(a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects all Models EA
-300/200, EA-300L, and EA-300S airplanes, all serial numbers, that
are certificated in any category.
(b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate any of the
airplanes identified in paragraph (a) of this AD must comply with this
AD.
(c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by this AD
are intended to detect and correct fuel leakage in the wings, which
could lead to structural damage of the wings and possible reduced
structural margins. Reduced structural margins could lead to
eventual structural failure.
(d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To address
this problem, you must accomplish the following:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACTIONS COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) For all affected airplanes, Within the next In accordance with
inspect the fuel selector valve 100 hours time-in- EXTRA Flugzeugbau
for leakage. Do not use service (TIS) GmbH Service
compressed gas to check the after the Letter No. 300-09-
valve since it is possible that effective date of 02, Issue: A,
use of compressed gas will this AD, unless dated September
damage or dislodge the valve already 19, 2002, and the
``O''-rings. Refer to the accomplished. applicable
caution on page 1 of the airplane
service letter. maintenance
manual.
(2) For all affected airplanes, Prior to further In accordance with
if any leakage is found during flight after the the applicable
the inspection required by this inspection airplane
AD, repair the damage. required in maintenance
paragraph (d)(1) manual.
of this AD,
unless already
accomplished.
(3) For all affected airplanes, Within the next In accordance with
inspect the external wing for 100 hours time-in- the applicable
structural damage:. service (TIS) airplane
after the maintenance
effective date of manual.
this AD, unless
already
accomplished.
(i) Cracks......................
(ii) Delamination...............
(iii) Fuel leakage..............
(4) For all affected airplanes, Prior to further In accordancae
if any cracks, delamination, or flight after the with a repair
fuel leakage is found during inspection scheme obtained
the inspection required by this required in from EXTRA
AD, accomplish the following: paragraph (d)(3) Flugzeugbau GmbH,
of this AD, Flugplatz
unless already Dinslaken, D-
accomplished. 46569 H[uuml]nxe,
Federal Republic
of Germany;
telephone: (0 28
58) 91 37-00;
facsimile: (0 28
58) 91 37-30.
Obtain this
repair scheme
through the FAA
at the address
specified in
paragraph (e) of
this AD.
(i) obtain a repair scheme from
the manufacturer;
(ii) incorporate this repair
scheme; and
(iii) accomplish any follow-up
actions as directed by the FAA.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? To use an alternative
method of compliance or adjust the compliance time, follow the
procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. Send these requests to the Manager,
Standards Office, Small Airplane Directorate. For information on
any already approved alternative methods of compliance, contact
Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane
Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106;
telephone: (816) 329-4146; facsimile: (816) 329 -4090.
(f) How do I get copies of the documents referenced in this AD? You may
get copies of the documents referenced in this AD from EXTRA
Flugzeugbau GmbH, Flugplatz Dinslaken, D-46569 H[uuml]nxe,
Federal Republic of Germany; telephone: (0 28 58) 91 37-00;
facsimile: (0 28 58) 91 37-30. You may view these documents at FAA,
Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
NOTE: The subject of this AD is addressed in German AD 2002-48, dated
January 9, 2003.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 25, 2003. James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-10846 Filed 5-1-03; 8:45 am]
DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any comments
on this proposed rule on or before June 9, 2003.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2003-CE-14-AD] RIN 2120-AA64
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES; EXTRA Flugzeugbau GmbH Models EA-300/
200, EA-300L, and EA-300S Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
(AD) that would apply to all EXTRA Flugzeugbau GmbH (EXTRA) Models EA
- 300/200, EA-300L, and EA-300S airplanes. This proposed AD would require
you to inspect the fuel selector valve for leakage and the wing for
structural damage and correct any damage or leakage. This proposed AD is
the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued
by the airworthiness authority for Germany. The actions specified by this
proposed AD are intended to detect and correct fuel leakage in the wings,
which could lead to structural damage of the wings and possible reduced
structural margins. Reduced structural margins could lead to eventual
structural failure.
DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any comments
on this proposed rule on or before June 9, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments to FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2003-CE-14-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You may view any comments at this location
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
You may also send comments electronically to the following address: 9-ACE
-7-Docket@faa.gov. Comments sent electronically must contain ``Docket No.
2003-CE-14-AD'' in the subject line. If you send comments electronically
as attached electronic files, the files must be formatted in Microsoft
Word 97 for Windows or ASCII text.
You may get service information that applies to this proposed AD from
EXTRA Flugzeugbau GmbH, Flugplatz Dinslaken, D-46569 H[uuml]nxe, Federal
Republic of Germany; telephone: (0 28 58) 91 37-00; facsimile: (0 28 58)
91 37-30. You may also view this information at the Rules Docket at the
address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4146; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
COMMENTS INVITED
How do I comment on this proposed AD? The FAA invites comments on this
proposed rule. You may submit whatever written data, views, or
arguments you choose. You need to include the proposed rule's docket
number and submit your comments to the address specified under the
caption ADDRESSES. We will consider all comments received on or before
the closing date. We may amend this proposed rule in light of comments
received. Factual information that supports your ideas and suggestions
is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of this proposed
AD action and determining whether we need to take additional
rulemaking action.
Are there any specific portions of this proposed AD I should pay
attention to? The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this
proposed rule that might suggest a need to modify the rule. You may
view all comments we receive before and after the closing date of the
rule in the Rules Docket. We will file a report in the Rules Docket
that summarizes each contact we have with the public that concerns the
substantive parts of this proposed AD.
How can I be sure FAA receives my comment? If you want FAA to
acknowledge the receipt of your mailed comments, you must include a
self-addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, write ``Comments to
Docket No. 2003-CE-14-AD.'' We will date stamp and mail the postcard
back to you.
DISCUSSION
What events have caused this proposed AD? The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt
(LBA), which is the airworthiness authority for Germany, recently
notified FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on all EXTRA Models
EA- 300/200, EA-300L, and EA-300S airplanes. The LBA reports several
occurrences where the fuel selector valve did not operate correctly.
When the wing tanks are selected, the acro/center tank is not
completely shut-off. The result is fuel draining into the wing tanks
that must be empty for acrobatics. This failure of the fuel selector
valve to correctly operate is caused by the deterioration of the
``O''- rings in the valve.
What are the consequences if the condition is not corrected? Acrobatic
operation with fuel in the wings could lead to structural damage of
the wings and possibly reduced structural margins. Reduced structural
margins could lead to eventual structural failure. Is there service
information that applies to this subject? EXTRA has issued Service
Letter No. 300-09-02, Issue: A, dated September 19, 2002, which
includes procedures for inspecting the fuel selector valve for
leakage.
What action did the LBA take? The LBA classified this service bulletin
as mandatory and issued German AD Number AD 2002-48, dated January 9,
2003, in order to ensure the continued airworthiness of these
airplanes in Germany.
Was this in accordance with the bilateral airworthiness agreement?
These airplane models are manufactured in Germany and are type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions
of Sec. 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement.
Pursuant to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the LBA has kept
FAA informed of the situation described above.
The FAA's Determination and an Explanation of the Provisions of this
Proposed AD
What has FAA decided? The FAA has examined the findings of the LBA;
reviewed all available information, including the service information
referenced above; and determined that:
--The unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or could
develop on other Models EA-300/200, EA-300L, and EA-300S airplanes of
the same type design that are on the U.S. registry;
--The actions specified in the previously-referenced service
information should be accomplished on the affected airplanes; and
--AD action should be taken in order to correct this unsafe condition.
What would this proposed AD require? This proposed AD would require
you to inspect the fuel selector valve for leakage and the wing for
structural damage and correct any damage or leakage.
How does the revision to 14 CFR part 39 affect this proposed AD? On
July 10, 2002, FAA published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR
47997, July 22, 2002), which governs FAA's AD system. This regulation
now includes material that relates to special flight permits,
alternative methods of compliance, and altered products. This material
previously was included in each individual AD. Since this material is
included in 14 CFR part 39, we will not include it in future AD
actions.
COST IMPACT
How many airplanes would this proposed AD impact? We estimate that
this proposed AD affects 184 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
What would be the cost impact of this proposed AD on owners/ operators
of the affected airplanes? We estimate the following costs to
accomplish this proposed inspection of the fuel selector valve:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL COST PER
LABOR COST PARTS COST AIRPLANE TOTAL COST ON U.S. OPERATORS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 workhours x $60 per hour = $240 Not applicable........ $240 $240 x 184 = $44,160.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We estimate the following costs to accomplish any necessary valve repair
that would be required based on the results of this proposed inspection.
We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need such
repair:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LABOR COST PARTS COST TOTAL COST PER AIRPLANE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 workhours x $60 per hour = $300.............. $122.50 $422.50.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We estimate the following costs to accomplish the proposed external
inspection of the wings:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL COST PER
LABOR COST PARTS COST AIRPLANE TOTAL COST ON U.S. OPERATORS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 workhour x $60 per hour = $60.. Not Applicable........ $60 $60 x 184 = $11,040.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We are unable to estimate the costs to accomplish any necessary wing
repair that would be required based on the results of this proposed
inspection. EXTRA will evaluate the damage of each affected airplane
and develop an appropriate repair scheme.
REGULATORY IMPACT
Would this proposed AD impact various entities? The regulations
proposed herein 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. Therefore, it is determined that this
proposed rule would not have federalism implications under Executive
Order 13132.
Would this proposed AD involve a significant rule or regulatory
action? For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed
action (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory
Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) if
promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft regulatory
evaluation prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules
Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at
the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
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 Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend part 39 of the
Federal Aviation Regulations (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. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding a new airworthiness directive (AD)
to read as follows: