DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2015-2207; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-003-AD;
Amendment 39-18272; AD 2015-19-10]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; M7 Aerospace LLC Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 97-02-02
for
certain Models SA26-AT, SA26-T, SA226-AT, SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-
TC, SA227-AC (C-26A), SA227-AT, SA227-BC (C-26A), SA227-CC, SA227-DC
(C-26B), and SA227-TT airplanes. AD 97-02-02 required applying torque
to the control column pitch bearing attaching nuts, inspecting the
bearing assembly, inspecting the elevator control rod end bearing
retainer/dust seals, and replacing or installing new parts as
necessary. This new AD requires inspecting for movement and correct
torque of the elevator control pivot bearing, inspecting the elevator
control rod for damage and correct configuration, and replacing parts
as necessary. This AD also requires a 10,000-hour time-in-service (TIS)
repetitive replacement of the control column pivot bearing and elevator
control rod bolt and requires replacement of the control column pivot
bearing with the improved design by 35,000 hours TIS. This AD was
prompted by loss of elevator control due to failure of the bolt
attaching the elevator control rod to the elevator walking beam under
the cockpit floor. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe
condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective November 3, 2015.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of November 3,
2015.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
M7
Aerospace LLC, 10823 NE Entrance Road, San Antonio, Texas 78216; phone:
(210) 824-9421; fax: (210) 804-7766; Internet: http://www.elbitsystems-us.com;
email: MetroTech@M7Aerospace.com. 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 Docket No.
FAA-2015-2207.
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-2015-
2207; 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 this AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and
other information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-
5527) is 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, ASW-143 (c/o San Antonio MIDO), 10100 Reunion Place, Suite 650,
San Antonio, Texas 78216; phone: (210) 308-3365; fax: (210) 308-3370;
email: andrew.mcanaul@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to supersede AD 97-02-02, Amendment 39-9886 (62 FR 2552,
January 17, 1997), (``AD 97-02-02''). AD 97-02-02 applied to certain M7
Aerospace LLC Models SA26-AT, SA26-T, SA226-AT, SA226-T, SA226-T(B),
SA226-TC, SA227-AC (C-26A), SA227-AT, SA227-BC (C-26A), SA227-CC,
SA227-DC (C-26B), and SA227-TT airplanes. The NPRM published in the
Federal Register on June 16, 2015 (80 FR 34326). The NPRM was prompted
by an operator experiencing complete loss of elevator control due to
failure of the bolt attaching the elevator control rod to the elevator
walking beam under the cockpit floor. A follow-on inspection of the
operator's fleet revealed a variety of hardware installed. Some
hardware matched the illustrated parts catalog (IPC), some matched the
AD 97-02-02 configuration, and some matched neither of those
configurations.
When AD 97-02-02 was issued, the IPC was never revised to match the
hardware configuration called out in AD 97-02-02 or in the service
information associated with that AD. Because of the conflict between
the AD and the IPC configurations, an airplane that was in compliance
with the requirements of AD 97-02-02 could have had an incorrect
hardware configuration installed during routine maintenance after
complying with the AD. The IPC has been updated and corrected by M7
Aerospace, LLC.
Also, since we issued AD 97-02-02, the manufacturer developed an
improved design for the control column pivot bearing and support
structure that terminates the repetitive torque check and replacement
of control column pivot bearings.
The manufacturer also issued new service information that adds the
10,000-hour TIS repetitive replacement of the control column pivot
bearing that is in the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the
airplane maintenance manual (AMM) and (if this revision is mandated)
requires the replacement of the pivot bearing with the improved design
by 35,000 hours TIS that is in the supplemental inspections document
(SID). Issuance of the new service information, the revised IPC, and this
AD will
eliminate the conflicts between AD 97-02-02, the service information,
the IPC, the ALS, and the SID.
The NPRM (80 FR 34326, June 16, 2015) proposed to require
inspecting for movement and correct torque of the elevator control
pivot bearing, inspecting the elevator control rod for damage and
correct configuration, and replacing parts as necessary. The NPRM also
proposed to require a 10,000-hour TIS repetitive replacement of the
control column pivot bearing and elevator control rod bolt and require
replacement of the control column pivot bearing with the improved
design by 35,000 hours TIS. Replacing the original control column pivot
bearing with the improved design terminates the requirement to
repetitively replace the original control column pivot bearing every
10,000 hours. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on
these products.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (80 FR 34326, June 16,
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 this 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 34326, June 16, 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 34326, June 16, 2015).
Relevant Service Information Under 1 CFR 51
We reviewed M7 Aerospace SA26 Series Service Bulletin No. 26-27-30-
046 R2, dated December 5, 2014; Fairchild Aircraft SA26 Series Service
Bulletin No. 26-27-30-047, dated June 16, 1997; M7 Aerospace SA226
Series Service Bulletin No. 226-27-060 R2, dated December 5, 2014;
Fairchild Aerospace SA226 Series Service Bulletin No. 226-27-061, dated
June 16, 1997; M7 Aerospace SA227 Series Service Bulletin, No. 227-27-
041 R2, dated December 5, 2014; Fairchild Aircraft SA227 Series Service
Bulletin No. 227-27-042, dated June 16, 1997; M7 Aerospace LLC SA227
Series Commuter Category Service Bulletin No. CC7-27-010 R2, dated
December 5, 2014; and Fairchild Aircraft SA227 Series Commuter Category
Service Bulletin No. CC7-27-011, dated June 16, 1997. The service
information describes procedures for inspecting for movement and
correct torque of the elevator control pivot bearing, inspecting the
elevator control rod for damage, and replacing parts as necessary. The
service information also adds a repetitive replacement of the control
column pivot bearings at 10,000 hours TIS and requires replacement of
the control column pivot bearing with the improved design within 35,000
hours TIS. This information is reasonably available because the
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section of this
AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 360 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
Cost on U.S. operators |
Inspection of torque on the control
column pivot bearing. |
2 work-hours x $85 per
hour = $170 |
Not applicable |
$170 |
$61,200 |
Control column pivot bearing
replacement. |
8 work-hours x $85 per
hour = $680 |
$300 |
980 |
352,800 |
New designed control column pivot
bearing replacement. |
20 work-hours x $85 per
hour = $1,700 |
$2,450 |
4,150 |
1,494,000 |
Elevator rod end bolt replacement. |
4 work-hours x $85 per
hour = $340 |
$10 |
350 |
126,000 |
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 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 that this AD:
(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),
(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.
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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
97-02-02, Amendment 39-9886 (62 FR 2552, January 17, 1997), and adding
the following new AD:
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