DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-0044; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00629-A;
Amendment 39-22736; AD 2024-08-03]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Britten-Norman Aircraft, Ltd. 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 all
Britten-Norman Aircraft, Ltd. Model BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2A-2, BN-2A-3, BN-
2A-6, BN-2A-8, BN-2A-9, BN-2A-20, BN-2A-21, BN-2A-26, BN-2A-27, BN-2B-
20, BN-2B-21, BN-2B-26, BN-2B27, BN-2T, BN2T-4R, and BN2T-4S airplanes;
and Model BN2A MK. III, BN2A MK. III-2, and BN2A MK. III-3 airplanes.
This AD is prompted by reports of electrical cable (Koiled Kord) and
flight control cables interference with the control column. This AD
requires inspecting for interference between the control column, rudder
pedal adjuster cable, and any wiring (including the Koiled Kord)
concurrently with performing a flight control full and free movement
inspection, and taking corrective actions if 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-2024-0044; 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 Britten-Norman Aircraft
Ltd., Bembridge Airport, Bembridge, Isle of Wight, PO35 5PR United
Kingdom; phone: +44 20 3371 4000; email: customer.support@britten-norman.com;
website: britten-norman.com/approvals-technical-publications.
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-2024-0044.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Penelope Trease, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
phone: (303) 342-1094; email: penelope.trease@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 all Britten-Norman
Aircraft, Ltd. Model BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2A-2, BN-2A-3, BN-2A-6, BN-2A-8,
BN-2A-9, BN-2A-20, BN-2A-21, BN-2A-26, BN-2A-27, BN-2B-20, BN-2B-21,
BN-2B-26, BN-2B-27, BN-2T, BN2T-4R, and BN2T-4S airplanes; and Model
BN2A MK. III, BN2A MK. III-2, and BN2A MK. III-3 airplanes. The NPRM
published in the Federal Register on February 1, 2024 (89 FR 6452). The
NPRM was prompted by AD G-2022-0017, dated September 20, 2022 (also
referred to as the MCAI), issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA),
which is the aviation authority for the United Kingdom (UK). The MCAI
states that there have been occurrences of flight control restriction
in pitch during the pilot's full and free flight control checks prior
to take-off. Investigations into these occurrences revealed
interference between the routing of the Koiled Kord, flight control
cables, and control column, which could restrict the full and free
movement of the flight controls. An incorrectly routed Koiled Kord
could snag the rudder pedal adjustment cable, draw it towards the
control column tube where it could snag the aileron control stop, and
restrict movement of the control column tube. This increased load on
the rudder pedal adjustment cable could unlock the adjustment
mechanism, permitting the rudder pedals to freely move forward and aft.
One of the investigations also revealed that a correctly routed Koiled
Kord was entangled with an incorrectly routed rudder pedal adjustment
cable, which resulted in snagging the aileron control stop. In order to
address this condition, the MCAI requires an inspection using Britten-
Norman Service Bulletin SB 398, Issue 2, dated May 30, 2022 (Britten-Norman SB
398, Issue 2), to ensure the Koiled Kord is correctly routed behind the
instrument panel and that the rudder pedal adjustment cable and Koiled
Kord are not interfering with each other.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require inspecting for
interference between the control column, rudder pedal adjuster cable,
and any wiring (including the Koiled Kord) concurrently with performing
a flight control full and free movement inspection, and taking
corrective actions if necessary. Interference between the Koiled Kord,
flight control cables, and the control column, if not addressed, could
result in loss of control of the airplane during flight.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2024-0044.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

The FAA received a comment from an individual. The commenter
supported the NPRM without change.

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,
considered the comment received, and determined that air safety
requires adopting the 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 Britten-Norman SB 398, Issue 2, which specifies
procedures for inspecting the cable routing behind the instrument panel
to determine if the cables and wiring to the instrument panel, wiring
in the surrounding area, the rudder pedal adjuster cable, and the
Koiled Kord are routed securely and there is clearance to allow full
and free movement of the flight controls, and if interference is found,
securely tying the cables so they are clear of the control column for
its full range of motion. 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 specifies that if any interference is found during the
inspection for interference between the control column, rudder pedal
adjuster cable, and any wiring (including the Koiled Kord) while
performing a flight control full and free movement check, complete the
operator feedback form in Appendix A of Britten-Norman SB 398, Issue 2,
and return it to Britten-Norman Aircraft, Ltd. That action is not
required by this AD.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 72 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary actions
that would be required based on the results of the inspection. The
agency has no way of determining the number of airplanes that might
need these actions:

On-Condition Costs

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 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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive: