DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0213; Project Identifier 2018-CE-036-AD; Amendment
39-21818; AD 2021-23-19]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace Limited Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes. This 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 identifies
the unsafe condition as insufficient separation of ground terminations
for individual power sources and static grounds. This AD requires
inspecting and separating, if applicable, the battery and generator
common ground connections on the airframe. The FAA is issuing this AD
to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 11, 2022.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of January 11,
2022.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, Level 15, Asteron
Centre, 55 Featherston Street, Wellington 6011; phone: +64 4 560 9400;
fax: +64 4 569 2024; email: info@caa.govt.nz. You may review this
referenced service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products
Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 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 at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0213; 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
MCAI, 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: Mike Kiesov, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation
Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-
4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: mike.kiesov@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain serial-numbered
Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes with the battery
installed within the engine bay at the firewall. The NPRM published in
the Federal Register on August 9, 2021 (86 FR 43446). The NPRM was
based on MCAI from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is the
aviation authority for New Zealand. The CAA issued DCA/750XL/30, dated
July 5, 2018 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct an
unsafe condition for Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes.
The MCAI states:

The ground connections for the individual power sources (BATT &
GEN [battery and generator]) have been connected at a common ground
point on the aircraft. DCA/750XL/30 is issued to mandate the
instructions in Pacific Aerospace Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB)
PACSB/XL/104 issue 1, dated 2 May 2018, or later approved revision
to separate the common ground connection on the airframe for the
individual power sources (BATT & GEN).

The CAA advises the root cause is a deviation from the approved
engineering data. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to the
loss of primary and secondary power sources from corrosion of the
ground connection or failure of the fastening hardware, which could
result in the simultaneous loss of multiple systems. According to the
CAA, this condition was observed on the production line and has been
corrected for new airplanes in production. The MCAI requires inspecting
the battery ground connections and separating the ground connections as
necessary. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at https://www.
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0213.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require detecting and correcting
ground terminations with insufficient separation on individual power
sources and static grounds for continued airworthiness. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

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

Conclusion

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to
the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it
has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI. The
FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety requires
adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD
to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is adopted
as proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Pacific Aerospace Mandatory Service Bulletin
PACSB/XL/104, Issue 1, dated May 2, 2018. The service information
specifies procedures for inspecting the battery ground connections and
separating the ground connections 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.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 23 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
The FAA also estimates that it would take about 1 work-hour per
airplane to comply with the grounding connection inspection of this AD.
The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of the
inspection on U.S. operators to be $1,955, or $85 per airplane.
In addition, the FAA estimates that any necessary action to
separate the connections would take about 3 work-hours and require
parts costing $25, for a cost of $280 per airplane. The FAA has no way
of determining the number of airplanes that may need these actions.
The FAA has included all costs in this cost estimate. According to
the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this AD may be covered
under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected operators.

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

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.

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: