DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-CE-20-AD] RIN 2120-AA64

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES; Dornier Luftfahrt GMBH Models 228-100,
228-101, 228-200, 228-201, 228-202, and 228-212 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This  document proposes  to adopt  a new  airworthiness directive
(AD) that would apply to  certain Dornier Luftfahrt GMBH (Dornier)  Models
228-100, 228-101,  228-200, 228-201,  228-202, and  228-212 airplanes that
have electrical cabin/cockpit heater  option P05 or option  P09 installed.
This  proposed  AD would  require  you to  modify  the cockpit  and  cabin
auxiliary heating  wiring. 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 correct problems with the current design of the heater wiring,
which could result in failure of the auxiliary cabin heater. Such  failure
could lead to overheating and smoke in the cockpit.

DATES: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any comments
on this proposed rule on or before June 23, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to FAA, Central Region, Office of the  Regional
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2003-CE-20-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-20-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
Dornier  Luftfahrt   GMBH,  Customer  Support,  P.O.   Box  1103,  D-82230
Wessling,   Federal  Republic   of  Germany;   telephone:  (08153)    300;
facsimile: (08153)  304463. 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-20-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 certain Dornier
    Models 228-100,  228-101, 228-200  and 228-201,  228-202, and  228-212
    airplanes. The  LBA reports  an occurrence  of stuck  contacts of  the
    power relay  of the  heating circuit  to the  auxiliary cabin  heater,
    Dornier option P05 or P09.

    What are the consequences if  the condition is not corrected?  Failure
    of the auxiliary cabin heater  could lead to overheating and  smoke in
    the cockpit.

    Is there service information that applies to this subject? Dornier has
    issued Service Bulletin  No. 228-249, Revision  No. 1, dated  November
    19, 2001.

    What  are  the provisions  of  this service  information?  The service
    bulletin includes procedures for modifying the auxiliary cabin  heater
    wiring.

    What action did the LBA take? The LBA classified this service bulletin
    as mandatory and issued German AD Number 2002-264, dated September 19,
    2002,  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 section 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
    devlop on other Dornier Models 228-100, 228-101, 228-200 and  228-201,
    228-202, and 228-212 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  incorporate the  actions in  the previously-referenced service
    bulletin.

    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 14 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 modification.  We have no way  of determining
    the number of airplanes that may need such modification:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             TOTAL COST
                 LABOR COST                    PARTS COST   PER AIRPLANE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 workhours x $60 per hour = $180...........         $95.         $275.
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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: