DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0771; Product Identifier 2018-CE-029-AD; Amendment
39-19619; AD 2019-07-08]
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 adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for GA 8
Airvan (Pty) Ltd Model GA8 and Model GA8-TC320 airplanes. This AD
results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
issued 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 certain wing strut fittings manufactured with
incorrect grain orientation, which has an unknown effect on fatigue
related concerns. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address
the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 23, 2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of May 23, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the internet at http://
www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-
0771; or in person at Docket Operations, 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 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-2018-0771.

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 Model
GA8 and Model GA8-TC320 airplanes. The NPRM was published in the
Federal Register on September 17, 2018 (83 FR 46900). The NPRM proposed
to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products and was based
on mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by
the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which is the aviation
authority of the Commonwealth of Australia. The MCAI states:

Amendment 1 of this [CASA] AD is issued to amend the replacement
times as Service Bulletin GA8-2017-174 Issue 2 changed the mandatory
replacement times for part number GA8-570026-035 strut from 6000
hours time in service or 3 calendar years to 9000 hours time in
service or 5 calendar years, whichever occurs first.
A manufacturing quality escape has resulted in wing strut
fittings in the effective serial number range to be manufactured
with incorrect grain orientation. The fatigue implications of the
incorrect grain are not well understood. Therefore, CASA has
mandated a conservative factored fatigue life limit based on the
known fleet data of the affected aircraft. CASA will continue to
gather data for the purposes of managing the fleet removal of these
fittings from service.

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the internet at: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2018-0771-0002.

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

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed GippsAero Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2017-174, Issue 2,
dated May 23, 2018. The service information describes procedures for
wing strut and strut fitting inspection and replacement. 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 would affect 50 airplanes of U.S.
registry. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
We estimate that it would take about 8 work-hours and $200 for
parts to do the initial inspections of this AD, for a cost of $880 per
airplane and $44,000 for the U.S. operator fleet. We estimate that it
would take about 5 work-hours and $200 for parts to do the repetitive
inspections, for a cost of $625 per airplane and $31,250 for the U.S.
operator fleet per inspection cycle.
In addition, we estimate that replacing the struts and strut
fittings would take about 10 work-hours and require parts costing
$7,000, for a cost of $7,850 per airplane and $392,500 for the U.S.
operator fleet.
Reporting the inspection findings would require about 1 work-hour,
for a cost of $85 per airplane and $4,250 for the U.S. operator fleet
per inspection cycle.
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.

Paperwork Reduction Act

A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. The OMB
Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public
reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be
approximately 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, completing and reviewing the collection of
information. All responses to this collection of information are
mandatory as required by this AD; the nature and extent of
confidentiality to be provided, if any. Send comments regarding this
burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information,
including suggestions for reducing this burden to: Information
Collection Clearance Officer, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177-1524.

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-2018-
0771; 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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):