DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0615; Product Identifier 2018-CE-053-AD; Amendment
39-21214; AD 2020-17-09]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Airplanes

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for GA8
Airvan (Pty) Ltd Models GA8 and 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 a design change to the fuselage strut pick up ribs No. 5
and 6 that requires a reduced life limit. The FAA is issuing this AD to
require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective September 29, 2020.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of September 29,
2020.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact GA8
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 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-2019-0615.

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-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 final rule, the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the
regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information.
The address for Docket Operations 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: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation 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

The FAA issued an NPRM to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that
would apply to GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Models GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on August 12, 2019 (84 FR
39782). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the
specified products and was based on MCAI originated by an aviation
authority of another country. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority
(CASA), which is the aviation authority for Australia, issued AD No.
AD/GA8/10, dated October 17, 2018 (referred to after this as ``the
MCAI''), which 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.
The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the internet at: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2019-0615-0002.

Comments

The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in
developing this AD. The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the
determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety
and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

GippsAero has issued GippsAero, Model GA8, GA8 Airplane Service
Manual, C01-00-04, Chapter 4, Airworthiness Limitations, dated May 14,
2018; and GippsAero Model GA8-TC 320, GA8-TC 320 Airplane Service
Manual, C01-00-06, Chapter 4, Airworthiness Limitations, dated May 14,
2018. For the applicable airplane model indicated on the documents,
these revised airworthiness limitations establish 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.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 30 products of U.S.
registry. The FAA also estimates that it will take
about 1 work-hour per product to comply with the basic requirements of
this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of this 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.
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 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 this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) 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: