DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1166; Product Identifier 2017-CE-042-AD; Amendment
39-19217; AD 2018-05-08]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2013-19-12 for
GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Models GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes. This AD
results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and
address an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes
the unsafe condition as the fuel system integral sump tank not meeting
FAA regulations. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address
the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 12, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 12,
2018.

ADDRESSES: 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 Docket Operations, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 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 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 view this 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. It is also available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov
by searching for Docket No. FAA-2017-1166.

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:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd
Models GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes. That NPRM was published in the
Federal Register on December 19, 2017 (82 FR 60128), and proposed to
supersede AD 2013-19-12, Amendment 39-17594 (78 FR 58872, September 25,
2013) (``AD 2013-19-12'').
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 NPRM proposed to address 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:

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.

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2017-1166-0002.

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 this 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 addressing the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information

We reviewed GippsAero 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 AD.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 47 products of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it will take about 3 work-hours per product to do
fuel system ventilation and drainage modification requirement of this
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 AD on U.S. operators to be $11,985, or $255 per product.
We also estimate that it will take about 4 work-hours per product
to do the supplementary fuel ventilation modification requirement of
this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts
will cost about $932 per product.
Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this portion of
this AD on U.S. operators to be $59,784, or $1,272 per product.
In addition, we estimate that it will take about 4 work-hours per
product to do the cargo pod modification requirement of this AD (this
action is retained from AD 2013-19-12). The average labor rate is $85
per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $1,000 per product, for a
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 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, gliders,
balloons, airships, domestic business jet transport airplanes, and
associated appliances to the Director of the Policy and Innovation
Division.

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-
1166; or in person at Docket Operations 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 Docket Operations (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 39-17594 (78 FR
58872, September 25, 2013), and adding the following new AD: