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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2024-0234; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-01215-A]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
(AD)
for certain GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Model GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes.
This proposed AD was prompted by reports of insufficient electrical
bonding of the solenoid (relay) box assembly that could result in
degraded performance, errors, or intermittent failures of equipment
connected to electrical Bus 1, Bus 2, associated electrical control,
and protective devices fitted within or attached to the solenoid box.
This proposed AD would require inspecting for an existing wire
connecting the relay box earth point to the ground power socket, and if
one is not present, installing a mechanical connection. The FAA is
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by April 8, 2024.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in
14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2024-0234; 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 NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For service information identified in this NPRM, contact
GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd, P.O. Box 881, Morwell, Victoria 3840, Australia;
phone: +61 (0)3 5172 1200; email: TECHPUBS@gippsaero.com.au; website:
gippsaero.com.au.
You may view this 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 (817) 222-5110.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
phone: (816) 329-4059; email: doug.rudolph@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2024-0234; Project Identifier
MCAI-2023-01215-A'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposal 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
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.
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 NPRM 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 NPRM, 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 NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Doug
Rudolph, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for
this rulemaking.
Background
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which is the aviation
authority for Australia, has issued CASA Australia AD GA8/11, dated
November 21, 2023 (CASA Australia AD GA8/11) (also referred to as the
MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition on all GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Model
GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes. The MCAI states that operators made two
reports and a few anecdotal reports of intermittent system
discrepancies attributed to insufficient electrical bonding of the
solenoid (relay) box assembly. Without a dedicated solenoid box
electrical bonding connection, these airplanes may suffer degraded
performance, errors, or intermittent failures of equipment connected to
electrical Bus 1, Bus 2, associated electrical control, and protective
devices fitted within or attached to the solenoid box. The majority of
Model GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes were produced with the relay box
electrically bonded to the airframe via the relay box lid and the
hardware (screws) holding it in place. The relay box did not have a
dedicated bonding point or mechanical connection.
The MCAI requires doing the actions specified in GippsAero Service
Bulletin SB-GA8-2023-216, Issue 1, dated February 24, 2023 (GippsAero
SB-GA8-2023-216, Issue 1). These actions include inspecting for an
existing wire connecting the relay box earth point to the ground power
socket, and if one is not present, installing a mechanical connection.
The FAA is proposing this AD to address this unsafe condition. Not
having a dedicated solenoid box electrical bonding connection, if not
addressed, could result in degraded electrical equipment performance,
errors, or intermittent failures of equipment connected to electrical
Bus 1, Bus 2, associated electrical control, and protective devices
fitted within or attached to the solenoid box, which could lead to loss
of equipment essential for safe flight.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2024-0234.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed GippsAero SB-GA8-2023-216, Issue 1. This service
information specifies procedures for inspecting for an existing wire
connecting the relay box earth point to the ground power socket, and if
one is not present, installing a mechanical connection.
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.
FAA's Determination
These products have been approved by the aviation authority of
another country and are 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 and service information referenced above. The FAA is issuing
this NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described
previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same
type design.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the MCAI, except as discussed under ``Differences Between This
Proposed AD and the MCAI.''
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI
The MCAI applicability is Gippsland Aeronautics Model GA8 Series
airplanes. The applicability in this proposed AD would be GA8 Airvan
(Pty) Ltd Model GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes because that is what is on
the FAA type certificate.
Part A, step 4. of the Accomplishment Instructions in GippsAero
Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2023-216, Issue 1, specifies to proceed to the
Documentation section to update the airplane logbook, but that action
would not be specifically required by this proposed AD as current FAA
regulations already require a logbook entry for compliance with AD
actions.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 62 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
Estimated Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
| Inspect for mechanical connection |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
$0
|
$85
|
$5,270
|
The FAA estimates the following costs
to do any necessary actions
that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection.
The agency has no way of determining the number of airplanes that might
need these actions:
On-Condition Costs
|
Action
|
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
| Install mechanical connection |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour =
$85 |
$170
|
$255
|
The FAA has included all known costs
in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this
proposed 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
The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 proposed
regulation:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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 Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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:
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