Airworthiness Directives; Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze Sp. z o.o. Airplanes, 28893-28895 [2020-10015]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 94 / Thursday, May 14, 2020 / Proposed Rules
Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone:
(316) 946–4141; fax: (316) 946–4107; email:
tara.shawn@faa.gov or Wichita-COS@faa.gov.
(2) For service information identified in
this AD, contact Textron Aviation Customer
Service, P.O. Box 7706, Wichita, Kansas
67277, (316) 517–5800; customercare@
txtav.com; https://txtav.com. You may view
this service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational
Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call
(816) 329–4148.
Issued on May 8, 2020.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic
Initiatives,Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–10316 Filed 5–13–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2020–0473; Product
Identifier 2018–CE–058–AD]
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Polskie
Zaklady Lotnicze Sp. z o.o. Airplanes
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
AGENCY:
The FAA proposes to adopt a
new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze Sp. z
o.o. Model PZL M28 05 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 defective
thermo-shrinkable tubes installed on the
electrical harnesses located in the fuel
tanks. 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 June 29, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:27 May 13, 2020
Jkt 250001
• 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 Polskie
Zaklady Lotnicze Sp. z o.o., Wojska
Polskiego 3, 39–300 Mielec, Poland, +48
17 743 1901, email: pzl.lm@lmco.com,
internet: www.pzlmielec.pl. You may
review this referenced service
information at the FAA, Airworthiness
Products Section, Operational Safety
Branch, 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 https://
www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA–2020–
0473; 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 proposed
AD, the regulatory evaluation, 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:
Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Small Airplane Standards Branch,
901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329–
4059; fax: (816) 329–4090; email:
doug.rudolph@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites 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–2020–0473;
Product Identifier 2018–CE–058–AD’’ at
the beginning of your comments. The
FAA specifically invites comments on
the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of
this proposed AD. The FAA will
consider all comments received by the
closing date and may amend this
proposed AD because of those
comments.
The FAA will post all comments we
receive, without change, to https://
regulations.gov, including any personal
information you provide. The FAA will
also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact received
about this proposed AD.
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Fmt 4702
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28893
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA), which is the Technical Agent
for the Member States of the European
Community, has issued AD No. 2018–
0242, dated October 8, 2018 (referred to
after this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct an
unsafe condition for the specified
products. The MCAI states:
During accomplishment of maintenance on
an M28 05 military version airplane, torn
pieces of thermo-shrinkable tubes were found
in the header section of the main fuel tank.
These tubes are installed on electrical
harnesses located in the fuel tanks and serve
as marking and protection devices against
mechanical damage during manufacturing
and servicing. Pieces of these tubes may
travel with the fuel flow and may block the
jet pump or reduce its performance,
particularly in the centre-wing fuel tank, in
which the jet pump is the only way of further
transfer of fuel to the engine. Subsequent
investigation determined that degradation of
the tube material was caused by a
manufacturing deficiency, leading to
insufficient material resistance against
mechanical damage when a tube is located in
a fuel.
This condition, if not detected and
corrected, could lead to reduced fuel supply
to the engines, inability to use all the fuel in
fuel tanks and reduced available engine
power, resulting in reduced aeroplane
performance.
To address this potentially unsafe
condition, PZL identified the batch of
aeroplanes that are potentially equipped with
thermo-shrinkable tubes having this
manufacturing defect, and issued the [service
bulletin] SB providing inspection and
replacement instructions.
For the reasons described above, this
[EASA] AD requires a one-time inspection of
the electrical harnesses located in the fuel
tanks and, depending on findings,
replacement of the affected harness.
Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze Sp. z o.o.
informed us the potential for damage to
the thermo-shrinkable tubes does not
progress with time. Therefore, we
determined repetitive inspections are
not required. You may examine the
MCAI on the internet at https://
www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA–2020–
0473.
Related Service Information Under 1
CFR Part 51
Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze Sp. z o.o.
has issued Service Bulletin No. E/
12.141/2018, dated May 15, 2018. The
service information contains procedures
for inspecting the thermo-shrinkable
tubes on the electrical harnesses in the
center and outer wing fuel tanks for
damage and replacing any electrical
harness with damaged thermoshrinkable tubes. This service
information is reasonably available
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 94 / Thursday, May 14, 2020 / Proposed Rules
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 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 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 proposing this AD because it
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
The FAA estimates that this proposed
AD would affect 15 products of U.S.
registry. The FAA also estimates that it
would take about 3 work-hours per
product to comply with the basic
inspection requirement of this proposed
AD. The average labor rate is $85 per
work-hour.
Based on these figures, the FAA
estimates the cost of the proposed AD
on U.S. operators to be $3,825, or $255
per product.
In addition, the FAA estimates that
any necessary follow-on replacement
action would take about 60 work-hours
and require parts costing $5,000, for a
cost of $10,100 per electrical harness.
The FAA has no way of determining the
number of products that may need these
actions.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD 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.
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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:27 May 13, 2020
Jkt 250001
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) Will not affect intrastate aviation
in Alaska, 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.
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.
§ 39.13
[Amended]
2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding
the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
■
Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze Sp. z o.o.: Docket
No. FAA–2020–0473; Product Identifier
2018–CE–058–AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments by June
29, 2020.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Polskie Zaklady
Lotnicze Sp. z o.o. Model PZL M28 05
airplanes, serial numbers AJE00301 through
AJE00343, and AJE00345 through AJE00347,
certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association of America
(ATA) Code 28: Fuel Tank.
(e) Reason
This AD was prompted by mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
originated by an aviation authority of another
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Frm 00007
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
country to identify and correct an unsafe
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI
describes the unsafe condition as defective
thermo-shrinkable tubes installed on the
electrical harnesses located in the fuel tanks.
The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent broken
pieces of the thermo-shrinkable tubes from
blocking the jet pump, reducing fuel supply
to the engines, and resulting in the inability
to use all the fuel in the fuel tanks. This
condition could lead to reduced engine
power and airplane performance.
(f) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the following
actions in paragraphs (f)(1) and (2) of this
AD:
(1) Within the next 200 hours time-inservice (TIS) after the effective date of this
AD or within the next 8 months after the
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs
first:
(i) Inspect each electrical wire harness in
the center wing and the left-hand and righthand outer wing fuel tanks for cracking,
tears, and seizing of the thermo-shrinkable
tubes in accordance with paragraphs II.1
through 2 a) of the Procedure for Bulletin
Execution section in Polskie Zaklady
Lotnicze Sp. z o.o. Service Bulletin No. E/
12.141/2018, dated May 15, 2018.
(ii) If there is a tear or any cracking in or
any seizing of an electrical wire harness
thermo-shrinkable tube, before further flight,
replace the harness in accordance with
section II. a) Replacement of harness KL8
(KP), II. b) Replacement of Harness KL9
(KP9), or II. c) Replacement of harness KL10
(KP10), as applicable, of the Procedure for
Bulletin Execution in Polskie Zaklady
Lotnicze Sp. z o.o. Service Bulletin No. E/
12.141/2018, dated May 15, 2018.
(2) As of the effective date of this AD, do
not install any electrical wire harness part
number 28.14.7205.073.000,
28.14.7205.074.000, 28.14.7205.075.000,
28.14.7205.076.000, 28.14.7205.077.000, or
28.14.7205.078.000, that has more than zero
hours TIS on any airplane, unless it has
passed the inspection required by paragraph
(f)(1)(i) of this AD.
(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance
(AMOCs)
The Manager, Small Airplane Standards
Branch, 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: Doug Rudolph,
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane
Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone:
(816) 329–4059; fax: (816) 329–4090; email:
doug.rudolph@faa.gov. 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.
(h) Related Information
Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA) AD No. 2018–0242, dated
October 8, 2018, for related information. You
may examine the MCAI on the internet at
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA–2020–0473.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 94 / Thursday, May 14, 2020 / Proposed Rules
For service information related to this AD,
contact Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze Sp. z o.o.,
Wojska Polskiego 3, 39–300 Mielec, Poland,
+48 17 743 1901, email: pzl.lm@lmco.com,
internet: www.pzlmielec.pl. You may review
this referenced service information at the
FAA, Airworthiness Products Section,
Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information
on the availability of this material at the
FAA, call (816) 329–4148.
Issued on May 6, 2020.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives,
Compliance & Airworthiness Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–10015 Filed 5–13–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2020–0483; Product
Identifier 2016–SW–066–AD]
RIN 2120–AA64
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
AGENCY:
The FAA proposes to adopt a
new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain MD Helicopters Inc. (MDHI),
Model 369A, 369D, 369E, 369FF, 369H,
369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 500N, and 600N
helicopters. This proposed AD would
require tap inspecting each main rotor
(MR) blade leading edge abrasion strip
and is prompted by reports of abrasion
strips departing the MR blade in-flight.
The proposed actions are intended to
prevent an unsafe condition on these
products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments
on this proposed AD by July 13, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by
any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
online instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
• Fax: 202–493–2251.
• Mail: Send comments to the U.S.
Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M–30, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC
20590–0001.
• Hand Delivery: Deliver to the
‘‘Mail’’ address between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:27 May 13, 2020
Examining the AD Docket
Discussion
You may examine the AD docket on
the internet at https://
www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA–2020–
0483; 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 proposed
AD, 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 service information identified in
this proposed rule, contact Helicopter
Technology Company, LLC, address
12902 South Broadway, Los Angeles,
CA 90061; telephone (310) 523–2750;
email gburdorf@helicoptertech.com; or
at https://www.helicoptertech.com. You
may view the referenced service
information at the FAA, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region,
10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N–321,
Fort Worth, TX 76177.
The FAA proposes to adopt a new AD
for MDHI Model 369A, 369D, 369E,
369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS,
500N, and 600N helicopters with an MR
blade part number (P/N) 500P2100–105,
P/N 500P2100–305, P/N 500P2300–505,
P/N 369D21120–505, P/N 369D21121–
505, or P/N 369D21123–505, with a
1.25-inch chord length nickel abrasion
strip (abrasion strip) manufactured or
installed by Helicopter Technology
Company (HTC) or where the
manufacturer of the abrasion strip is
unknown. This proposed AD would
require tap inspecting the abrasion strip
within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS)
and thereafter before the first flight of
each day until the abrasion strip has
accumulated 700 hours TIS since
installation.
This proposed AD is prompted by
reports that leading edge abrasion strips
manufactured by HTC are departing the
MR blades during flight. An
investigation determined that the
abrasion strips were manufactured from
electroformed nickel, have a chord
length of 1.25 inch, and are
delaminating from the MR blade before
departing from the helicopter. HTC has
determined that a repetitive tap
inspection of the abrasion strips should
be performed on all blades with
abrasion strips that have less than 700
hours TIS to detect any voids, including
blistering, bubbling, or lifting of the
abrasion strip. Identical looking
electroformed nickel abrasion strips
with a chord length of 1.25 inch
manufactured by other repair stations
have not departed in flight and therefore
are not the subject of this proposed AD.
If the manufacturer of the installed
abrasion strip is unknown, this
proposed AD would apply to the strip.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Airworthiness Directives; MD
Helicopters Inc. (MDHI), Helicopters
Jkt 250001
28895
Payman Soltani, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Los Angeles ACO Branch,
FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood,
California 90712; telephone (562) 627–
5313; email payman.soltani@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to participate in
this rulemaking by submitting written
comments, data, or views. The FAA also
invites comments relating to the
economic, environmental, energy, or
federalism impacts that might result
from adopting the proposals in this
document. The most helpful comments
reference a specific portion of the
proposal, explain the reason for any
recommended change, and include
supporting data. To ensure the docket
does not contain duplicate comments,
commenters should send only one copy
of written comments, or if comments are
filed electronically, commenters should
submit only one time.
The FAA will file in the docket all
comments received, as well as a report
summarizing each substantive public
contact with FAA personnel concerning
this proposed rulemaking. Before acting
on this proposal, the FAA will consider
all comments received on or before the
closing date for comments. The FAA
will consider comments filed after the
comment period has closed if it is
possible to do so without incurring
expense or delay. The FAA may change
this proposal in light of the comments
received.
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
FAA’s Determination
The FAA is proposing this AD
because the agency evaluated all known
relevant information and determined
that an unsafe condition exists and is
likely to exist or develop on other
helicopters of these same type designs.
Related Service Information Under 1
CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed HTC Mandatory
Service Bulletin Notice No. 2100–8R4,
dated June 1, 2017, which specifies a
daily tap inspection of the MR blade
abrasion strip to detect voids. If there
are any voids, the SB specifies repairing
or replacing the MR blade, depending
on the size, quantity, and location of
any damage.
This service information is reasonably
available because the interested parties
E:\FR\FM\14MYP1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 94 (Thursday, May 14, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28893-28895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10015]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2020-0473; Product Identifier 2018-CE-058-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze Sp. z o.o.
Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze Sp. z o.o. Model PZL M28 05
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 defective
thermo-shrinkable tubes installed on the electrical harnesses located
in the fuel tanks. 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 June 29,
2020.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments 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: 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
Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze Sp. z o.o., Wojska Polskiego 3, 39-300 Mielec,
Poland, +48 17 743 1901, email: [email protected], internet:
www.pzlmielec.pl. You may review this referenced service information at
the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 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 https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0473; 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 proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, 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: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Small Airplane Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites 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-2020-0473;
Product Identifier 2018-CE-058-AD'' at the beginning of your comments.
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. The
FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may
amend this proposed AD because of those comments.
The FAA will post all comments we receive, without change, to
https://regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive
verbal contact received 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 AD
No. 2018-0242, dated October 8, 2018 (referred to after this as ``the
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The
MCAI states:
During accomplishment of maintenance on an M28 05 military
version airplane, torn pieces of thermo-shrinkable tubes were found
in the header section of the main fuel tank. These tubes are
installed on electrical harnesses located in the fuel tanks and
serve as marking and protection devices against mechanical damage
during manufacturing and servicing. Pieces of these tubes may travel
with the fuel flow and may block the jet pump or reduce its
performance, particularly in the centre-wing fuel tank, in which the
jet pump is the only way of further transfer of fuel to the engine.
Subsequent investigation determined that degradation of the tube
material was caused by a manufacturing deficiency, leading to
insufficient material resistance against mechanical damage when a
tube is located in a fuel.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
reduced fuel supply to the engines, inability to use all the fuel in
fuel tanks and reduced available engine power, resulting in reduced
aeroplane performance.
To address this potentially unsafe condition, PZL identified the
batch of aeroplanes that are potentially equipped with thermo-
shrinkable tubes having this manufacturing defect, and issued the
[service bulletin] SB providing inspection and replacement
instructions.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-
time inspection of the electrical harnesses located in the fuel
tanks and, depending on findings, replacement of the affected
harness.
Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze Sp. z o.o. informed us the potential for
damage to the thermo-shrinkable tubes does not progress with time.
Therefore, we determined repetitive inspections are not required. You
may examine the MCAI on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0473.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze Sp. z o.o. has issued Service Bulletin No.
E/12.141/2018, dated May 15, 2018. The service information contains
procedures for inspecting the thermo-shrinkable tubes on the electrical
harnesses in the center and outer wing fuel tanks for damage and
replacing any electrical harness with damaged thermo-shrinkable tubes.
This service information is reasonably available
[[Page 28894]]
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 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 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 proposing this AD
because it 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
The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 15 products of
U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it would take about 3 work-
hours per product to comply with the basic inspection requirement of
this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of the proposed
AD on U.S. operators to be $3,825, or $255 per product.
In addition, the FAA estimates that any necessary follow-on
replacement action would take about 60 work-hours and require parts
costing $5,000, for a cost of $10,100 per electrical harness. The FAA
has 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.
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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.
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 airworthiness
directive (AD):
Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze Sp. z o.o.: Docket No. FAA-2020-0473;
Product Identifier 2018-CE-058-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments by June 29, 2020.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze Sp. z o.o. Model PZL
M28 05 airplanes, serial numbers AJE00301 through AJE00343, and
AJE00345 through AJE00347, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 28: Fuel Tank.
(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 defective
thermo-shrinkable tubes installed on the electrical harnesses
located in the fuel tanks. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent
broken pieces of the thermo-shrinkable tubes from blocking the jet
pump, reducing fuel supply to the engines, and resulting in the
inability to use all the fuel in the fuel tanks. This condition
could lead to reduced engine power and airplane performance.
(f) Actions and Compliance
Unless already done, do the following actions in paragraphs
(f)(1) and (2) of this AD:
(1) Within the next 200 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the
effective date of this AD or within the next 8 months after the
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first:
(i) Inspect each electrical wire harness in the center wing and
the left-hand and right-hand outer wing fuel tanks for cracking,
tears, and seizing of the thermo-shrinkable tubes in accordance with
paragraphs II.1 through 2 a) of the Procedure for Bulletin Execution
section in Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze Sp. z o.o. Service Bulletin No.
E/12.141/2018, dated May 15, 2018.
(ii) If there is a tear or any cracking in or any seizing of an
electrical wire harness thermo-shrinkable tube, before further
flight, replace the harness in accordance with section II. a)
Replacement of harness KL8 (KP), II. b) Replacement of Harness KL9
(KP9), or II. c) Replacement of harness KL10 (KP10), as applicable,
of the Procedure for Bulletin Execution in Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze
Sp. z o.o. Service Bulletin No. E/12.141/2018, dated May 15, 2018.
(2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install any
electrical wire harness part number 28.14.7205.073.000,
28.14.7205.074.000, 28.14.7205.075.000, 28.14.7205.076.000,
28.14.7205.077.000, or 28.14.7205.078.000, that has more than zero
hours TIS on any airplane, unless it has passed the inspection
required by paragraph (f)(1)(i) of this AD.
(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
The Manager, Small Airplane Standards Branch, 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: Doug
Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Standards Branch,
901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816)
329-4059; 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.
(h) Related Information
Refer to MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.
2018-0242, dated October 8, 2018, for related information. You may
examine the MCAI on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0473.
[[Page 28895]]
For service information related to this AD, contact Polskie Zaklady
Lotnicze Sp. z o.o., Wojska Polskiego 3, 39-300 Mielec, Poland, +48
17 743 1901, email: [email protected], internet: www.pzlmielec.pl. You
may review this referenced service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901
Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.
Issued on May 6, 2020.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-10015 Filed 5-13-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
