DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2016-5431; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-044-AD;
Amendment 39-18593; AD 2016-15-02]
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 adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
all 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. This AD was prompted by
reports of multiple cracks in the steel horizontal tube of the cockpit
control column. This AD requires inspection of the cockpit control
column horizontal tube for cracks and repair or replacement of the
cockpit control column as necessary. We are issuing this AD to correct
the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective August 26, 2016.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of August 26,
2016.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
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. 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-2016-5431.
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-2016-
5431; 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 by adding an AD that would apply to all 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 April
1, 2016 (81 FR 18804). The NPRM was prompted by reports of multiple
cracks in the cockpit control column horizontal tube at the corners of
the access panel cutout, at the pulley bolt welds, and at the elevator
arm weld in the steel horizontal tube of the control column on M7
Aerospace SA26, SA226, and SA227 airplanes. The NPRM proposed to
require inspection of the cockpit control column horizontal tube for
cracks and repair or replacement of the cockpit control column as
necessary. This condition, if not corrected, could result in partial or
complete control column failure with partial or complete loss of pitch
and/or roll control. 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. The following presents the comment received on the NPRM (81 FR
18804, April 1, 2016) and the FAA's response to the comment.
Request for Previously Done Credit
Michael O'Brien at Bearskin Airlines commented they had been
complying with this AD by accomplishing the service bulletins that are
listed in the proposed AD. He asked if it would be acceptable to just
accomplish a technical records research to see when the required
actions were last done.
We agree that credit should be given for actions previously done
with the service bulletins called out in the NPRM. The NPRM already
allows for this with the phrase ``unless already done'' in paragraphs
(g)(1) and (2) of the NPRM.
Because the requested change is already part of this AD, we have
not changed the final rule AD action based on this comment.
Conclusion
We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment received, 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 (81 FR 18804, April 1, 2016) for correcting the unsafe condition;
and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM (81 FR 18804, April 1, 2016).
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed M7 Aerospace LLC SA26 Series Service Bulletin (SB) 26-
27-002, M7 Aerospace LLC SA226 Series SB 226-27-078, M7 Aerospace LLC
SA227 Series SB 227-27-058, and M7 Aerospace LLC SA227 Series SB CC7-
27-030, all dated October 8, 2015. The service information describes
procedures for inspection of the cockpit control column horizontal tube
for cracks and repair or replacement of the cockpit control column as
necessary. All of the related service 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 NPRM.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 350 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 |
12 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $1,020 |
Not applicable |
$1,020
|
$357,000
|
We estimate the following costs to
do any necessary repairs/
replacements that would be required based on the results of the
inspection. We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that
might need these repairs/replacements:
On-Condition Costs
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Repair cracks |
2 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$170 |
Not applicable
|
$170
|
Replace parts |
16 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $1,360 |
$5,000
|
6,360
|
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
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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
|