DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0640; Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-020-AD;
Amendment 39-18969; AD 2017-15-09]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH
Airplanes

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
Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Model DA 42 airplanes. This AD
requires installing engine exhaust pipe clamps with spring washers,
repetitively inspecting the engine exhaust pipe clamps for cracks, and
replacing the clamps if found cracked. This AD was prompted by cracks
in the affected engine exhaust pipes, which could cause failure of the
propeller regulating valve because of hot exhaust gases coming from the
fractured pipes. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition
on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 1, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 1,
2017.
We must receive comments on this AD by September 15, 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.
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 AD, contact Diamond
Aircraft Industries GmbH, N.A. Otto-Stra[szlig]e 5, A-2700 Wiener
Neustadt, Austria, telephone: +43 2622 26700; fax: +43 2622 26780;
email: office@diamond-air.at; Internet: http://www.diamondaircraft.com.
You may review 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 locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0640.

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-
0640; 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: Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; email:
mike.kiesov@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

AD 2017-01-12, Amendment 39-18779 (82 FR 5359, January 18, 2017)
(``AD 2017-01-12'') requires either replacing the engine exhaust pipes
with new design pipes or installing clamps on the old design pipes on
Diamond Model DA 42 airplanes. AD 2017-01-12 is based on European
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2016-0156R1, dated November 23,
2016. EASA is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European
Community.
After issuance of AD 2017-01-12, we received reports of cracks on
the new design engine exhaust pipes. To address this cracking issue, we
issued AD 2017-11-08, Amendment 39-18907 (82 FR 24843, May 31, 2017)
(``AD 2017-11-08''). AD 2017-11-08 requires repetitively inspecting the
new design engine exhaust pipes installed on Diamond Model DA 42
airplanes and replacing any cracked pipes. AD 2017-11-08 is based on
EASA AD No. 2017-0090, dated May 17, 2017.
Since issuance of AD 2017-11-08, we received reports of cracks
found on the engine exhaust pipe clamps that were installed on the old
design engine exhaust pipes as a requirement in AD 2017-01-12. The FAA
and EASA are working concurrently on AD action for the United States
and Europe. EASA recently issued AD No.: 2017-0120, dated July 13,
2017, to address actions similar to that of this FAA AD.
This condition, if not corrected, could result in hot exhaust gases
coming from the fractured pipes and leading to an uncommanded engine
in-flight shutdown or overheat damage, which could result in a forced
landing, consequent damage, and occupant injury.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH has issued Mandatory Service
Bulletin MSB 42-120/2, dated June 7, 2017, and Work Instruction WI-MSB
42-120, Revision 3, dated July 6, 2017. In combination, the service
information describes procedures for installing engine exhaust pipe
clamps with spring washers and inspecting the engine exhaust pipe
clamps for cracks, with replacement if cracks are found. 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 the final rule.

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.

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
affected engine exhaust pipes could crack and cause hot gases to leak
from fractured exhaust pipes and lead to an uncommanded engine in-
flight shutdown. 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-2017-0640 and
Directorate Identifier 2017-CE-020-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 130 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:


Estimated Costs

* (for both clamps)

We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements
that will be required based on the results of the inspections. We have
no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need these
replacements:

On-Condition Costs

* (for both clamps)

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):