DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-0261; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-008-AD] RIN
2120-AA64
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES; Quartz Mountain Aerospace, Inc. Model 11E 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 all
Quartz Mountain Aerospace, Inc. Model 11E airplanes. This proposed AD
would require you to clean and lubricate the aileron pushrod bearings.
This proposed AD results from reports of the aileron control stick force
increasing and of the controls being very noisy. We are proposing this AD
to detect and correct insufficient lubrication and residual metallic paint
particles in the pushrod end ball joints, which could result in difficulty
actuating aileron controls sometime during flight after takeoff. This
condition could lead to difficulty controlling the airplane in flight.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 30, 2010.
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.
Quartz Mountain Aerospace, Inc. is in liquidation. For service/or
continued airworthiness information identified in this proposed AD,
contact Manager, Fort Worth Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, ATTN:
Garry D. Sills, Aerospace Engineer, Rotorcraft Directorate--Airplane
Certification Office, ASW-150, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas
76193; telephone: (817) 222-5154; facsimile: (817) 222-5960.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garry D. Sills, Aerospace Engineer, Rot-
orcraft Directorate--Airplane Certification Office, ASW-150, 2601 Meacham
Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76193; telephone: (817) 222-5154; fax: (817) 222
-5960.
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-2010-0261;
Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-008-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 have received reports of the aileron control stick force increasing and
of the controls being very noisy on Quartz Mountain Aerospace, Inc. Model
11E airplanes. This condition may not be detectable before takeoff. In one
actual instance, the condition occurred during flight. The stick force
increased after preflight inspection and after takeoff. The airplane was
operated by a student pilot, who had trouble flying the airplane when this
occurred, and the certified flight instructor (CFI) had to take control
and land the airplane. Lubricating the rod end removed the condition.
Inspection revealed the left and right aileron push rod forward ends at
the bellcrank were dry due to no lubrication.
Further examination of the pushrod end ball joint hardware by the
manufacturer found that the ball joint surfaces were additionally
contaminated with specks of metallic paint as well as not being
lubricated. A review of manufacturer build procedures found airplane
painting with the rod ends exposed. Production procedures were changed to
prevent further contamination.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to difficulty controlling the
airplane in flight.
RELEVANT SERVICE INFORMATION
We have reviewed Quartz Mountain Aerospace Service Bulletin No. SB 09-02,
dated May 5, 2009.
The service information describes procedures for cleaning and lubricating
the aileron pushrod bearings.
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 you to clean and lubricate the aileron pushrod bearings.
COSTS OF COMPLIANCE
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 12 airplanes in the U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to do the proposed cleaning and lubricat-
ion:
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TOTAL COST PER TOTAL COST ON
LABOR COST PARTS COST AIRPLANE U.S. OPERATORS
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1 work-hour x
$85 per hour = $85.... $10 $95 $1,140
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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 devel-
op 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: