DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2018-0513; Product Identifier 2018-CE-013-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Honda Aircraft Company LLC
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-11-
05, which applies to certain Honda Aircraft Company (Honda) LLC Model
HA-420 airplanes. AD 2018-11-05 requires incorporating a temporary
revision into the airplane flight manual and replacing the faulty power
brake valve (PBV) upon condition. Since AD 2018-11-05 was issued as an
interim action in order to address the need for the immediate detection
of a faulty PBV, we are issuing this proposed AD to address the long-
term corrective action. This proposed AD would retain the actions
required in AD 2018-11-05, would require replacing the faulty PBV with
an improved design part at a specified time, and would prohibit future
installations of the faulty PBVs on all Honda Model HA-420 airplanes.
We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 23,
2018.
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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Honda
Aircraft Company LLC, 6430 Ballinger Road, Greensboro, North Carolina
27410; telephone (336) 662-0246; internet: http://www.hondajet.com. You
may view this 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-2018-0513;
or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains
this NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is listed above. Comments will be available in the AD docket
shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Samuel Kovitch, Aerospace Engineer,
Atlanta ACO Branch, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia
30337; phone: (404) 474-5570; fax: (404) 474-5605; email:
samuel.kovitch@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-2018-0513;
Product Identifier 2018-CE-013-AD" at the beginning of your comments.
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM 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 proposed AD.
Discussion
We issued AD 2018-11-05, Amendment 39-19293 (83 FR 24016, May 24,
2018), ("AD 2018-11-05), for certain Honda Aircraft Company LLC
(Honda) Model HA-420 airplanes. AD 2018-11-05 requires inserting a
temporary revision into the airplane flight manual (AFM), which may be
performed by the owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a private
pilot certificate and must be entered into the airplane records showing
compliance with the AD in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9 (a)(1)-(4) and 14
CFR 91.417(a)(2)(v). AD 2018-11-05 also requires a conditional
replacement of the installed power brake valve (PBV), P/N HJ1-13243-
101-005 or P/N HJ1-13243-101-007, with an improved PBV, P/N HJ1-13243-
101-009, if any of the procedures listed in the AFM temporary revision
reveals a leaking PBV. In addition, AD 2018-11-05 provides an optional
terminating action for inserting the temporary revision into the AFM by
replacing the installed P/N HJ1-13243-101-005 or P/N HJ1-13243-101-007
with the improved P/N HJ1-13243-101-009. AD 2018-11-05 resulted from
reports of unannunciated asymmetric braking during ground operations
and landing deceleration.
We issued AD 2018-11-05 to prevent failure of the PBV, which could
cause degraded braking performance and reduced directional control
during ground operations and landing deceleration.
Actions Since AD 2018-11-05 Was Issued
Since AD 2018-11-05 was issued as an interim action in order to
address the need for the immediate detection of a faulty PBV (the
short-term action of inserting the temporary revision into the AFM), we
are issuing this proposed AD to address the long-term corrective action
(replacing the PBV).
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed Honda Aircraft Company Temporary Revision TR 01.1,
dated February 16, 2018, to the Honda Aircraft Company HA-420 Airplane
Flight Manual and Service Bulletin SB-420-32-001, dated January 8,
2018, and Revision B, dated April 16, 2018. Temporary Revision TR 01.1,
dated February 16, 2018, to the HA-420 Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)
describes procedures for performing pilot checks of the braking system
during ground operations before every flight and before every landing
and
includes instructions for corrective actions if any indication of a
leaking PBV is found. Service Bulletin SB-420-32-001, dated January 8,
2018, and Revision B, dated April 16, 2018, describes procedures for
replacing a defective PBV with an improved design PBV. 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.
FAA's Determination
We are proposing 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.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2018-11-05.
This proposed AD would also require replacing the installed PBV, P/N
HJ1-13243-101-005 or P/N HJ1-13243-101-007, with the improved design
PBV, P/N HJ1-13243-101-009, at a specified time.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information
Honda Service Bulletin SB-420-32-001, dated January 8, 2018, and
Revision B, dated April 16, 2018, specify submitting certain
information to the manufacturer. This AD does not require that action.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 72 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:
Estimated Costs
Action |
Labor cost |
Parts cost |
Cost per product |
Cost on U.S. operators |
Insert temporary revision into
the airplane flight manual. |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
Not applicable |
$85 |
$6,120 |
Replace the power brake valve
(PBV). |
20 work-hours x $85 per hour
= $1,700 |
$21,878 |
23,578 |
1,697,616 |
Replacing the PBV was provided as
an on-condition cost and an
optional terminating action in AD 2018-11-05. We have no way of
determining how many owner/operators of the affected airplanes may have
already done this proposed replacement. Therefore, we have included a
total cost for all affected airplanes.
The difference in the Cost of Compliance between AD 2018-11-05 and
this proposed AD is the proposed requirement to replace the power brake
valve at a specified time.
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 have 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 that the 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 Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2018-11-05, Amendment 39-19293 (83 FR 24016, May 24, 2018), and adding
the following new AD:
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