DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-0035; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00986-A;
Amendment 39-22728; AD 2024-07-07]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; GA 8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2010-18-
06, which applied to all GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Model GA8 and GA8-TC320
airplanes. AD 2010-18-06 required inspections and a minor design change
to the forward slide of the cargo door with corrective action as
necessary. Since the FAA issued AD 2010-18-06, the Civil Aviation
Safety Authority (CASA), which is the aviation authority for Australia,
superseded the previous CASA Australia AD to incorporate more detailed
inspections and additional modifications as specified in updated
service information published by the manufacturer. This AD was prompted
by reports of in-flight cargo door separation. This AD requires
inspections and rework (modifications) of the cargo door with
corrective action as necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address
the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective June 3, 2024.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 3,
2024.

ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2024-0035; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (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.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For service information contact GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd, PO
Box 881, Morwell, Victoria 3840, Australia; phone: +61 03 5172 1200;
website: gippsaero.com.au; email: TECHPUBS@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. It is also available at
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-0035.

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:

Background

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2010-18-06, Amendment 39-16419 (75 FR
52253, August 25, 2010) (AD 2010-18-06). AD 2010-18-06 applied to all
GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Model GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes. AD 2010-18-06
was prompted by MCAI originated by CASA, which is the aviation
authority for Australia. CASA Australia issued CASA Australia AD AD/
GA8/3 Amdt 2, dated August 11, 2010 (CASA Australia AD/GA8/3 Amdt 2) to
correct an unsafe condition identified as excessive wear in the forward
cargo door slide, which could result in an in-flight separation of the
cargo door, with possible loss of control of the airplane. CASA
Australia AD AD/GA8/3 Amdt 2 was issued to require the actions in
service information updated by the manufacturer to remove any
ambiguities in the previous revision and provide an improved inspection
method and a minor design change to the forward slide of the cargo door
(inclusion of a slide backing plate, castellated nut, and split pin).
AD 2010-18-06 required doing all of Action 1 (measuring the groove
width of the forward cargo door slide and if it exceeds 0.145 inch at
any point along the slide, or is cracked, installing a new slider
assembly) and Action 2 (inspecting wear of the forward slide of the
cargo door and doing applicable corrective action steps specified in
Action 1) of GippsAero Pty. Ltd. Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-GA8-
2005-23, Issue 3, dated August 5, 2010. The FAA issued AD 2010-18-06 to
address excessive wear in the forward cargo door slide.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on January 23, 2024 (89
FR 4211). The NPRM was prompted by CASA Australia AD AD/GA8/3 amdt 3,
dated August 18, 2023 (also referred to as the MCAI). The MCAI states
that inspections revealed cases of excessive wear in the forward slide
of the cargo door. Excessive wear in the forward slide of the cargo
door may result in the cargo door separating from the airplane in
flight with potentially catastrophic results. The MCAI requires
accomplishing the actions specified in GippsAero Service Bulletin SB-
GA8-2005-23, Issue 7, dated May 30, 2023 (GippsAero Service Bulletin
SB-GA8-2005-23, Issue 7). This service bulletin includes procedures for
revised inspections of the door mechanism, installing a stop on the
forward slide of the cargo door and reworking the door slide to suit
(accommodate) the track stop installation. Depending on the findings of
the inspections, additional actions might be necessary including
reworking the door mechanism pivot, upgrading the door operating rod,
or fitting a door handle with an integral stop.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address excessive wear in the forward
slide of the cargo door. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could
result in the cargo door separating from the airplane during flight,
with potential loss of control of the airplane.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2024-0035.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the costs.

Conclusion

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 referenced above. 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 GippsAero Service Bulletin SB-GA8-2005-23, Issue
8, dated October 11, 2023 (GippsAero SB-GA8-2005-23, Issue 8). This
service information specifies procedures for installing a backing plate
on the forward slide of the cargo door; inspecting the forward slide of
the cargo door for excessive wear; inspecting the cargo door latching
mechanism for contact between the operating rod and door handle pivot
post, inspecting the threaded studs and rod ends at both ends of the
operating rod for bending, and checking the cargo door handle
engagement with the catch; reworking the cargo door handle pivot post;
reworking the door operating rod; inspecting the door handle to
determine if an integrated stop is installed and checking for excessive
play; and inspecting the center rail of the cargo door to determine if
an aft stop is installed, installing an aft stop, and reworking the
center rail of the cargo door to accommodate the track stop.
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.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI

The MCAI applicability is Gippsland Aeronautics Model GA8 Series
airplanes, all serial numbers. The applicability in this AD is GA8
Airvan (Pty) Ltd Model GA8 and GA8-TC320
airplanes because the FAA type certificate specifies GA8 Airvan (Pty)
Ltd instead of Gippsland Aeronautics and specifies Model GA8 and GA8-
TC320 airplanes instead of Model GA8 Series airplanes.
The MCAI requires doing the actions in Gippsland Aeronautics
mandatory service bulletin SB-GA8-2005-23 Issue 7, dated May 30, 2023.
This AD requires doing the actions in GippsAero SB-GA8-2005-23, Issue
8. After the MCAI was published, the manufacturer issued GippsAero SB-
GA8-2005-23, Issue 8, which was revised to provide clarification
regarding the actions and compliance schedule. The title page of
GippsAero SB-GA8-2005-23, Issue 8, specifies GippsAero instead of
Gippsland Aeronautics.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 61 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD. The
corresponding letter and number in parenthesis refer to the specific
paragraph in GippsAero SB-GA8-2005-23, Issue 8.

Estimated Costs

The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary actions
that would be required based on the results of the inspections. The
agency has no way of determining the number of airplanes that might
need these actions. The corresponding letter and number in parenthesis
refer to the specific paragraph in GippsAero SB-GA8-2005-23, Issue 8.

On-Condition Costs

The FAA has included all known costs in its 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

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 2010-18-06, Amendment 39-16419 (75
FR 52253, August 25, 2010); and

b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive: