DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-1123; Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-037-AD;
Amendment 39-18120; AD 2015-06-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for GA 8
Airvan (Pty) Ltd Model GA8-TC320 airplanes. This AD results from
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an
aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe
condition as missing required engine mount fire seal washers, which
could reduce the engine retention capability in the event of a fire. We
are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition
on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 24, 2015.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of April 24,
2015.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
1123; or in person at Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
For service information identified in this AD, contact GA 8 Airvan
(Pty) Ltd, c/o GippsAero Pty Ltd, Attn: Technical Services, P.O. Box
881, Morwell Victoria 3840, Australia; telephone: +61 03 5172 1200;
fax: +61 03 5172 1201; email: techpubs@gippsaero.com; Internet: http://www.gippsaero.com/customer-support/technical-publications.aspx. You may
view this referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane
Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information
on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.
It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-1123.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email:
doug.rudolph@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to add an AD that would apply to GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Model
GA8-TC320 airplane. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on
January 6, 2015 (80 FR 419). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe
condition for the specified products and was based on mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation
authority of another country. The MCAI states:

A recent review of the engine mount installation on the GA8-TC
320 aircraft has highlighted the omission of engine mount fire seal
washers during the assembly process.
The current engine mount configuration does not meet the
certification basis for the aircraft, specifically regulation 23.865
of the Federal Aviation Regulations of the United States of America,
where engine mounts located in designated fire zones are required to
be suitably shielded so that they are capable of withstanding the
effects of a fire.
The Gippsland Aeronautics GA8-TC 320 aircraft require the
installation of an approved steel washer at each of the engine mount
locations to address a potential risk of reduced engine retention
capability in the event of a fire.

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2014-1123-0002.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (80 FR 419, January 6,
2015) or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed except for
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM (80 FR 419, January 6, 2015) for correcting the unsafe condition;
and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM (80 FR 419, January 6, 2015).

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed GippsAero Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2014-115,
Issue 1, dated October 6, 2014. The GippsAero Mandatory Service
Bulletin SB-GA8-2014-115, Issue 1, dated October 6, 2014 describes
procedures for inspecting the orientation of the engine isolator mounts
to verify proper installation, re-installing if necessary, and
installing steel washers on the forward side of each side of the engine
isolator mounts. This service information is reasonably available; see
ADDRESSES for ways to access this service information.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 13 products of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 5 work-hours per
product to comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $10
per product.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S.
operators to be $5,655, or $435 per product.
According to the manufacturer, all of the costs of this AD may be
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost
estimate.

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 determined that this AD will not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(4) 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.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
1123; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket
contains the NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received,
and other information. The street address for the Docket Office
(telephone (800) 647-5527) is 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.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 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: