DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2017-0288; Product Identifier 2017-CE-007-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Textron Aviation Inc. Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM); reopening
of comment period.
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SUMMARY: We are revising an earlier proposal for all Textron Aviation
Inc. Models A36TC and B36TC airplanes. This action revises the notice
of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) by adding all Textron Aviation Inc.
Models S35, V35, V35A, and V35B airplanes that have the optional
turbocharger engine installed to the applicability and adding an annual
visual inspection of the exhaust tailpipe v-band coupling (clamp). We
are proposing this airworthiness directive (AD) to address the unsafe
condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an
additional burden over those in the NPRM, we are reopening the comment
period to allow the public the chance to comment on these changes.
DATES: The comment period for the NPRM published in the Federal
Register
on April 12, 2017 (82 FR 17594), is reopened.
We must receive comments on this SNPRM by December 26, 2017.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in
14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
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.
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-2017-0288;
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 SNPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received,
and other information. The street address for the Docket Office (phone:
800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available
in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Teplik, Aerospace Engineer,
Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas
67209; phone: (316) 946-4196; fax: (316) 946-4107; email:
thomas.teplik@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2017-0288;
Product Identifier 2017-CE-007-AD" at the beginning of your comments.
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this SNPRM. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date and may amend this SNPRM because
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 about this SNPRM.
Discussion
We issued an NPRM to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that
would apply to Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron) Models A36TC and B36TC
airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on April 12, 2017
(82 FR 17594). The NPRM was prompted by a fatal accident where the
exhaust tailpipe fell off during takeoff. The NPRM proposed to add a
life limit to the exhaust tailpipe v-band coupling (clamp) and, if the
coupling is removed for any reason before the life limit is reached,
require an inspection of the v-band coupling before reinstalling.
Actions Since the NPRM Was Issued
Since we issued the NPRM, we received information that Textron
Models S35, V35, V35A, and V35B airplanes could have a turbocharged
reciprocating engine installed, either at manufacture as an optional
installation or post-manufacture as a supplemental type certificate
(STC) installation. Either engine installation would include
installation of an affected v-band coupling. We also received comments
to the NPRM requesting an annual visual inspection of the v-band
couplings and requesting language changes to address the replacement of
the engine with a non-turbocharged engine.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to comment on the NPRM. The
following presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's
response to each comment.
Request Repetitive Visual Inspections of the V-Band Coupling
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) requested we add
repetitive visual inspections of the v-band coupling. The NTSB noted
that the FAA included repetitive visual inspections of the v-band
coupling in a previous AD affecting Piper Aircraft Inc. airplanes. They
believe a similar repetitive visual inspection of the v-band coupling
for the airplanes affected by this proposed AD, in addition to the
proposed life limit, would help identify the cracks before failure.
We agree with the comment, and we have added a repetitive visual
inspection of the v-band coupling to this SNPRM.
Request To Remove Airplanes Without a Turbocharged Engine From the
Applicability
Gerard Terpstra requested we exclude Model A36TC airplanes that
have STC SA3523NM installed from the applicability of the AD. This STC
removes the turbocharged engine and replaces it with a turbine engine,
which does not include a v-band coupling affected by the proposed AD.
Therefore, it would be impossible to comply with the AD.
We agree with this comment, and we have modified the Applicability,
paragraph (c), to only apply to airplanes with engine installations
with a turbocharger that include exhaust tailpipe v-band couplings
affected by this SNPRM.
In Favor of the AD
Thomas P. Turner of the American Bonanza Society Air Safety
Foundation responded in favor of the proposed AD action.
FAA's Determination
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
Certain changes described above expand the scope of the NPRM. As a
result, we have determined that it is necessary to reopen the comment
period to provide additional opportunity for the public to comment on
this SNPRM.
Proposed Requirements of This SNPRM
This SNPRM would require repetitive visual inspections of the
exhaust tailpipe v-band coupling and add a life limit to the exhaust
tailpipe v-band coupling (clamp).
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 731 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
Visual inspection of the exhaust
tailpipe v-band coupling (Installed) |
.5 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$42.50 |
Not applicable
|
$42.50
|
$31,067.50
|
Replacement of the exhaust tailpipe
v-band coupling |
2 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$170 |
$300
|
470
|
343,570
|
We estimate the following costs to
do any necessary inspection that
would require removal and reinstallation of the exhaust tailpipe v-band
coupling. We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that
might need this inspection:
On-Condition Costs
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Inspection of the exhaust tailpipe
v-band coupling (Not installed, includes removal and reinstallation) |
1.5 work-hours x $127.50 per
hour = $127.50 |
Not applicable
|
$127.50
|
We estimate the following costs for
the installation of part number
N1000897-40 exhaust tailpipe v-band coupling on Models S35, V35, V35A,
and V35B airplanes equipped with the Continental TSIO-520-D engine with
AiResearch turbocharger during manufacture. We have no way of
determining the number of airplanes that may do this installation:
On-Condition Costs
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Installation of part number N1000897-40
exhaust tailpipe v-band coupling |
2 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$170 |
$632
|
$802
|
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.
This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the
authority to issue ADs applicable to small airplanes and domestic
business jet transport airplanes to the Director of the Policy and
Innovation Division.
Regulatory Findings
We 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 this 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 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.
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 airworthiness
directive (AD):
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