DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0223; Product Identifier 2018-CE-007-AD; Amendment
39-19230; AD 2018-06-10]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Honda Aircraft Company LLC

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
Honda Aircraft Company LLC Model HA-420 airplanes. This AD requires
incorporating a temporary revision into the airplane flight manual and
replacing faulty power brake valves upon condition. This AD was
prompted by reports of unannunciated asymmetric braking during ground
operations and landing deceleration. We are issuing this AD to address
the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 13, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of April 13,
2018.
We must receive comments on this AD by May 14, 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: 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 final rule, 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. It is also available on the internet at http://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0223.

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-
0223; 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 final rule, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and
other information. The street address for the Docket Operations (phone:
800-647-5107) 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:

Discussion

We received reports of unannunciated asymmetric braking during
landing deceleration on several Honda Aircraft Company LLC Model HA-420
airplanes. Investigation revealed that the power brake valve (PBV)
housing design drawing dimension for a bore diameter, which serves as
an O-ring gland outer diameter, is oversized from Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE) specification guidelines for O-ring gland dimensions.
The oversized bore allows back-up ring extrusion damage during normal
operating hydraulic pressure in the valve, O-ring deformation/damage,
and internal leakage of hydraulic pressure within the PBV from the
master cylinder brake lines. The damage to the back-up ring and O-ring
worsens during operation and causes the internal leakage rate of the
PBV brake master cylinder lines to increase over time. This condition,
if not addressed, could result in failure of the PBV, which could cause
degraded braking performance and reduced directional control during
ground operations and landing deceleration. We are issuing this AD to
address the unsafe condition on these products.

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. 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, 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 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 inserting a temporary revision into the 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 this AD in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9 (a)(1)-
(4) and 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2)(v). The record must be maintained as
required by 14 CFR 91.417, 121.380, or 135.439. This AD also requires
replacing the installed 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 a defective
PBV is detected during the required pilot checks as specified in the
temporary revision. In addition, this AD provides an optional
terminating action for the temporary revision into the AFM by replacing
the installed PBV with the improved PBV, P/N HJ1-13243-101-009.

Interim Action

We consider this AD interim action. We are currently considering
requiring replacement of the installed PBV, P/N HJ1-13243-101-005 or P/
N HJ1-13243-101-007, with an improved part, which will constitute
terminating action for the temporary revision to the AFM. However, the
planned compliance time for the replacement of the PBV would allow
enough time to provide notice and opportunity for prior comment on the
merit of the replacement.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public
justifies waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule
because failure of the PBV could cause degraded braking performance and
reduced directional control during ground operations and landing
deceleration. Therefore, we find good cause that notice and opportunity
for prior public comment are impracticable. In addition, for the reason
stated above, we find 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 final rule. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number FAA-2018-
0223 and Product Identifier 2018-CE-007-AD at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this final rule. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
final rule 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 final rule.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 72 airplanes of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

We estimate the following costs to do any necessary replacements
that would be required based on the results of the pilot check of the
braking system during ground operations before every flight and before
every landing. We have no way of determining the number of airplanes
that might need these replacements:

On-Condition Costs

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

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):