Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace Limited Airplanes, 43446-43448 [2021-16659]
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43446
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 150 / Monday, August 9, 2021 / Proposed Rules
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to The Boeing Company
Model 787–8, 787–9, and 787–10 airplanes,
certificated in any category, powered by
Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines.
(d) Subject
Air Transport Association (ATA) of
America Code 78, Thrust Reverser.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of
damage to the thrust reverser (TR) translating
sleeve secondary sliders due to contact
between the slider and the slider track liner.
This damage was only found on TR sleeves
installed on certain engines. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address this damage,
which could result in failure of the TR
translating sleeve secondary slider and
possible detachment of the outer cowl, which
could strike the fuselage, causing damage to
the airplane, and could result in reduced
control or performance of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the
compliance times specified, unless already
done.
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(g) Required Actions
For airplanes with an original
airworthiness certificate or original export
certificate of airworthiness issued on or
before the effective date of this AD: Except
as specified by paragraph (h) of this AD; at
the applicable times specified in the
‘‘Compliance’’ paragraph of Boeing Alert
Requirements Bulletin B787–81205–
SB780043–00 RB, Issue 001, dated January
15, 2021, do all applicable actions for Group
1, Configuration 1 airplanes as identified in,
and in accordance with, the Accomplishment
Instructions of Boeing Alert Requirements
Bulletin B787–81205–SB780043–00 RB, Issue
001, dated January 15, 2021.
Note 1 to paragraph (g): Guidance for
accomplishing the actions required by this
AD can be found in Boeing Alert Service
Bulletin B787–81205–SB780043–00, Issue
001, dated January 15, 2021, which is
referred to in Boeing Alert Requirements
Bulletin B787–81205–SB780043–00 RB, Issue
001, dated January 15, 2021.
(h) Exceptions to Service Information
Specifications
(1) Where Boeing Alert Requirements
Bulletin B787–81205–SB780043–00 RB, Issue
001, dated January 15, 2021, uses the phrase
‘‘the issue 001 date of Requirements Bulletin
B787–81205–SB780043–00 RB,’’ this AD
requires using ‘‘the effective date of this AD.’’
(2) Where Boeing Alert Requirements
Bulletin B787–81205–SB780043–00 RB, Issue
001, dated January 15, 2021, specifies
contacting Boeing for repair instructions or
for instructions to address certain conditions:
This AD requires doing the repair or doing
the instructions using a method approved in
accordance with the procedures specified in
paragraph (j) of this AD.
(i) Parts Installation Limitations
(1) As of the applicable compliance time
specified in paragraph (i)(1)(i) or (ii) of this
AD, no person may install on any airplane a
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16:39 Aug 06, 2021
Jkt 253001
TR with serial number between 00110001
and 00312001 inclusive, on which all
applicable inspections and corrective actions
required by paragraph (g) of this AD have not
been accomplished.
(i) For airplanes with an original
airworthiness certificate or original export
certificate of airworthiness issued on or
before the effective date of this AD: After
accomplishing the actions required by
paragraph (g) of this AD.
(ii) For airplanes with an original
airworthiness certificate or original export
certificate of airworthiness issued after the
effective date of this AD: As of the effective
date of this AD.
(2) As of the applicable compliance time
specified in paragraph (i)(2)(i) or (ii) of this
AD, no person may install on any airplane a
TR translating sleeve with serial number
00125001 and subsequent, on which all
applicable inspections and corrective actions
required by paragraph (g) of this AD have not
been accomplished.
(i) For airplanes with an original
airworthiness certificate or original export
certificate of airworthiness issued on or
before the effective date of this AD: After
accomplishing the actions required by
paragraph (g) of this AD.
(ii) For airplanes with an original
airworthiness certificate or original export
certificate of airworthiness issued after the
effective date of this AD: As of the effective
date of this AD.
(3) As of the effective date of this AD, no
person may install a TR translating sleeve
that was originally installed on any airplane
with an original airworthiness certificate or
original export certificate of airworthiness
issued after the effective date of this AD; or
a TR translating sleeve with serial number
00125001 and subsequent, on which all
applicable inspections and corrective actions
specified in Boeing Alert Requirements
Bulletin B787–81205–SB780043–00 RB, Issue
001, dated January 15, 2021, have been
accomplished; on any airplane with a TR
with a serial number between 00110001 and
00312001 inclusive, unless all applicable
inspections and corrective actions specified
in Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin B787–
81205–SB780043–00 RB, Issue 001, dated
January 15, 2021, have been accomplished on
that TR, except as specified in paragraph
(h)(2) of this AD.
(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance
(AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Seattle ACO Branch,
FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs
for this AD, if requested using the procedures
found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with
14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your
principal inspector or responsible Flight
Standards Office, as appropriate. If sending
information directly to the manager of the
certification office, send it to the attention of
the person identified in Related Information.
Information may be emailed to: 9-ANMSeattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC,
notify your appropriate principal inspector,
or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the responsible Flight Standards Office.
(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable
level of safety may be used for any repair,
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
modification, or alteration required by this
AD if it is approved by The Boeing Company
Organization Designation Authorization
(ODA) that has been authorized by the
Manager, Seattle ACO Branch, FAA, to make
those findings. To be approved, the repair
method, modification deviation, or alteration
deviation must meet the certification basis of
the airplane, and the approval must
specifically refer to this AD.
(k) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD,
contact Tak Kobayashi, Aerospace Engineer,
Propulsion Section, FAA, Seattle ACO
Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines,
WA 98198; phone and fax: 206–231–3553;
email: takahisa.kobayashi@faa.gov.
(2) For service information identified in
this AD, contact Boeing Commercial
Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data
Services (C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd.,
MC 110–SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740–5600;
telephone 562–797–1717; internet https://
www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view this
referenced service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational
Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des
Moines, WA. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call
206–231–3195.
Issued on July 13, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–16680 Filed 8–6–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2021–0213; Project
Identifier 2018–CE–036–AD]
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Pacific
Aerospace Limited Airplanes
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
AGENCY:
The FAA proposes to adopt a
new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Pacific Aerospace Limited
Model 750XL 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 identifies the unsafe
condition as insufficient separation of
ground terminations for individual
power sources and static grounds. This
proposed AD would require inspecting
and separating, if applicable, the battery
SUMMARY:
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09AUP1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 150 / Monday, August 9, 2021 / Proposed Rules
and generator common ground
connections on the airframe. The FAA
is proposing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments
on this proposed AD by September 23,
2021.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments,
using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following
methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: (202) 493–2251.
• Mail: U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations,
M–30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail
address above between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
For service information identified in
this NPRM, contact the Civil Aviation
Authority of New Zealand, Level 15,
Asteron Centre, 55 Featherston Street,
Wellington 6011; phone: +64 4 560
9400; fax: +64 4 569 2024; email: info@
caa.govt.nz. You may review this
referenced service information at the
FAA, Airworthiness Products Section,
Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust,
Kansas City, MO 64106. For information
on the availability of this material at the
FAA, call (816) 329–4148.
Examining the AD Docket
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You may examine the AD docket at
https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No.
FAA–2021–0213; or in person at Docket
Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this
NPRM, the MCAI, any comments
received, and other information. The
street address for Docket Operations is
listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mike Kiesov, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft
Section, International Validation
Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas
City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329–4144;
fax: (816) 329–4090; email:
mike.kiesov@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any
written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send
your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include
‘‘Docket No. FAA–2021–0213; Project
Identifier 2018–CE–036–AD’’ at the
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16:39 Aug 06, 2021
Jkt 253001
beginning of your comments. The FAA
specifically invites comments on the
overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of
this NPRM. The FAA will consider all
comments received by the closing date
and may amend this NPRM because of
those comments.
Except for Confidential Business
Information (CBI) as described in the
following paragraph, and other
information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments
received, without change, to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report
summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial
information that is both customarily and
actually treated as private by its owner.
Under the Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt
from public disclosure. If your
comments responsive to this NPRM
contain commercial or financial
information that is customarily treated
as private, that you actually treat as
private, and that is relevant or
responsive to this NPRM, it is important
that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each
page of your submission containing CBI
as ‘‘PROPIN.’’ The FAA will treat such
marked submissions as confidential
under the FOIA, and they will not be
placed in the public docket of this AD.
Submissions containing CBI should be
sent to Mike Kiesov, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, General Aviation &
Rotorcraft Section, International
Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room
301, Kansas City, MO 64106. Any
commentary that the FAA receives
which is not specifically designated as
CBI will be placed in the public docket
for this rulemaking.
Background
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA),
which is the aviation authority for New
Zealand, has issued DCA/750XL/30,
dated July 5, 2018 (referred to after this
as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to address an unsafe
condition on Pacific Aerospace Limited
Model 750XL airplanes. The MCAI
states:
The ground connections for the individual
power sources (BATT & GEN [battery and
generator]) have been connected at a common
ground point on the aircraft. DCA/750XL/30
is issued to mandate the instructions in
Pacific Aerospace Mandatory Service
Bulletin (MSB) PACSB/XL/104 issue 1, dated
2 May 2018, or later approved revision to
separate the common ground connection on
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
43447
the airframe for the individual power sources
(BATT & GEN).
The CAA advises the root cause is a
deviation from the approved
engineering data. This condition, if not
corrected, could lead to the loss of
primary and secondary power sources
from corrosion of the ground connection
or failure of the fastening hardware,
which could result in the simultaneous
loss of multiple systems. According to
the CAA, this condition was observed
on the production line and has been
corrected for new airplanes in
production. The MCAI requires
inspecting the battery ground
connections and separating the ground
connections as necessary. You may
examine the MCAI in the AD docket at
https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No.
FAA–2021–0213.
Related Service Information Under 1
CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Pacific Aerospace
Mandatory Service Bulletin PACSB/XL/
104, Issue 1, dated May 2, 2018
(PACSB/XL/104I1). The service
information specifies procedures for
inspecting the battery ground
connections and separating the ground
connections as necessary. This service
information is reasonably available
because the interested parties have
access to it through their normal course
of business or by the means identified
in the ADDRESSES section.
FAA’s Determination
This product has been approved by
the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation
in the United States. Pursuant to the
FAA’s bilateral agreement with this
State of Design Authority, it has notified
the FAA of the unsafe condition
described in the MCAI and service
information referenced above. The FAA
is issuing this NPRM after determining
that the unsafe condition described
previously is likely to exist or develop
on other products of the same type
design.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would require
accomplishing the actions specified in
the service information already
described.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if
adopted as proposed, would affect 23
airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA also
estimates that it would take about 1
work-hour per airplane to comply with
the grounding connection inspection of
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09AUP1
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 150 / Monday, August 9, 2021 / Proposed Rules
this proposed AD. The average labor
rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, the FAA
estimates the cost of the proposed
inspection on U.S. operators to be
$1,955, or $85 per airplane.
In addition, the FAA estimates that
any necessary action to separate the
connections would take about 3 workhours and require parts costing $25, for
a cost of $280 per airplane. The FAA
has no way of determining the number
of products that may need these actions.
The FAA has included all costs in this
cost estimate. According to the
manufacturer, however, some of the
costs of this proposed AD may be
covered under warranty, thereby
reducing the cost impact on affected
operators.
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code
specifies the FAA’s authority to issue
rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I,
section 106, describes the authority of
the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII:
Aviation Programs, describes in more
detail the scope of the Agency’s
authority.
The FAA is issuing this rulemaking
under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section
44701: General requirements. Under
that section, Congress charges the FAA
with promoting safe flight of civil
aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and
procedures the Administrator finds
necessary for safety in air commerce.
This regulation is within the scope of
that authority because it addresses an
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or
develop on products identified in this
rulemaking action.
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Regulatory Findings
The FAA determined that this
proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order
13132. This proposed AD would not
have a substantial direct effect on the
States, on the relationship between the
national Government and the States, or
on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government.
For the reasons discussed above, I
certify this proposed regulation:
(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
action’’ under Executive Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate
aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would not have a significant
economic impact, positive or negative,
on a substantial number of small entities
under the criteria of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:39 Aug 06, 2021
Jkt 253001
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:
■
Pacific Aerospace Limited: Docket No. FAA–
2021–0213; Project Identifier 2018–CE–
036–AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this
airworthiness directive (AD) by September
23, 2021.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Pacific Aerospace
Limited Model 750XL airplanes, serial
numbers up to and including 222,
certificated in any category, with the battery
installed within the engine bay at the
firewall.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)
Code 2400, Electric Power System.
(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
identifies the unsafe condition as insufficient
separation of ground terminations for
individual power sources and static grounds.
The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and
correct ground terminations with insufficient
separation, which could lead to loss of
primary and secondary power sources if the
ground connection fails and consequent
simultaneous loss of multiple airplane
systems.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the
compliance times specified, unless already
done.
Instructions, figure 2, of Pacific Aerospace
Mandatory Service Bulletin PACSB/XL/104,
Issue 1, dated May 2, 2018 (PACSB/XL/
104I1).
(2) If the ground leads connect to a single
ground stud, before further flight, separate
the battery ground lead connections by
following the Accomplishment Instructions,
steps 4 through 36, of PACSB/XL/104I1.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance
(AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, International Validation
Branch, has the authority to approve AMOCs
for this AD, if requested using the procedures
found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with
14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your
principal inspector or local Flight Standards
District Office, as appropriate. If sending
information directly to the manager of the
certification office, send it to the attention of
the person identified in Related Information
or email: 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC,
notify your appropriate principal inspector,
or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/
certificate holding district office.
(i) Related Information
(1) Refer to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
of New Zealand AD DCA/750XL/30, dated
July 5, 2018, for related information. You
may examine the CAA AD at https://
www.regulations.gov by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA–2021–0213.
(2) For more information about this AD
contact Mike Kiesov, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft
Section, International Validation Branch, 901
Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106;
(816) 329–4144; fax: (816) 329–4090; email:
mike.kiesov@faa.gov.
(3) For service information related to this
AD, contact the Civil Aviation Authority of
New Zealand, Level 15, Asteron Centre, 55
Featherston Street, Wellington 6011; phone:
+64 4 560 9400; fax: +64 4 569 2024; email:
info@caa.govt.nz. You may review this
referenced service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational
Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO
64106. For information on the availability of
this material at the FAA, call (816) 329–4148.
Issued on July 29, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–16659 Filed 8–6–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
(g) Inspection and Corrective Action
(1) Within 12 months after the effective
date of this AD, inspect the battery
installation in the engine bay to determine if
the ground leads connect to a single ground
stud as shown in the Accomplishment
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09AUP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 150 (Monday, August 9, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43446-43448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16659]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2021-0213; Project Identifier 2018-CE-036-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace Limited Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes. This
proposed AD 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 identifies the unsafe condition as insufficient separation of
ground terminations for individual power sources and static grounds.
This proposed AD would require inspecting and separating, if
applicable, the battery
[[Page 43447]]
and generator common ground connections on the airframe. The FAA is
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by September
23, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this NPRM, contact the Civil
Aviation Authority of New Zealand, Level 15, Asteron Centre, 55
Featherston Street, Wellington 6011; phone: +64 4 560 9400; fax: +64 4
569 2024; email: [email protected]. You may review this referenced
service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section,
Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816)
329-4148.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0213; or in person at
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, the MCAI,
any comments received, and other information. The street address for
Docket Operations is listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Kiesov, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation
Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-
4144; 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 proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0213;
Project Identifier 2018-CE-036-AD'' at the beginning of your comments.
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
NPRM because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Mike
Kiesov, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas
City, MO 64106. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for
this rulemaking.
Background
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the aviation authority
for New Zealand, has issued DCA/750XL/30, dated July 5, 2018 (referred
to after this as ``the MCAI''), to address an unsafe condition on
Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes. The MCAI states:
The ground connections for the individual power sources (BATT &
GEN [battery and generator]) have been connected at a common ground
point on the aircraft. DCA/750XL/30 is issued to mandate the
instructions in Pacific Aerospace Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB)
PACSB/XL/104 issue 1, dated 2 May 2018, or later approved revision
to separate the common ground connection on the airframe for the
individual power sources (BATT & GEN).
The CAA advises the root cause is a deviation from the approved
engineering data. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to the
loss of primary and secondary power sources from corrosion of the
ground connection or failure of the fastening hardware, which could
result in the simultaneous loss of multiple systems. According to the
CAA, this condition was observed on the production line and has been
corrected for new airplanes in production. The MCAI requires inspecting
the battery ground connections and separating the ground connections as
necessary. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0213.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Pacific Aerospace Mandatory Service Bulletin
PACSB/XL/104, Issue 1, dated May 2, 2018 (PACSB/XL/104I1). The service
information specifies procedures for inspecting the battery ground
connections and separating the ground connections as necessary. This
service information is reasonably available because the interested
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by
the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.
FAA's Determination
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority,
it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI
and service information referenced above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM
after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information already described.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 23 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it
would take about 1 work-hour per airplane to comply with the grounding
connection inspection of
[[Page 43448]]
this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of the proposed
inspection on U.S. operators to be $1,955, or $85 per airplane.
In addition, the FAA estimates that any necessary action to
separate the connections would take about 3 work-hours and require
parts costing $25, for a cost of $280 per airplane. The FAA has no way
of determining the number of products that may need these actions.
The FAA has included all costs in this cost estimate. According to
the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this proposed AD may be
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected
operators.
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs,
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements.
Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight
of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for
practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary
for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that
authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to
exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not
have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship
between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed
regulation:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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:
Pacific Aerospace Limited: Docket No. FAA-2021-0213; Project
Identifier 2018-CE-036-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by September 23, 2021.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL
airplanes, serial numbers up to and including 222, certificated in
any category, with the battery installed within the engine bay at
the firewall.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2400, Electric Power
System.
(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 identifies the unsafe condition as insufficient
separation of ground terminations for individual power sources and
static grounds. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct
ground terminations with insufficient separation, which could lead
to loss of primary and secondary power sources if the ground
connection fails and consequent simultaneous loss of multiple
airplane systems.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Inspection and Corrective Action
(1) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD,
inspect the battery installation in the engine bay to determine if
the ground leads connect to a single ground stud as shown in the
Accomplishment Instructions, figure 2, of Pacific Aerospace
Mandatory Service Bulletin PACSB/XL/104, Issue 1, dated May 2, 2018
(PACSB/XL/104I1).
(2) If the ground leads connect to a single ground stud, before
further flight, separate the battery ground lead connections by
following the Accomplishment Instructions, steps 4 through 36, of
PACSB/XL/104I1.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, has the
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19,
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information
directly to the manager of the certification office, send it to the
attention of the person identified in Related Information or email:
[email protected].
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
(i) Related Information
(1) Refer to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of New Zealand AD
DCA/750XL/30, dated July 5, 2018, for related information. You may
examine the CAA AD at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0213.
(2) For more information about this AD contact Mike Kiesov,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301,
Kansas City, MO 64106; (816) 329-4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; email:
[email protected].
(3) For service information related to this AD, contact the
Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, Level 15, Asteron Centre,
55 Featherston Street, Wellington 6011; phone: +64 4 560 9400; fax:
+64 4 569 2024; email: [email protected]. You may review this
referenced service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products
Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO
64106. For information on the availability of this material at the
FAA, call (816) 329-4148.
Issued on July 29, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-16659 Filed 8-6-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
