DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-0234; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-01215-A;
Amendment 39-22742; AD 2024-08-09]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; GA8 Airvan (Pty) 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
certain GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Model GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes. This AD
is 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 AD requires
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 issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective July 16, 2024.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 16,
2024.

ADDRESSES:
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 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,
GippsAero Technical Services, 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. It is also available at
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-0234.

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 by adding an AD that would apply to certain GA8 Airvan
(Pty) Ltd Model GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes. The NPRM published in the
Federal Register on February 23, 2024 (89 FR 13620). The NPRM was
prompted by AD GA8/11, dated November 21, 2023 (also referred to as the
MCAI), issued by Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which is the aviation
authority for Australia. 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.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to 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 issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2024-0234.

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 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.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI

The MCAI applicability is Gippsland Aeronautics Model GA8 Series
airplanes. The applicability in this AD are 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 SB-
GA8-2023-216, Issue 1, specifies to proceed to the Documentation
section to update the airplane logbook, but that action is not
specifically required by this AD as current FAA regulations already
require a logbook entry for compliance with AD actions.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 62 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

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

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: