DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0490; Directorate Identifier 2017-NE-13-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Ipeco Holdings Ltd. Pilot and Co-Pilot
Seats

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Ipeco Holdings Ltd. (Ipeco) pilot and co-pilot seats. This proposed AD
was prompted by reports of unexpected movement of pilot and co-pilot
seats on takeoff and landing. This proposed AD would require
modification and reidentification of the affected seats. We are
proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this NPRM by July 31, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.

Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Fax: 202-493-2251.

For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Ipeco Holdings Ltd., Aviation Way, Southend on Sea, SS2 6UN, United
Kingdom; phone: 44 1702 549371; fax: 44 1702 540782; email:
sales@Ipeco.com. You may view this service information at the FAA,
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA.
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call
781-238-7125.

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-
0490; or in person at the Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket
contains this proposed AD, the mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), the regulatory evaluation, any comments received,
and other information. The 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: Neil Doh, Aerospace Engineer, Boston
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate,
1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7757; fax:
781-238-7199; email: neil.doh@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2017-0490;
Directorate Identifier 2017-NE-13-AD" at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD 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
with FAA personnel concerning this proposed AD.

Discussion

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA
AD 2016-0256, dated December 16, 2016 (referred to hereinafter as "the
MCAI"), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The
MCAI states:

Occurrences have been reported of pilot/co-pilot unexpected
rearward movement during take-off and landing. Investigations
determined that horizontal guide block wear, presence of burrs on
horizontal centre track, and horizontal track lock system weakness
(spring tension too low) were various causes which contributed to
the seat not being correctly locked.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to further cases of
unwanted flight crew seat movement, possibly resulting in reduced
control of the aeroplane.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0490.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Ipeco has issued Service Bulletin (SB) 063-25-08, Revision 00; SB
063-25-09, Revision 00; and SB 063-25-10, Revision 00; all dated May
31, 2016. These SBs provides instructions, differentiated by the part
numbers of the affected pilot and co-pilot seats, for the modification
and reidentification of these seats. This 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.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of the
United Kingdom, and is approved for operation in the United States.
Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with the European Community, EASA
has notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and
service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because
we evaluated all information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe
condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of
the same type design. This proposed AD would require modification and
reidentification of the affected pilot and co-pilot seats.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD affects an unknown number of
pilot and co-pilot seats installed on 55 airplanes of U.S. registry.

We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs

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 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 to the extent
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, 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):