DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0503; Product Identifier 2018-NM-048-AD; Amendment
39-19413; AD 2018-19-13]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; 328 Support Services GmbH (Type
Certificate Previously Held by AvCraft Aerospace GmbH; Fairchild
Dornier GmbH; Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH) Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 328
Support Services GmbH Model 328-100 and -300 airplanes. This AD was
prompted by reports indicating corrosion on the horizontal stabilizer
bearing supports at the contact surface to the horizontal stabilizer
rear spar. This AD requires inspections for corrosion and any other
damage (i.e., cracking and chafing) of the horizontal stabilizer rear
bearing supports, replacement of the affected horizontal stabilizer
rear bearing supports if necessary, and modification of the horizontal
stabilizer rear spar. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 31, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of October 31,
2018.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact 328 Support Services GmbH, Global Support Center, P.O. Box
1252, D-82231 Wessling, Federal Republic of Germany; telephone +49 8153
88111 6666; fax +49 8153 88111 6565; email gsc.op@328support.de;
internet http://www.328support.de. You may view this service
information at the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th
St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available on the
internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating
Docket No. FAA-2018-0503.

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-
0503; 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 address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30,
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd Thompson, Aerospace Engineer,
International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South
216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-3228.

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 all 328 Support Services
GmbH Model 328-100 and -300 airplanes. The NPRM published in the
Federal Register on June 7, 2018 (83 FR 26389). The NPRM was prompted
by reports indicating corrosion on the horizontal stabilizer bearing
supports at the contact surface to the horizontal stabilizer rear spar.
The NPRM proposed to require inspections for corrosion and any other
damage (i.e., cracking and chafing) of the horizontal stabilizer rear
bearing supports, replacement of the affected horizontal stabilizer
rear bearing supports if necessary, and modification of the horizontal
stabilizer rear spar.
We are issuing this AD to address corrosion on the horizontal
stabilizer rear bearing supports and rear spar, which could lead to
failure of the fitting and loss of one load path of the horizontal
stabilizer attachment, and possibly result in reduced controllability
of the airplane.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2017-0239, dated November 30, 2017 (referred to
after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for all 328 Support
Services GmbH Model 328-100 and -300 airplanes. The MCAI states:

Occurrences were reported on horizontal stabilizer bearing
supports being found corroded at the contact surface to the
horizontal stabilizer rear spar. The corroded area was at the lower
flange position, which is connected to the stabilizer rear spar and
not visible without detachment of the fitting. Investigation
determined that the corrosion is
triggered by galvanic effect, due to a direct contact between the
horizontal stabilizer rear spar, made from CFRP (carbon fibre
reinforced plastic), and the aluminium rear attachment fitting.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to
failure of the fitting and loss of one load path of the horizontal
stabilizer attachment, possibly resulting in reduced control of the
aeroplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition, 328 Support Services
GmbH (328 SSG) issued Service Bulletin (SB) SB-328-55-557 and SB-
328J-55-324 to provide instructions for inspection of the affected
area, replacement of the parts, and modification to improve
corrosion behaviour by incorporating of glass fibre layer.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD requires a one-
time inspection [detailed visual inspection and an eddy current
inspection for chafing and corrosion] of the horizontal stabilizer
rear bearing supports, and, depending on findings, accomplishment of
applicable corrective action(s) [replacement of the affected
horizontal stabilizer rear bearing supports]. This [EASA] AD also
requires a modification of the horizontal stabilizer rear spar,
irrespective of findings.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the internet at http://
www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-
0503.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this final rule. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the
determination of the cost to the public.

New Service Information

We received 328 Support Services GmbH Service Bulletin SB-328-55-
557, Revision 2, dated May 24, 2018; and 328 Support Services GmbH
Service Bulletin SB-328J-55-324, Revision 2, dated May 24, 2018. We
referred to 328 Support Services GmbH Service Bulletin SB-328-55-557,
Revision 1, dated February 1, 2018; and 328 Support Services GmbH
Service Bulletin SB-328J-55-324, Revision 1, dated February 1, 2018; as
the appropriate sources of service information for the actions
specified in the proposed AD. Revision 2 of the service information
corrects spelling errors and adds alternative parts. No additional work
is needed if the actions specified in the earlier revisions of the
service information have been done.
We have revised this AD to refer to 328 Support Services GmbH
Service Bulletin SB-328-55-557, Revision 2, dated May 24, 2018; and 328
Support Services GmbH Service Bulletin SB-328J-55-324, Revision 2,
dated May 24, 2018, as the appropriate sources of service information
for accomplishing the required actions. We have also added 328 Support
Services GmbH Service Bulletin SB-328-55-557, Revision 1, dated
February 1, 2018; and 328 Support Services GmbH Service Bulletin SB-
328J-55-324, Revision 1, dated February 1, 2018, to paragraph (j) of
this AD in order to give credit for accomplishing actions specified in
Revision 1 of the service information.

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting this final rule with the changes
described previously and 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.
We also determined that these changes will not increase the
economic burden on any operator or increase the scope of this final
rule.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

328 Support Services GmbH has issued Service Bulletin SB-328-55-
557, Revision 2, dated May 24, 2018; and Service Bulletin SB-328J-55-
324, Revision 2, dated May 24, 2018. This service information describes
procedures for a detailed visual inspection and an eddy current
inspection for corrosion and any other damage (i.e., cracking and
chafing) of the horizontal stabilizer rear bearing supports,
modification of the horizontal stabilizer rear spar, and replacement of
the affected horizontal stabilizer rear bearing supports if necessary.
These documents are distinct since they apply to different airplane
models. 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.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 27 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 replacement
that would be required based on the results of the inspection. We have
no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need this
replacement:

On-Condition Costs

* We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide parts cost
estimates for the on-condition action specified in this AD.

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 transport category airplanes and
associated appliances to the Director of the System Oversight 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 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.

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):