DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0615; Product Identifier 2018-CE-053-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Airplanes

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for GA
8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Model GA8 and Model GA8-TC320 airplanes. This
proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information
(MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to
identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The
MCAI describes the unsafe condition as a design change to the fuselage
strut pick up ribs No. 5 and 6 that requires a reduced life limit. We
are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe
condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 26, 2019.

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 proposed 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 review 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.

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-2019-
0615; 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 proposed AD, 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.

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:

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-2019-0615;
Product Identifier 2018-CE-053-AD" at the beginning of your comments.
We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy
aspects of this proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by
the closing date and may amend this proposed AD because of those
comments.

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to
http://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

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which is the aviation
authority for Australia, has issued AD No. AD/GA8/10, dated October 17,
2018 (referred to after this as "the MCAI"), to correct an unsafe
condition for the specified products. The MCAI states:

Airworthiness Limitations are promulgated in the GippsAero
Service Manual [Airworthiness Limitations Section] ALS Chapter 4
Airworthiness Limitations. The change to the Airworthiness
Limitations by GippsAero on 15 May 2018 was the result of the
manufacturer changing the design of the fuselage strut pick up ribs
no. 5 and 6. The revised rib designs have a different life
limitation to the earlier rib designs. These Airworthiness
Limitations are approved by CASA and non-compliance with these
limitations could result in an unsafe condition developing. The
Service Manual Chapter 4 Airworthiness Limitations dated 15 May 2018
are mandatory in Australia however foreign National Aviation
Authorities may not automatically require revision of service
manuals without the issue of this AD.

While the U.S. type certificate holder is GA8 Airvan C/O GippsAero,
service manuals for the GA8 and GA8-TC320 model airplanes are issued by
GippsAero.

You may examine the MCAI on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-0615.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA has reviewed the following updated service information from
the aircraft service manuals for Model GA8 and Model GA8-TC320 airplanes:

C01-00-04, Chapter 4, Airworthiness Limitations, dated May
14, 2018, for the Model GA8; and

C01-00-06, Chapter 4, Airworthiness Limitations, dated May
14, 2018, for the Model GA8-TC 320.

This service information establishes life limits for certain
fuselage strut pick up ribs No. 5 and 6. 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 and Requirements of This Proposed AD

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, they
have notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and
service information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because
we evaluated all information and determined the unsafe condition exists
and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD will affect 30 products of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour per
product to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.

Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this proposed AD on
U.S. operators to be $2,550, or $85 per product.

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 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 this 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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):