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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2017-0283; Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-009-AD;
Amendment 39-18849; AD 2017-07-10]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; American Champion Aircraft Corp.
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain
American Champion Aircraft Corp. Model 8KCAB airplanes. This AD
requires fabrication and installation of a placard to prohibit
aerobatic flight, inspection of the aileron hinge rib and support, and
a reporting requirement of the inspection results to the FAA. This AD
was prompted by a report of a cracked hinge support and cracked hinge
ribs, which resulted in partial loss of control with the aileron
binding against the cove. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe
condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective April 12, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 12,
2017.
We must receive comments on this AD by May 30, 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.
For service information identified in this final rule, contact
American Champion Aircraft Corp., P.O. Box 37, 32032 Washington Ave.,
Rochester, Wisconsin 53167; telephone: (262) 534-6315; fax: (262) 534-
2395; email: aca-engineering@tds.net; Internet: http://www.americanchampionaircraft.com/service-letters.html.
It is also
available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0283.
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-2017-0283;
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 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: Wess Rouse, Aerospace Engineer,
2300
East Devon Avenue, Room 107, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone:
(847) 294-8113; fax: (847) 294-7834; email: wess.rouse@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We received a report of an event on an American Champion Aircraft
Corp. Model 8KCAB airplane. In this event the pilot reported a stuck
aileron during some phases of flight. The pilot was able to ``un-
stick'' the aileron and land the airplane. Upon inspection, the
operator found cracked structure around several of the aileron hinges.
This AD was prompted by a report of a cracked hinge support and cracked
hinge ribs, which resulted in partial loss of control with the aileron
binding against the cove. This condition, if not corrected, could
result in failure of the aileron support structure; leading to
excessive deflection, binding of the control surface, and potential
loss of control. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition
on these products.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed American Champion Aircraft Corp. Service Letter 442,
dated February 16, 2017. The service information describes procedures
for initial and repetitive inspections of the aileron hinge rib and
support. 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.
FAA's Determination
We are issuing 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.
AD Requirements
This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the service
information described previously, except as discussed under
``Differences Between the AD and the Service Information.'' This AD
also requires sending the inspection results to the FAA so that
appropriate FAA-approved repair action can be incorporated and the
information can be evaluated for any possible future inspections or
modifications.
Differences Between the AD and the Service Information
American Champion Aircraft Corp. Service Letter (SL) 442, dated
February 16, 2017, requires repetitive inspections. The FAA has not
determined whether these intervals are appropriate. This AD includes
fabrication and installation of a placard limiting aerobatic flight for
the 10 flight hours allowed prior to the inspection. The service
information does not contain such a placard limitation. The service
information requires reporting inspection results to American Champion.
This AD requires reporting of inspection results to the FAA. The
service information does not address corrective actions if cracks are
found. This AD will not allow further flight for airplanes with known
cracks. The actions required by this AD take precedence over the
service information.
FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date
An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because these
cracks can lead to a loss of control and current evidence suggests they
are growing rapidly. Therefore, we find that notice and opportunity for
prior public comment are impracticable and that good cause exists for
making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public
comment. However, we invite you to send any written data, views, or
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under
the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number FAA-2017-0283 and
Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-009-AD at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
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 we
receive about this AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 64 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
|
| Fabrication of placard, inspection
of aileron hinge rib and support, and report of findings to the FAA. |
2 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $170.00 |
$100
|
$270.00
|
$17,280
|
Paperwork Reduction Act
A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to penalty for
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of
information displays a current valid OMB control number. The control
number for the collection of information required by this AD is 2120-
0056. The paperwork cost associated with this AD has been detailed in
the Costs of Compliance section of this document and includes time for
reviewing instructions, as well as completing and reviewing the
collection of information. Therefore, all reporting associated with
this AD is mandatory. Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden
and suggestions for reducing the burden should be directed to the FAA
at 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591. ATTN: Information
Collection Clearance Officer, AES-200.
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):
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