Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Inc. AT-200, AT-300, AT-400, AT-500, AT-600, AT-800 Series Airplanes, 11369-11371 [E8-4005]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 42 / Monday, March 3, 2008 / Proposed Rules
TABLE 1.—DRAWINGS INCLUDED IN FOKKER SERVICE BULLETIN SBF100–27–050—Continued
Fokker drawing
W41504
W41504
W41504
W46140
W46140
W46143
W46143
W46144
W46144
W46912
W46930
W46930
W46932
W59140
W59140
W59140
Sheet
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FAA AD Differences
Note: This AD differs from the MCAI and/
or service information as follows: No
differences.
Other FAA AD Provisions
rmajette on PROD1PC64 with PROPOSALS
(g) The following provisions also apply to
this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance
(AMOCs): The Manager, International
Branch, ANM–116, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 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: Tom Rodriguez,
Aerospace Engineer, International Branch,
ANM–116, FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton,
Washington 98057–3356; telephone (425)
227–1137; fax (425) 227–1149. 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 FAAapproved 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.
(3) Reporting Requirements: For any
reporting requirement in this AD, under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act,
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
has approved the information collection
requirements and has assigned OMB Control
Number 2120–0056.
Related Information
(h) Refer to MCAI Dutch Airworthiness
Directive NL–2006–010, dated July 14, 2006;
and Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100–22–050,
dated April 25, 2006, including the drawings
listed in Table 1 of this AD; for related
information.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:20 Feb 29, 2008
Jkt 214001
Issue
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012
013
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02
03
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01
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Original .........................................................................
E ...................................................................................
D ...................................................................................
GC ................................................................................
GB ................................................................................
GB ................................................................................
April 25, 2006.
April 25, 2006.
April 25, 2006.
March 5, 2002.
March 8, 2002.
February 26, 2002.
March 8, 2002.
March 4, 2002.
March 7, 2002.
March 12, 2002.
March 14, 2002.
March 14, 2002.
March 13, 2002.
February 8, 2006.
February 6, 2006.
February 6, 2006.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on February
25, 2008.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8–3971 Filed 2–29–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2008–0247; Directorate
Identifier 2008–CE–003–AD]
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor,
Inc. AT–200, AT–300, AT–400, AT–500,
AT–600, AT–800 Series Airplanes
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: We propose to supersede
Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2002–25–
09, which applies to certain Air Tractor,
Inc. (Air Tractor) AT–250, AT–300, AT–
400, and AT–500 series airplanes. AD
2002–25–09 currently requires you to
install an overturn skid plate in the
cockpit area. Since we issued AD 2002–
25–09, we received a report of the bolts
attaching the forward end of the original
design overturn skid plate to the
airframe breaking in an overturn
accident. This allowed the skid plate to
rotate around the rear attach point and
the forward end of the plate to enter the
cockpit area. Consequently, this
proposed AD would require the
installation of a modified skid plate kit
or modification to skid plate kits that
are already installed, including those
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
already installed on AT–402B, AT–
502B, AT–602, and AT–802A series
airplanes during production. We are
proposing this AD to prevent the front
and rear connections of the overturn
skid plate to the airplane from breaking,
which could allow foreign debris to
enter the cockpit during an airplane
overturn. This condition, if not
corrected, could lead to pilot injury.
DATES: We must receive comments on
this proposed AD by May 2, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following
addresses to comment on this proposed
AD:
• 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: 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 Air Tractor
Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374;
telephone: (940) 564–5616; fax: (940)
564–5612.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Andy McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer,
ASW–150, FAA San Antonio MIDO–43,
10100 Reunion Place, Suite 650, San
Antonio, Texas 78216, phone: (210)
308–3365, fax: (210) 308–3370.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written
relevant data, views, or arguments
E:\FR\FM\03MRP1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 42 / Monday, March 3, 2008 / Proposed Rules
regarding this proposed AD. Send your
comments to an address listed under the
ADDRESSES section. Include the docket
number, ‘‘FAA–2008–0247; Directorate
Identifier 2008–CE–003–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://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact we receive
concerning this proposed AD.
the airplane from breaking, which could
allow foreign debris to enter the cockpit
during an airplane overturn. This
condition, if not corrected, could lead to
pilot injury.
Discussion
Reports of foreign material entering
the cabin area during an overturn skid
on Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor) AT–
301 and AT–401 series airplanes caused
us to issue AD 2002–25–09,
Amendment 39–12985 (67 FR 78156,
December 23, 2002). AD 2002–25–09
currently requires you to install
overturn skid plate, part number (P/N)
11411–1–500 or an FAA-approved
equivalent P/N. The manufacturer
incorporated skid plates in some
production models including Models
AT–402B, AT–502B, AT–602, and AT–
802A airplanes. Since we issued AD
2002–25–09, we received a report of the
bolts breaking in an overturn accident
where they attach the forward end of the
original design overturn skid plate to
the airframe. This allowed the skid plate
to rotate around the rear attach point
and the forward end of the plate to enter
the cockpit area. We are proposing this
AD to prevent the front and rear
connections of the overturn skid plate to
FAA’s Determination and Requirements
of the Proposed AD
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Snow Engineering
Company Service Letter # 97, Revised
November 7, 2007.
The service information describes
procedures for:
• Modifying the overturn skid plate
by enlarging the mounting holes and
replacing existing clamps and hardware
on airplanes with the overturn skid
plate installed; and
• Installing the overturn skid plate for
airplanes that do not have the overturn
skid plate currently installed.
We are proposing this AD because we
evaluated all information and
determined the unsafe condition
described previously is likely to exist or
develop on other products of the same
type design. This proposed AD would
supersede AD 2002–25–09 with a new
AD that would require:
• For airplanes with an installation
previously accomplished per the
original AD: incorporating modification
kit part-number (P/N) 11411–1–501
composed of the heavier attaching
hardware; and
• For airplanes without the overturn
skid plate installed: incorporating kit
P/N 11411–1–502, which incorporates
the skid plate and the heavier attaching
hardware.
The airplanes below include all of the
airplanes from the original AD, which
did not have the factory-installed skid
plate:
Models
Serial Nos.
AT–250, AT–300,
AT–301, AT–302,
AT–400, AT–400A,
AT–401, AT–401A,
AT–402, and AT–
402A.
AT–501, AT–502,
AT–502A.
–0001 through –0829.
–0001 through –0147.
The airplanes in the table below have
been added to this proposed AD. They
have a factory-installed skid plate and
require installation of the overturn skid
plate modification kit part number
1411–1–501:
Models
Serial Nos.
AT–250, AT–300,
AT–301, AT–302,
AT–400, AT–400A,
AT–401, AT–401A,
AT–402, AT–402A
and AT–402B.
AT–501, AT–502,
AT–502A, and AT–
502B.
AT–602 ......................
AT–802A ...................
–0830 through –1196.
–0148 through –2620.
–0337 through –1153.
–0003 through –0282.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD
would affect 2,026 airplanes in the U.S.
registry.
We presume that all airplanes in the
U.S. fleet have a skid plate installed (as
required by AD 2002–25–09) and the
only cost is to incorporate the
modification kit P/N 11411–1–501 in
determining the total cost on U.S.
operators. We estimate the following
costs to do the proposed modification of
installing the overturn skid plate
modification kit P/N 11411–1–501 to
those planes that currently have the
overturn skid plate installed:
Labor cost
Parts cost
Total cost per
airplane
Total cost on
U.S. operators
2 work-hours × $80 per hour = $160 ..........................................................................................
$42
$202
$409,252
The proposed AD includes a
requirement for those few, if any,
airplanes that have not operated past the
compliance time of AD 2002–25–09.
rmajette on PROD1PC64 with PROPOSALS
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.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:20 Feb 29, 2008
Jkt 214001
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.
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
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:
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 42 / Monday, March 3, 2008 / Proposed Rules
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://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 Docket Office (telephone
(800) 647–5527) 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.
§ 39.13
Models
Serial Nos.
AT–250, AT–300,
AT–301, AT–302,
AT–400, AT–400A,
AT–401, AT–401A,
AT–402, AT–402A
and AT–402B.
AT–501, AT–502,
AT–502A, and AT–
502B.
AT–602 ......................
AT–802A ...................
–0001 through –1196.
–0001 through –2620.
–0337 through –1153.
–0003 through –0282.
[Amended]
2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by
removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2002–25–09, Amendment 39–12985 (67
FR 78156, December 23, 2002), and
adding the following new AD:
Air Tractor, Inc.: Docket No. FAA–2008–
0247; Directorate Identifier 2008–CE–
003–AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments on this
airworthiness directive (AD) action by May 2,
2008.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2002–25–09,
Amendment 39–12985.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to the following
airplane models and serial numbers that are
certificated in any category:
Unsafe Condition
(d) Since we issued AD 2002–25–09, we
received a report of the bolts that attach the
forward end of the original design overturn
skid plate to the airframe breaking in an
overturn accident. This allowed the skid
plate to rotate around the rear attach point,
and the forward end of the plate to enter the
cockpit area. We are proposing this AD to
prevent the front and rear connections of the
overturn skid plate to the airplane from
breaking, which could allow foreign debris to
enter the cockpit during an airplane overturn.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead
to pilot injury.
Compliance
(e) To address this problem, you must do
the following, unless already done:
Actions
Compliance
Procedures
(1) If overturn skid plate kit part number (P/N)
11411–1–500 or an FAA-approved equivalent
P/N is already installed, then install P/N
11411–1–501 modification kit.
(2) If there is no overturn skid plate installed,
then install overturn skid plate kit P/N 11411–
1–502 or an FAA-approved equivalent part
number.
Within the next 180 days after the effective
date of this AD.
Follow Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter
#97, revised November 7, 2007.
Within the next 180 days after the effective
date of this AD.
Follow Snow Engineering Co. Service Letter
#97, revised November 7, 2007.
rmajette on PROD1PC64 with PROPOSALS
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(AMOCs)
(f) The Manager, Fort Worth Airplane
Certification 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: Andy McAnaul,
Aerospace Engineer, ASW–150, FAA San
Antonio MIDO–43, 10100 Reunion Place,
Suite 650, San Antonio, Texas 78216, phone:
(210) 308–3365; fax: (210) 308–3370. 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.
Related Information
(g) To get copies of the service information
referenced 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 U.S.
Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M–30, West Building Ground
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:20 Feb 29, 2008
Jkt 214001
Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or on
the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
ACTION:
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on
February 26, 2008.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8–4005 Filed 2–29–08; 8:45 am]
SUMMARY: The Federal Trade
Commission (‘‘FTC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’)
is planning to host a public workshop
on April 30, 2008, to examine
developments in green packaging claims
and consumer perception of such
claims. The workshop is a component of
the Commission’s regulatory review of
the Guides for the Use of Environmental
Marketing Claims, which was
announced on November 26, 2007.
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
16 CFR Part 260
Guides for the Use of Environmental
Marketing Claims; The Green Guides
and Packaging; Public Workshop
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Federal Trade Commission.
Frm 00012
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Announcement of public
workshop; request for public comment.
The workshop will be held on
Wednesday, April 30, 2008, from 9 AM
to 5 PM at the FTC’s Satellite Building
Conference Center, located at 601 New
Jersey Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.
Any written comments in response to
this Notice must be received by May 19,
2008.
DATES:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 42 (Monday, March 3, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11369-11371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4005]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0247; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-003-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Inc. AT-200, AT-300, AT-
400, AT-500, AT-600, AT-800 Series Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2002-25-
09, which applies to certain Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor) AT-250,
AT-300, AT-400, and AT-500 series airplanes. AD 2002-25-09 currently
requires you to install an overturn skid plate in the cockpit area.
Since we issued AD 2002-25-09, we received a report of the bolts
attaching the forward end of the original design overturn skid plate to
the airframe breaking in an overturn accident. This allowed the skid
plate to rotate around the rear attach point and the forward end of the
plate to enter the cockpit area. Consequently, this proposed AD would
require the installation of a modified skid plate kit or modification
to skid plate kits that are already installed, including those already
installed on AT-402B, AT-502B, AT-602, and AT-802A series airplanes
during production. We are proposing this AD to prevent the front and
rear connections of the overturn skid plate to the airplane from
breaking, which could allow foreign debris to enter the cockpit during
an airplane overturn. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to
pilot injury.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 2, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this
proposed AD:
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: 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 Air
Tractor Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374; telephone: (940) 564-
5616; fax: (940) 564-5612.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andy McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, ASW-
150, FAA San Antonio MIDO-43, 10100 Reunion Place, Suite 650, San
Antonio, Texas 78216, phone: (210) 308-3365, fax: (210) 308-3370.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments
[[Page 11370]]
regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number, ``FAA-2008-
0247; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-003-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://
www.regulations.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
Reports of foreign material entering the cabin area during an
overturn skid on Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor) AT-301 and AT-401
series airplanes caused us to issue AD 2002-25-09, Amendment 39-12985
(67 FR 78156, December 23, 2002). AD 2002-25-09 currently requires you
to install overturn skid plate, part number (P/N) 11411-1-500 or an
FAA-approved equivalent P/N. The manufacturer incorporated skid plates
in some production models including Models AT-402B, AT-502B, AT-602,
and AT-802A airplanes. Since we issued AD 2002-25-09, we received a
report of the bolts breaking in an overturn accident where they attach
the forward end of the original design overturn skid plate to the
airframe. This allowed the skid plate to rotate around the rear attach
point and the forward end of the plate to enter the cockpit area. We
are proposing this AD to prevent the front and rear connections of the
overturn skid plate to the airplane from breaking, which could allow
foreign debris to enter the cockpit during an airplane overturn. This
condition, if not corrected, could lead to pilot injury.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed Snow Engineering Company Service Letter
97, Revised November 7, 2007.
The service information describes procedures for:
Modifying the overturn skid plate by enlarging the
mounting holes and replacing existing clamps and hardware on airplanes
with the overturn skid plate installed; and
Installing the overturn skid plate for airplanes that do
not have the overturn skid plate currently installed.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all information and
determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist
or develop on other products of the same type design. This proposed AD
would supersede AD 2002-25-09 with a new AD that would require:
For airplanes with an installation previously accomplished
per the original AD: incorporating modification kit part-number (P/N)
11411-1-501 composed of the heavier attaching hardware; and
For airplanes without the overturn skid plate installed:
incorporating kit P/N 11411-1-502, which incorporates the skid plate
and the heavier attaching hardware.
The airplanes below include all of the airplanes from the original
AD, which did not have the factory-installed skid plate:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Models Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AT-250, AT-300, AT-301, AT-302, AT-400, AT- -0001 through -0829.
400A, AT-401, AT-401A, AT-402, and AT-
402A.
AT-501, AT-502, AT-502A................... -0001 through -0147.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The airplanes in the table below have been added to this proposed
AD. They have a factory-installed skid plate and require installation
of the overturn skid plate modification kit part number 1411-1-501:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Models Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AT-250, AT-300, AT-301, AT-302, AT-400, AT- -0830 through -1196.
400A, AT-401, AT-401A, AT-402, AT-402A
and AT-402B.
AT-501, AT-502, AT-502A, and AT-502B...... -0148 through -2620.
AT-602.................................... -0337 through -1153.
AT-802A................................... -0003 through -0282.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 2,026 airplanes in
the U.S. registry.
We presume that all airplanes in the U.S. fleet have a skid plate
installed (as required by AD 2002-25-09) and the only cost is to
incorporate the modification kit P/N 11411-1-501 in determining the
total cost on U.S. operators. We estimate the following costs to do the
proposed modification of installing the overturn skid plate
modification kit P/N 11411-1-501 to those planes that currently have
the overturn skid plate installed:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total cost per Total cost on
Labor cost Parts cost airplane U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 work-hours x $80 per hour = $160........................... $42 $202 $409,252
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proposed AD includes a requirement for those few, if any,
airplanes that have not operated past the compliance time of AD 2002-
25-09.
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 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:
[[Page 11371]]
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://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 Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5527)
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 removing Airworthiness Directive
(AD) 2002-25-09, Amendment 39-12985 (67 FR 78156, December 23, 2002),
and adding the following new AD:
Air Tractor, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2008-0247; Directorate Identifier
2008-CE-003-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) action by May 2, 2008.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 2002-25-09, Amendment 39-12985.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to the following airplane models and serial
numbers that are certificated in any category:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Models Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AT-250, AT-300, AT-301, AT-302, AT-400, AT- -0001 through -1196.
400A, AT-401, AT-401A, AT-402, AT-402A
and AT-402B.
AT-501, AT-502, AT-502A, and AT-502B...... -0001 through -2620.
AT-602.................................... -0337 through -1153.
AT-802A................................... -0003 through -0282.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsafe Condition
(d) Since we issued AD 2002-25-09, we received a report of the
bolts that attach the forward end of the original design overturn
skid plate to the airframe breaking in an overturn accident. This
allowed the skid plate to rotate around the rear attach point, and
the forward end of the plate to enter the cockpit area. We are
proposing this AD to prevent the front and rear connections of the
overturn skid plate to the airplane from breaking, which could allow
foreign debris to enter the cockpit during an airplane overturn.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to pilot injury.
Compliance
(e) To address this problem, you must do the following, unless
already done:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actions Compliance Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) If overturn skid plate Within the next 180 Follow Snow
kit part number (P/N) 11411- days after the Engineering Co.
1-500 or an FAA-approved effective date of Service Letter
equivalent P/N is already this AD. 97,
installed, then install P/N revised November 7,
11411-1-501 modification 2007.
kit.
(2) If there is no overturn Within the next 180 Follow Snow
skid plate installed, then days after the Engineering Co.
install overturn skid plate effective date of Service Letter
kit P/N 11411-1-502 or an this AD. 97,
FAA-approved equivalent revised November 7,
part number. 2007.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(f) The Manager, Fort Worth Airplane Certification 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: Andy
McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, ASW-150, FAA San Antonio MIDO-43, 10100
Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio, Texas 78216, phone: (210)
308-3365; fax: (210) 308-3370. 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.
Related Information
(g) To get copies of the service information referenced 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 U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations,
M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or on the Internet at https://
www.regulations.gov.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 26, 2008.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-4005 Filed 2-29-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
