DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0716; Product Identifier 2019-CE-009-AD; Amendment
39-21191; AD 2020-16-07]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace Limited Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes. This AD results from
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the
aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe
condition on an aviation product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe
condition as nose landing gear (NLG) and main landing gear (MLG)
attachment bolts without dual retaining devices. The FAA is issuing
this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these
products.

DATES: This AD is effective September 8, 2020.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of September 8,
2020.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by October 1, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://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 AD, contact Pacific
Aerospace Limited, Airport Road, Hamilton, Private Bag 3027, Hamilton
3240, New Zealand; telephone: +64 7 843 6144; facsimile: +64 7 843
6134; email: pacific@aerospace.co.nz; internet: https://www.aerospace.co.nz.
You may view this referenced service information
at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch,
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 https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for Docket No. FAA-2020-0716.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0716; 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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Small Airplane Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; email:
mike.kiesov@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the aviation authority
for New Zealand, has issued AD DCA/750XL/32B, dated February 7, 2019
(referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe
condition for Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes. In its
notification of the MCAI, the CAA states:

DCA/750XL/32B with effective date 7 February 2019 is prompted by
several reports of finding loose nose landing gear attachment lock
nuts and pal nuts. This [CAA] AD revised to mandate Pacific
Aerospace Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) PACSB/XL/105 issue 4,
dated 19 December 2018, which introduces alternate bolts for [part
number] P/N NAS6606D63 and NAS6606D68.

The MCAI is part of an extensive evaluation and investigation by
the New Zealand CAA on the Pacific Aerospace Model 750XL. The unsafe
condition results from a production quality issue where the MLG and NLG
attachment bolts may not have the required dual retaining devices
installed. Therefore, the MCAI requires an inspection of the MLG and
the NLG. The NLG requires the installation of a castellated nyloc
locking nut and a split pin. The MLG requires the inspection and
installation of Palnuts on any attachment bolts that do not have a
Palnut installed. This condition, if not detected and corrected, could
lead to failure of the NLG and MLG.
You may examine the MCAI on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0716.

Differences Between the MCAI and This AD

The MCAI allows a licensed pilot rated for this airplane to do
daily visual inspections of the nose landing gear lower bolts and clamp
for security for up to 165 hours time-in-service until the terminating
corrective action is performed. The FAA's regulations do not allow
pilots to perform maintenance, which includes inspections, on U.S.-
certificated airplanes. Therefore, this AD does not include the daily
inspection requirement and requires a shorter compliance time for the
terminating corrective action to address the unsafe condition in a
timely manner.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Pacific Aerospace Mandatory Service Bulletin
PACSB/XL/105, Issue 4, dated December 19, 2018. The service information
contains procedures for inspecting the NLG lower bolts and clamp for
security, replacing the NLG locking nut and Palnut with a castellated
nyloc locking nut and split pin, and inspecting the MLG attachment
bolts and installing Palnuts as necessary. 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.

Other Related Information

The FAA also reviewed Pacific Aerospace Drawing BOL6603 THRU 6620,
dated December 19, 2018. This drawing contains additional information
related to fabrication of the required part number bolts for the NLG.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of the 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. The FAA is issuing this AD
because it evaluated all information provided by the State of Design
Authority and determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to
exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD. The risk assessment received by the FAA, and reconfirmed in
July of 2020, indicates that urgent action is required. The FAA has
found that the risk to the flying public justifies waiving notice and
comment prior to adoption of this rule because without the required
dual retaining devices, the NLG and the MLG could fail and result in
reduced control on the ground and lead to a runway excursion. Because
this AD does not include the daily inspections, the FAA finds that
compliance is necessary within 20 hours time-in-service or 30 days,
whichever occurs first, to address the unsafe condition. Therefore, the
FAA finds good cause that notice and opportunity for prior public
comment are impracticable. In addition, for the reasons stated above,
the FAA finds 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, the FAA invites 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-2020-
0716 and Product Identifier 2019-CE-009-AD at the beginning of your
comments. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing
date and may amend this final rule because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive
verbal contact we receive about this final rule.

Confidential Business Information

CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this AD, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Mike
Kiesov, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Standards Branch, 901
Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Any commentary that the
FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed
in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 22 products of U.S.
registry. The FAA also estimates that it would take about 5 work-hours
per product to comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost
about $20 per product.
Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of the AD on
U.S. operators to be $9,790, or $445 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.
The FAA is 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.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because FAA has determined
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without notice and comment,
RFA analysis is not required.

Regulatory Findings

The FAA 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 that this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866, and
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.

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: