsafe condition may exist on
all B–N Group Ltd. BN–2, BN–2A, BN–
2B, BN–2T, and BN–2T–4R series (all
individual models included in Type
Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS ) A17EU,
Revision 16, dated December 9, 2002)
airplanes. The CAA has received reports
of loose horizontal stabilizer attachment
bolts.
This condition, if not corrected, could
cause the horizontal stabilizer to fail.
This failure could result in loss of
control.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed B–N BrittenNorman Aircraft Limited Service
Bulletin number SB 302, Issue 2, dated
April 12, 2005.
The service information describes
procedures for:
• Inspecting the horizontal stabilizer
attachment bolts and anchor nuts or
damage and wear; and
• Replacing the horizontal stabilizer
attachment bolts and anchor nuts with
new, modified parts.
Foreign Airworthiness Authority
Information
The CAA classified this service
bulletin as mandatory and issued British
AD No. G–2004–0014 R1, Effective Date:
July 29, 2005, to ensure the continued
airworthiness of these airplanes in the
United Kingdom.
The B–N Group Ltd. BN–2, BN–2A,
BN–2B, BN–2T, and BN–2T–4R series
airplanes are manufactured in the
United Kingdom and are typecertificated 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.
FAA’s Determination and Requirements
of the Proposed AD
We are proposing this AD because we
have examined the CAA’s findings,
evaluated all information and
determined the unsafe condition
described previously is likely to exist or
develop on other products of the same
type design that are certificated for
operation in the United States.
This proposed AD would require you
to inspect the horizontal stabilizer
attachment bolts and anchor nuts for
damage and wear and replace damaged
and/or worn parts with new, modified
parts. If no damaged or worn parts are
found during the proposed inspection,
this proposed AD would require you to
replace the horizontal stabilizer
attachment bolts and anchor nuts at a
specified time with new, modified parts.
Differences Between the Foreign
Airworthiness Authority AD, the
Service Bulletin, and the Proposed AD
The MCAI British AD No. G–2004–
0014 R1, Effective Date: July 29, 2005,
and B–N Britten-Norman Aircraft
Limited Service Bulletin number SB
302, Issue 2, dated April 12, 2005,
allows 1,000-hour repetitive inspections
of the horizontal stabilizer attachment
bolts and anchor nuts with the option of
installing the new, modified horizontal
stabilizer attachment bolts as a
terminating action for the repetitive
inspections. This AD does not allow
continued repetitive inspections.
The actions required by this AD are
consistent with the FAA’s aging
commuter aircraft policy, which briefly
states that, when a modification exists
that could eliminate or reduce then
umber of required critical inspections,
the modification should be
incorporated. This policy is based on
the FAA’s determination that reliance
on critical repetitive inspections on
airplanes utilized in commuter service
carries an unnecessary safety risk when
a design change exists that could
eliminate or, in certain instances,
reduce the number of those critical
inspections. In determining what
inspections are critical, the FAA
considers (1) the safety consequences of
the airplane if the known problem is not
detected by the inspection; (2) the
reliability of the inspection such as the
probability of not detecting the known
problem; (3) whether the inspection area
is difficult to access; and (4) the
possibility of damage to an adjacent
structure as a result of the problem.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD
would affect 91 airplanes in the U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to do
the proposed inspection:
Total cost per
airplane
Labor cost
Parts cost
1 work-hour × $80 per hour = $80 .................
Not applicable .................................................
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14:48 Sep 14, 2006
Jkt 208001
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54439
E:\FR\FM\15SEP1.SGM
$80
15SEP1
Total cost on
U.S. operators
$80 × 91 = $7,280.
54440
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 179 / Friday, September 15, 2006 / Proposed Rules
We estimate the following costs to do
the proposed replacements:
Labor cost
Total cost per
airplane
Parts cost
3 work-hours × $80 per hour = $240 ................................................
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 II, 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 have 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 that the proposed regulation:
1. Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
action’’ under Executive Order 12866;
$1,600
Total cost on
U.S. operators
$240 + $1,600 = $1,840 ....
$1,840 × 91 = $167,440.
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 regulatory evaluation
of the estimated costs to comply with
this proposed AD and placed it in the
AD docket.
PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS
DIRECTIVES
Examining the AD Docket
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments on this
airworthiness directive (AD) action by
October 16, 2006.
You may examine the AD docket that
contains the proposed AD, the
regulatory evaluation, any comments
received, and other information on the
Internet at https://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.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority
delegated to me by the Administrator,
the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part
39 as follows:
1. The authority citation for part 39
continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
§ 39.13
[Amended]
2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding
the following new AD:
B–N Group Ltd: Docket No. FAA–2006–
25688; Directorate Identifier 2006–CE–
44–AD.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all BN–2, BN–2A,
BN–2B, BN–2T, and BN–2T–4R series (all
individual models included in Type
Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) A17EU,
Revision 16, dated December 9, 2002)
airplanes; that are certificated in any
category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
issued by the airworthiness authority for the
United Kingdom. We are issuing this AD to
detect and correct damaged and/or worn
horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts and
anchor nuts, which could result in failure of
the horizontal stabilizer. This failure could
result in loss of control.
Compliance
(e) To address this problem, you must do
the following, unless already done:
Actions
Compliance
Procedures
(1) Inspect the horizontal stablilzer attachment
bolts and anchor nuts for damage and wear.
Within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS)
or 2 months, whichever occurs first, after
the effective date of this AD.
Before further flight after the inspection required in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD.
Follow B–N Britten-Norman Aircraft Limited
Service Bulletin number SB 302, Issue 2,
dated April 12, 2005.
As specified in B–N Britten-Norman Aircraft
Limited Service Bulletin number SB 302,
Issue 2, dated April 12, 2005. Do any necessary replacements following B–N Group
Ltd. Modification Leaflet for Mod NB–M–
1787, Issue 1, dated August 1, 2005.
Follow B–N Group Ltd. Modification Leaflet for
Mod NB–M–1787, Issue 1, dated August 1,
2005.
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with PROPOSALS
(2) If you find any damaged or worn horizontal
stabilizer attachment bolts and/or anchor nuts
during the inspection required in paragraph
(e)(1) of this AD, replace with new, modified
horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts.
(3) If you do not find damaged or worn horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts and/or anchor nuts during the inspection required in
paragraph (e)(1) of this AD, replace the horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts and anchor
nuts with new, modified horizontal stabilizer
attachment bolts.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:21 Sep 14, 2006
Jkt 208001
Upon accumulating 1,000 hours TIS after the
inspection required in paragraph (e)(1) of
this AD.
PO 00000
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E:\FR\FM\15SEP1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 179 / Friday, September 15, 2006 / Proposed Rules
54441
Actions
Compliance
Procedures
(4) You may replace the horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts and anchor nuts with the new,
modified horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts
at any time, but no later than the applicable
times specified in paragraphs (e)(2) and
(e)(3) of this AD. After installing the new,
modified horizontal stabilizer attachment
bolts, no further action is required.
As of the effective date of this AD ...................
Follow B–N Group Ltd. Modification Leaflet for
Mod NB–M–1787, Issue 1, dated August 1,
2005.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(AMOCs)
(f) The Manager, Standards Staff, FAA,
ATTN: Albert J. Mercado, Aerospace
Engineer, Small Airplane Directorate, 901
Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone: (816) 329–4119; facsimile:
(816) 329–4090, has the authority to approve
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the
procedures found in CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(g) MCAI British AD No. G–2004–0014 R1,
Effective Date: July 29, 2005, also addresses
the subject of this AD. To get copies of the
service information referenced in this AD,
contact B–N Group Ltd., Bembridge Airport,
Isle of Wight, PO35 5PR, United Kingdom;
telephone: +44 (0) 1983 872511; fax: +44 (0)
1983 873246. 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, or on the Internet at
https://dms.dot.gov. The docket number is
Docket No. FAA–2006–25688; Directorate
Identifier 2006–CE–44–AD.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on
September 11, 2006.
John R. Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 06–7706 Filed 9–14–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–M
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2006–25582; Directorate
Identifier 2006–CE–42–AD]
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus
Aircraft Ltd. Model PC–7 Airplanes
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with PROPOSALS
AGENCY:
We propose to adopt a new
airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC–
7 airplanes. This proposed AD would
require you to do repetitive eddySUMMARY:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:48 Sep 14, 2006
Jkt 208001
current, non-destructive inspections of
the nose skin and adjacent structure
above the left and right main landing
gear bay and repetitive visual
inspections of the forward support
structure of the floor panel for crack
damage. If you find any crack damage,
this proposed AD would require you to
contact Pilatus to obtain a repair
solution and incorporate the repair. This
proposed AD results from mandatory
continuing airworthiness information
(MCAI) issued by the airworthiness
authority for Switzerland. We are
proposing this AD to detect and correct
cracks in the nose skin and adjacent
structure above the left and right main
landing gear bay and in the forward
support structure of the floor panel.
Crack propagation in certain areas could
lead to failure of the main wing torsion
box, which could result in loss of
control.
We must receive comments on
this proposed AD by October 16, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following
addresses to comment on this proposed
AD:
• DOT Docket Web site: Go to
https://dms.dot.gov and follow the
instructions for sending your comments
electronically.
• Government-wide rulemaking Web
site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending
your comments electronically.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility;
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building,
Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590–
0001.
• Fax: (202) 493–2251.
• 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.
For service information identified in
this proposed AD, contact Pilatus
Aircraft Ltd., Customer Liaison
Manager, CH–6371 Stans, Switzerland;
telephone: +41 41 619 63 19; fax: +41 41
619 6224.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901
DATES:
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329–
4059; facsimile: (816) 329–4090.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written
relevant data, views, or arguments
regarding this proposed AD. Send your
comments to an address listed under the
ADDRESSES section. Include the docket
number, ‘‘FAA–2006–25582; Directorate
Identifier 2006–CE–42–AD’’ at the
beginning of your comments. We
specifically invite comments on the
overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of
the proposed AD. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date
and may amend the proposed AD in
light of those comments.
We will post all comments we
receive, without change, to https://
dms.dot.gov, including any personal
information you provide. We will also
post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact we receive
concerning this proposed AD.
Discussion
The Federal Office for Civil Aviation
(FOCA), which is the airworthiness
authority for Switzerland, notified FAA
that an unsafe condition may exist on
certain Pilatus PC–7 airplanes. The
FOCA reports crack damage in some
radii at the rear edge of the nose skin,
part number (P/N) 111.34.07.434. The
radii are adjacent to the left and right
corners at the forward edge of the floor
panel, P/N 111.34.07.530. Crack damage
can also occur in the forward support
structure of the floor panel adjacent to
the skin panel.
This condition, if not detected and
corrected, could result in crack
propagation in certain areas, which may
lead to failure of the main wing torsion
box. This failure could result in loss of
control.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Pilatus PC–7
Service Bulletin No. 57–009, dated
January 29, 2004. The service
information describes procedures for
visually inspecting the forward support
E:\FR\FM\15SEP1.SGM
15SEP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 179 (Friday, September 15, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54438-54441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7706]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-25688; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-44-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; B-N Group Ltd. BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2B, BN-
2T, and BN-2T-4R Series (All Individual Models Included in Type A17EU
Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) A17E, Revision 16, Dated December 9,
2002) Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
B-N Group Ltd. BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2B, BN-2T, and BN-2T-4R series (all
individual models included in Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) A17EU,
Revision 16, dated December 9, 2002) airplanes. This proposed AD would
require you to inspect the horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts and
anchor nuts for damage and wear and replace damaged and/or worn parts
with new, modified parts. If no damaged or worn parts are found during
the proposed inspection, this proposed AD would require you to replace
the horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts and anchor nuts at a
specified time with new, modified parts. This proposed AD results from
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the
airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom. We are proposing this
AD to detect and correct damaged and/or worn horizontal stabilizer
attachment bolts and anchor nuts, which would result in failure of the
horizontal stabilizer. This failure could result in loss of control.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 16,
2006.
[[Page 54439]]
ADDRESSES: Use of the following addresses to comment on this proposed
AD:
DOT Docket Web site: Go to https://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to https://
www.regulations.gov. and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
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.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact B-N
Group Ltd., Bembridge Airport, Isle of Wight, PO35 5PR, United Kingdom;
telephone: +44 (0) 1983 872511; fax: +44 (0) 1983 873246.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Albert J. Mercado, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri, 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4119; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number, ``FAA-
2006-25688; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-44-AD'' at the beginning of
your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed
AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing dat and may
amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to https://
dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive concerning this proposed AD.
Discussion
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the airworthiness
authority for the United Kingdom, notified the FAA that an unsafe
condition may exist on all B-N Group Ltd. BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2B, BN-2T,
and BN-2T-4R series (all individual models included in Type Certificate
Data Sheet (TCDS ) A17EU, Revision 16, dated December 9, 2002)
airplanes. The CAA has received reports of loose horizontal stabilizer
attachment bolts.
This condition, if not corrected, could cause the horizontal
stabilizer to fail. This failure could result in loss of control.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed B-N Britten-Norman Aircraft Limited Service
Bulletin number SB 302, Issue 2, dated April 12, 2005.
The service information describes procedures for:
Inspecting the horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts and
anchor nuts or damage and wear; and
Replacing the horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts and
anchor nuts with new, modified parts.
Foreign Airworthiness Authority Information
The CAA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued
British AD No. G-2004-0014 R1, Effective Date: July 29, 2005, to ensure
the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in the United Kingdom.
The B-N Group Ltd. BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2B, BN-2T, and BN-2T-4R series
airplanes are manufactured in the United Kingdom and 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.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We are proposing this AD because we have examined the CAA's
findings, evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition
described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of
the same type design that are certificated for operation in the United
States.
This proposed AD would require you to inspect the horizontal
stabilizer attachment bolts and anchor nuts for damage and wear and
replace damaged and/or worn parts with new, modified parts. If no
damaged or worn parts are found during the proposed inspection, this
proposed AD would require you to replace the horizontal stabilizer
attachment bolts and anchor nuts at a specified time with new, modified
parts.
Differences Between the Foreign Airworthiness Authority AD, the
Service Bulletin, and the Proposed AD
The MCAI British AD No. G-2004-0014 R1, Effective Date: July 29,
2005, and B-N Britten-Norman Aircraft Limited Service Bulletin number
SB 302, Issue 2, dated April 12, 2005, allows 1,000-hour repetitive
inspections of the horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts and anchor
nuts with the option of installing the new, modified horizontal
stabilizer attachment bolts as a terminating action for the repetitive
inspections. This AD does not allow continued repetitive inspections.
The actions required by this AD are consistent with the FAA's aging
commuter aircraft policy, which briefly states that, when a
modification exists that could eliminate or reduce then umber of
required critical inspections, the modification should be incorporated.
This policy is based on the FAA's determination that reliance on
critical repetitive inspections on airplanes utilized in commuter
service carries an unnecessary safety risk when a design change exists
that could eliminate or, in certain instances, reduce the number of
those critical inspections. In determining what inspections are
critical, the FAA considers (1) the safety consequences of the airplane
if the known problem is not detected by the inspection; (2) the
reliability of the inspection such as the probability of not detecting
the known problem; (3) whether the inspection area is difficult to
access; and (4) the possibility of damage to an adjacent structure as a
result of the problem.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 91 airplanes in the
U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to do the proposed inspection:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total cost per
Labor cost Parts cost airplane Total cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hour x $80 per hour = $80. Not applicable..... $80 $80 x 91 = $7,280.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 54440]]
We estimate the following costs to do the proposed replacements:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Labor cost Parts cost Total cost per airplane Total cost on U.S. operators
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 work-hours x $80 per hour = $240....... $1,600 $240 + $1,600 = $1,840........................ $1,840 x 91 = $167,440.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 II, 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 have 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 that the 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); 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 proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket that contains the proposed AD, the
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information on
the Internet at https://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.
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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
B-N Group Ltd: Docket No. FAA-2006-25688; Directorate Identifier
2006-CE-44-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) action by October 16, 2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2B, BN-2T, and BN-2T-
4R series (all individual models included in Type Certificate Data
Sheet (TCDS) A17EU, Revision 16, dated December 9, 2002) airplanes;
that are certificated in any category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for the
United Kingdom. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct damaged
and/or worn horizontal stabilizer attachment bolts and anchor nuts,
which could result in failure of the horizontal stabilizer. This
failure could result in loss of control.
Compliance
(e) To address this problem, you must do the following, unless
already done:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actions Compliance Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Inspect the horizontal Within the next 50 Follow B-N Britten-
stablilzer attachment bolts hours time-in- Norman Aircraft
and anchor nuts for damage service (TIS) or 2 Limited Service
and wear. months, whichever Bulletin number SB
occurs first, after 302, Issue 2, dated
the effective date April 12, 2005.
of this AD.
(2) If you find any damaged Before further As specified in B-N
or worn horizontal flight after the Britten-Norman
stabilizer attachment bolts inspection required Aircraft Limited
and/or anchor nuts during in paragraph (e)(1) Service Bulletin
the inspection required in of this AD. number SB 302,
paragraph (e)(1) of this Issue 2, dated
AD, replace with new, April 12, 2005. Do
modified horizontal any necessary
stabilizer attachment bolts. replacements
following B-N Group
Ltd. Modification
Leaflet for Mod NB-
M-1787, Issue 1,
dated August 1,
2005.
(3) If you do not find Upon accumulating Follow B-N Group
damaged or worn horizontal 1,000 hours TIS Ltd. Modification
stabilizer attachment bolts after the Leaflet for Mod NB-
and/or anchor nuts during inspection required M-1787, Issue 1,
the inspection required in in paragraph (e)(1) dated August 1,
paragraph (e)(1) of this of this AD. 2005.
AD, replace the horizontal
stabilizer attachment bolts
and anchor nuts with new,
modified horizontal
stabilizer attachment bolts.
[[Page 54441]]
(4) You may replace the As of the effective Follow B-N Group
horizontal stabilizer date of this AD. Ltd. Modification
attachment bolts and anchor Leaflet for Mod NB-
nuts with the new, modified M-1787, Issue 1,
horizontal stabilizer dated August 1,
attachment bolts at any 2005.
time, but no later than the
applicable times specified
in paragraphs (e)(2) and
(e)(3) of this AD. After
installing the new,
modified horizontal
stabilizer attachment
bolts, no further action is
required.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(f) The Manager, Standards Staff, FAA, ATTN: Albert J. Mercado,
Aerospace Engineer, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room
301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4119;
facsimile: (816) 329-4090, has the authority to approve AMOCs for
this AD, if requested using the procedures found in CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(g) MCAI British AD No. G-2004-0014 R1, Effective Date: July 29,
2005, also addresses the subject of this AD. To get copies of the
service information referenced in this AD, contact B-N Group Ltd.,
Bembridge Airport, Isle of Wight, PO35 5PR, United Kingdom;
telephone: +44 (0) 1983 872511; fax: +44 (0) 1983 873246. 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, or on the Internet at https://dms.dot.gov.
The docket number is Docket No. FAA-2006-25688; Directorate
Identifier 2006-CE-44-AD.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 11, 2006.
John R. Colomy,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 06-7706 Filed 9-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M
