DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2017-1166; Product Identifier 2017-CE-042-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2013-19-
12 for GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Models GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes. This
proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information
(MCAI) originated 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 the fuel system integral sump
tank does not meet FAA regulations. We are issuing this proposed AD to
require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February
2, 2018.
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.
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 proposed AD, contact GA
8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd, c/o GippsAero Pty Ltd, Attn: Technical Services,
P.O. Box 881, Morwell Victoria 3840, Australia; telephone: + 61 03 5172
1200; fax: +61 03 5172 1201; email:
aircraft.techpubs@mahindraaerospace.com. You may review copies of the
referenced service information at the FAA, Policy and Innovation
Division, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on
the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.
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-2017-1166;
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 proposed AD, 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA,
Small Airplane Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email:
doug.rudolph@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-2017-1166;
Product Identifier 2017-CE-042-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://
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
We issued AD 2013-19-12, Amendment 39-17594 (78 FR 58872, September
25, 2013) ("AD 2013-19-12"). That AD required actions intended to
address an unsafe condition on GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Models GA8 and
GA8-TC320 airplanes and was based on mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another
country.
Since we issued AD 2013-19-12, the related service information has
been amended to incorporate a modification to ventilate the area around
the integral sump tank.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which is the aviation
authority for Australia, has issued AD No. AD/GA8/7, Amendment 1, dated
November 13, 2017 (referred to after this as "the MCAI"), to correct
an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:
The GippsAero GA8 and GA8-TC 320 aircraft Mk II fuel system
features an integral sump tank located in the floor structure
forward of the co-pilot seat. The current configuration of the
compartments adjacent to the Mk II sump tank does not meet the
requirements of regulation 23.967 (b) of the Federal Aviation
Regulations of the United States of America in that they are not
suitably ventilated and drained to prevent the accumulation of
flammable fluids or vapours.
Amendment 1 of this [CASA] directive mandates ventilation of the
area around the integral sump tank as presented in SB-GA8-2012-96
Issue 6 to meet the requirements of regulation 23.967 (b) of the
Federal Aviation Regulations of the United States of America.
You may examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-1166.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
GippsAero has issued Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2012-96, Issue 6,
dated July 21, 2016. This service information describes procedures for
modifying the fuel ventilation and drainage system. 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 of this NPRM.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they
have 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 and determined the unsafe condition exists
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type
design.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 47 products of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 3 work-hours per
product to do fuel system ventilation and drainage modification
requirement of this proposed AD (this action is retained from AD 2013-
19-12). The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this portion of
this proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $11,985, or $255 per product.
We also estimate that it would take about 4 work-hours per product
to do the supplementary fuel ventilation modification requirement of
this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required
parts would cost about $932 per product.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this portion of
this proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $59,784, or $1,272 per
product.
In addition, we estimate that it would take about 4 work-hours per
product to do the cargo pod modification requirement of this proposed
AD (this action is retained from AD 2013-19-12). The average labor rate
is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $1,000 per
product, for a proposed cost of $1,340 per product. We have no way of
determining the number of products that may need this action.
According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost
estimate.
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 removing Amendment 39-17594 (78 FR
58872, September 25, 2013), and adding the following new AD:
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