DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2009-0489; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-025-AD] RIN
2120-AA64
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES; Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-802 and AT-802A Air-
planes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportat-
ion (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor) Models AT-802 and AT-802A
airplanes. This proposed AD would require installing a rudder-aileron
interconnect cable system shield kit and securing any items stowed in the
baggage compartment using tie downs and/or a cargo net until the cable
shield kit is installed. This proposed AD results from a report of the
rudder pedal cable becoming jammed in flight. We are proposing this AD to
prevent jamming of the rudder-aileron interconnect cables by unsecured
items in the baggage compartment, which could result in failure of the
rudder-aileron interconnect cable system. This failure could lead to loss
of control.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 28, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this proposed
AD:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30,
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact Air
Tractor, Inc., P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374; telephone: (940) 564
-5616; facsimile: (940) 564-5612; E-mail: parts@airtractor.com; Internet:
http://www.airtractor.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andy McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, 10100
Reunion Pl., Ste. 650, San Antonio, Texas 78216; telephone: (210) 308
-3365; fax: (210) 308-3370.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
COMMENTS INVITED
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments
regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address listed under
the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number, "FAA- 2009-0489;
Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-025-AD" at the beginning of your comments.
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date and may amend the proposed AD in
light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive concerning this proposed AD.
DISCUSSION
We received a report of an Air Tractor Model AT-802 airplane rudder pedal
jamming in flight. The pilot was able to maintain control and land. After
landing, a cable pulley in the rudder system was found broken. Air Tractor
believes one or more unsecured items in the baggage compartment became
entangled in the cables and caused them to jam, resulting in failure of
the pulley.
Air Tractor has designed a modification kit that installs shielding in the
baggage compartment to prevent unsecured stowed items from becoming
entangled in the rudder-aileron interconnect cable system.
This condition, if not corrected, could result in jamming of the rudder
-aileron interconnect cables by unsecured items in the baggage
compartment, which could result in failure of the rudder-aileron
interconnect cable system. This failure could lead to loss of control.
RELEVANT SERVICE INFORMATION
We have reviewed Snow Engineering Co., Service Letter 274, Revision A,
dated April 6, 2009.
The service information describes procedures for installing a cable shield
in the baggage compartment.
FAA'S DETERMINATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROPOSED AD
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all information and
determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or
develop on other products of the same type design. This proposed AD would
require installing a rudder-aileron interconnect cable system shield kit
and securing any items stowed in the baggage compartment using tie downs
and/or a cargo net until the cable shield kit is installed.
Normally, the FAA would use a compliance time of hours time-in- service
(TIS) or a certain number of months. The proposed AD uses a calendar date
for compliance instead of hours TIS or a certain number of months. We are
using the calendar date of before December 31, 2009, to allow owners with
airplanes used in agricultural spray operations until the end of the spray
season to install the rudder-aileron interconnect cable system shields
(terminating action).
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THIS PROPOSED AD AND THE SERVICE INFORMATION
This proposed AD would require securing stowed items in the baggage
compartment with tie-down straps or a cargo net until the rudder-aileron
interconnect cable system shield required in the proposed AD is installed.
The requirements of this proposed AD, if adopted as a final rule, would
take precedence over the provisions in the service information.
COSTS OF COMPLIANCE
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 210 airplanes in the U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to do the proposed modification:
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LABOR COST PARTS COST TOTAL COST TOTAL COST ON
PER AIRPLANE U.S. OPERATORS
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Cable Shield Kit SL274:
4.5 work-hours x $80 affects 170 airplanes
per hour = $360. $860 at $1,220 each. $207,400
Cable Shield Kit SL274-2:
4.5 work-hours x $80 affects 40 airplanes
per hour = $360. $540 at $900 each. 36,000
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AUTHORITY FOR THIS RULEMAKING
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to issue
rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the authority
of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, describes in
more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in Subtitle
VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, "General requirements." Under
that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil
aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices,
methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in
air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority
because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or
develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.
REGULATORY FINDINGS
We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not have
a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the
national Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the proposed regulation:
1. Is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order 12866;
2. Is not a "significant rule" under the DOT Regulatory Policies and Proc-
edures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
3. Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a
substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with
this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.
EXAMINING THE AD DOCKET
You may examine the AD docket that contains the proposed AD, the
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information on the
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket
Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is
located at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments
will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
LIST OF SUBJECTS IN 14 CFR PART 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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.
SEC. 39.13 [AMENDED]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD: