DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2020-0781; Product Identifier 2018-CE-045-AD; Amendment
39-21369; AD 2020-26-14]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 75-16-20,
which applied to all Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Model MU-2B,
MU-2B-10, MU-2B-15, MU-2B-20, MU-2B-25, MU-2B-26, MU-2B-30, MU-2B-35,
and MU-2B-36 airplanes. AD 75-16-20 required repetitive inspections of
the propeller pitch control (PPC) lever for security and proper
rigging. This AD requires modification and repetitive inspections of the
PPC lever
linkage. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these
products.
DATES: This AD is effective February 2, 2021.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of February 2,
2021.
ADDRESSES: For Mitsubishi service information identified in this
final
rule, contact Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc., c/o Turbine
Aircraft Services, Inc., 4550 Jimmy Doolittle Drive, Addison, Texas
75001; phone: (972) 248-3108, ext. 209; fax: (972) 248-3321; website:
https://mu-2aircraft.com. For Honeywell service information identified
in this final AD, contact Honeywell International Inc., 111 S 34th
Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85034-2802; phone: 855-808-6500; email:
AeroTechSupport@honeywell.com; website: https://aerospace.honeywell.com/en/services/maintenance-and-monitoring.
You may
view this 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 at https://www.regulations.gov
by searching
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0781.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0781; 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, 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: John Turner, Aviation Safety Engineer,
Fort Worth ACO Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, Texas
76177; phone: (817) 222-4508; fax: (817) 222-5245; email:
johh.r.turner@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 75-16-20, Amendment 39-2294 (40 FR 31751,
July 29, 1975) (AD 75-16-20). AD 75-16-20 applied to all Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Mitsubishi) Models MU-2B, MU-2B-10, MU-2B-15,
MU-2B-20, MU-2B-25, MU-2B-26, MU-2B-30, MU-2B-35, and MU-2B-36
airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on August 25,
2020 (85 FR 52281). The NPRM was prompted by reports of the PPC lever
linkages disconnecting at the engine and Mitsubishi developing a
secondary retention feature to secure the PPC. The NPRM was also
prompted by Mitsubishi type certificating additional airplanes that are
subject to the unsafe condition. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to
require installation of the secondary retention feature, repetitive
inspections of the PPC lever linkage, and reporting inspection results
to the FAA.
Comments
The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the costs.
Conclusion
The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety
requires adoption of the AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in
the NPRM.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
Mitsubishi has issued MU-2 Service Recommendation No. 049/76-002,
dated June 29, 2018, and MU-2 Service Recommendation No. 080, dated
June 29, 2018. This service information specifies procedures for
installing a PPC lever secondary retention feature to secure the PPC
lever. These documents are distinct since they apply to different
airplane models and configurations.
Mitsubishi has also issued MU-2 Service Bulletin No. 106/76-004,
dated February 24, 2016, and MU-2 Service Bulletin No. 244, dated
December 25, 2015. This service information specifies procedures for
replacing the PPC lever clamping bolt. These documents are distinct
since they apply to different airplane models and configurations.
Honeywell International Inc. has issued Service Bulletin TPE331-72-
2190, Revision 0, dated December 21, 2011. The procedures in this
service information include instructions for incorporating a threaded
hole in the splined end of the shouldered shaft of the PPC assembly and
re-identifying the shouldered shaft part number. The threaded hole is
used to accommodate a secondary retention method to secure the PPC
lever.
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 ADDRESSES.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 260 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD. The
average labor rate is $85 per work hour.
Estimated Costs
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
Modification |
2 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$170 |
$2
|
$172 |
$44,720 |
Repetitive inspections |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 per inspection cycle |
0
|
$85 per inspection cycle |
$22,100 per inspection
cycle
|
The FAA estimates the following costs
to do any necessary on-
condition actions for the incorporation of the threaded hole and
reporting requirement. The FAA has no way of determining the number of
aircraft that might need these on-condition actions:
On-Condition Costs
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Incorporation of threaded hole |
4 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$340 |
$1,000
|
$1,340
|
Reporting |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
0
|
85
|
If the PPC lever detaches, the necessary
corrective actions could
vary significantly from airplane to airplane. The FAA has received no
definitive data that would enable estimating the cost to install the
PPC lever on each airplane or the number of airplanes that may require
this action.
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. 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.
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 has 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,
(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.
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:
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 75-16-20, Amendment 39-2294 (40 FR
31751, July 29, 1975); and
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:
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