DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0048; Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-035-AD;
Amendment 39-18876; AD 2017-10-02]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Slingsby Aviation Ltd. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2015-11-01 for
Slingsby Aviation Ltd. Models T67M260 and T67M260-T3A airplanes. This
AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information
(MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify
and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI
describes the unsafe condition as failure of a brake master cylinder
pivot pin, which could cause the rudder pedal mechanism to detach from
the brake cylinder. We are issuing this AD to require actions to
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective June 29, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of June 29,
2017.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
0048; or in person at the Docket 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 service information identified in this AD, contact Marshall
Aerospace and Defence Group, The Airport, Newmarket Road, Cambridge,
CB5 8RX, UK; telephone: +44 (0) 1223 399856; fax: +44 (0) 7825365617;
email: mark.bright@marshalladg.com; Internet: www.marshalladg.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-2017-0048.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Rutherford, Aerospace Engineer,
901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816)
329-4165; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: jim.rutherford@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 Slingsby Aviation Ltd.
Models T67M260 and T67M260-T3A airplanes. That NPRM was published in
the Federal Register on February 7, 2017 (82 FR 9537), and proposed to
supersede AD 2015-11-01, Amendment 39-18164 (80 FR 30136, May 27, 2015)
(``AD 2015-11-01'').
Since we issued AD 2015-11-01, new service information was issued
to revise the inspection instructions and to add a new initial
inspection period after replacement of the brake master cylinder pivot
pins.
The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the specified
products and was based on mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another
country. The MCAI states that:

An occurrence was reported where pivot pin Part Number (P/N)
T67M-45-539, of rudder pedal assembly #4, installed on the right
hand (RH) side of the aeroplane (RH seat, RH pedal) failed during
taxi. This caused the rudder pedal mechanism to detach from the
brake master cylinder.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could cause the
rudder linkages to rotate out of their normal orientation, possibly
resulting in jammed rudder controls and consequent loss of control
of the aeroplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition, Slingsby Advanced
Composites Ltd, trading as Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group
(hereafter called ``Marshall'' in this [EASA] AD) issued Service
Bulletin (SB) SBM 200 to provide inspection instructions.
Consequently, EASA issued Emergency AD 2015-0065-E to require
repetitive inspections of the brake cylinder pivot pins of rudder
pedal assemblies #1 and #4 and, depending on findings, replacement
of the affected pivot pin(s).
Since that [EASA] AD was issued, Marshall published SBM 200
Revision 2 to revise the inspection instructions and to introduce a
new initial inspection period after replacement of brake master
cylinder pivot pins on an aeroplane.
For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD retains the
requirements of EASA AD 2015-065-E, which is superseded, but
requires the use of the revised inspection instructions. This [EASA]
AD also allows deferring the next due inspection after replacement
of the pins.

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the Internet at: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2017-0048-0002.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM 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 the 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 for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information

Slingsby Aviation Ltd. trading as Marshall Aerospace and Defence
Group has issued Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group Service Bulletin
SBM 200, Revision 2, dated December 2015. The service bulletin
describes procedures for inspection of the brake master cylinder pivot
pin. 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.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 3 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it would take about 6 work-hours per product to
comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate
is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $50 per product.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S.
operators to be $1,680, or $560 per product.
In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would
take about .5 work-hour and require parts costing $100, for a cost of
$142.50 per product. We have no way of determining the number of
products that may need these actions.

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 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 this AD:
(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.

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-
0048; 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 the NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received,
and other information. The street address for the Docket Office
(telephone (800) 647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will
be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

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 Amendment 39-18164 (80 FR
30136; May 27, 2015) and adding the following new AD: