[Federal Register: February 8, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 26)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 6413-6415]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08fe06-28]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-23816; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-247-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Aerospatiale Model ATR42 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for all Aerospatiale Model ATR42 airplanes. This proposed AD would
require one-time inspections to detect discrepancies (e.g., cracking,
loose/sheared fasteners, distortion) of the upper skin and rib feet of
the outer wing boxes, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD results
from a report of cracking on the upper skin and ribs of the outer wing
box on an in-service airplane. We are proposing this AD to detect and
correct these discrepancies, which could result in reduced structural
integrity of the airplane.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 10, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed AD.
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Contact Aerospatiale, 316 Route de Bayonne, 31060 Toulouse, Cedex
03, France, for service information identified in this proposed AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer,
International Branch, ANM-116, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; telephone (425)
227-1137; fax (425) 227-1149.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to submit any relevant written data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed in the ADDRESSES section. Include the docket number ``FAA-2006-
23816; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-247-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the
proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search function of
that Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any of our
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or
signed the comment on behalf of an association,
[[Page 6414]]
business, labor union, etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy
Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65
FR 19477-78), or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
Examining the Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
, or in person at the Docket Management Facility office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Management Facility office (telephone (800) 647-
5227) is located on the plaza level of the Nassif Building at the DOT
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after the Docket Management System
receives them.
Discussion
The Direction G[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC),
which is the airworthiness authority for France, notified us that an
unsafe condition may exist on all Aerospatiale Model ATR42 airplanes.
The DGAC advises that cracking has been found on the upper skin and
ribs of the outer wing box on an in-service airplane. This condition,
if not corrected, could result in reduced structural integrity of the
airplane.
Relevant Service Information
Aerospatiale has issued Avions de Transport Regional Service
Bulletin ATR42-57-0064, dated December 16, 2004. The service bulletin
describes procedures for doing an external detailed visual inspection
for discrepancies of the upper skin panels of the outer wing box on the
left and right wing, from rib 24 to rib 29. Discrepancies include
cracking of the skin, cracked sealant, loose/sheared fasteners, and
distortion. The service bulletin also describes procedures for doing an
internal inspection following the external inspection. The internal
inspection is to look for discrepancies of the rib feet from rib 24 to
rib 29 and is conducted using one of two inspection methods: A
borescopic inspection through access doors, or a detailed visual
inspection after removing the leading edge of the wing. The service
bulletin also describes procedures for sending inspection results to
the manufacturer, and repairing any discrepancies using an ``approved
solution.'' Accomplishing the actions specified in the service
information is intended to adequately address the unsafe condition. The
DGAC mandated the service information and issued French airworthiness
directive F-2004-191, dated December 22, 2004, to ensure the continued
airworthiness of these airplanes in France.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
This airplane model is manufactured in France and is type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
Sec. 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the
applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed
of the situation described above. We have examined the DGAC's findings,
evaluated all pertinent information, and determined that we need to
issue an AD for airplanes of this type design that are certificated for
operation in the United States.
Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which would require
accomplishing the actions specified in the service information
described previously, except as discussed in ``Differences Between the
Proposed AD, the Service Bulletin, and the French Airworthiness
Directive.''
Differences Between the Proposed AD, the Service Bulletin, and the
French Airworthiness Directive
The French airworthiness directive and the service bulletin specify
to contact the manufacturer for an approved solution for repairing
discrepancies found during the internal inspection; and do not specify
that repairs are required if discrepancies are found during the
external inspection. This proposed AD would require repairing those
conditions using a method that we or the DGAC (or its delegated agent)
approve. In light of the type of repair that would be required to
address the unsafe condition, and consistent with existing bilateral
airworthiness agreements, we have determined that, for this proposed
AD, a repair we or the DGAC approve would be acceptable for compliance
with this proposed AD.
The French airworthiness directive and the service bulletin specify
to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this proposed AD
does not include that requirement.
Clarification of Inspection Language
The French airworthiness directive and the service bulletin specify
doing a detailed visual inspection for discrepancies. In this proposed
AD we refer to this inspection as a ``detailed inspection.'' Note 1 of
this proposed AD defines a detailed inspection.
Costs of Compliance
This proposed AD would affect about 14 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The proposed actions would take about 6 work hours per airplane if the
internal borescopic inspection method is chosen, and about 44 work
hours per airplane if the internal detailed inspection method (with the
leading edge removed) is chosen. Both estimates include the time
necessary for the external detailed inspection. The average labor rate
is $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, the estimated cost of the
proposed AD for U.S. operators is between $5,460 and $40,040, or either
$390 or $2,860 per airplane.
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.
We are 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
We have 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 that the proposed
regulation:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.
We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with
[[Page 6415]]
this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket. See the ADDRESSES
section for a location to examine the regulatory evaluation.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends Sec. 39.13 by
adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):
Aerospatiale: Docket No. FAA-2006-23816; Directorate Identifier
2005-NM-247-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by March 10,
2006.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to all Aerospatiale Model ATR42-200, -300, -
320, and -500 airplanes, certificated in any category.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from a report of cracking on the upper skin
and ribs of the outer wing box on an in-service airplane. We are
issuing this AD to detect and correct discrepancies (e.g., cracking,
loose/sheared fasteners, distortion) of the upper skin and rib feet
of the outer wing boxes, which could result in reduced structural
integrity of the airplane.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within the compliance times specified, unless the
actions have already been done.
External Inspection and Repair
(f) Before the accumulation of 4,000 total flight cycles, or
within 3 months after the effective date of this AD, whichever is
later: Do an external detailed inspection for discrepancies of the
upper skin panels of the outer wing box on the left and right wing,
from rib 24 to rib 29. Do the inspection in accordance with Part A
of the Accomplishment Instructions of Avions de Transport Regional
Service Bulletin ATR42-57-0064, dated December 16, 2004.
(1) If any discrepancy is found: Before further flight, do the
actions in paragraphs (f)(1)(i) and (f)(1)(ii) of this AD.
(i) Repair using a method approved by either the Manager,
International Branch, ANM-116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA;
or the Direction Ge[eacute]n[eacute]rale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC)
(or its delegated agent).
(ii) Do the internal inspection in accordance with paragraph (g)
of this AD.
(2) If no discrepancy is found: Within 4 months after doing the
external detailed inspection, do the internal inspection in
accordance with paragraph (g) of this AD.
Note 1: For the purposes of this AD, a detailed inspection is:
``An intensive examination of a specific item, installation, or
assembly to detect damage, failure, or irregularity. Available
lighting is normally supplemented with a direct source of good
lighting at an intensity deemed appropriate. Inspection aids such as
mirror, magnifying lenses, etc., may be necessary. Surface cleaning
and elaborate procedures may be required.''
Internal Inspection and Repair
(g) At the applicable time specified in paragraph (f)(1)(ii) or
(f)(2) of this AD: Inspect for discrepancies of the rib feet from
rib 24 to rib 29 using one of the inspection methods specified in
paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) of this AD. Do the inspection in
accordance with Part B of the Accomplishment Instructions of Avions
de Transport Regional Service Bulletin ATR42-57-0064, dated December
16, 2004. If any discrepancy is found during any inspection required
by this paragraph: Before further flight, repair using a method
approved by either the Manager, International Branch, ANM-116,
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or the DGAC (or its delegated
agent).
(1) A borescopic inspection through access doors.
(2) A detailed inspection after removing the leading edge of the
wing.
Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(h)(1) The Manager, International Branch, ANM-116, Transport
Airplane Directorate, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for
this AD, if requested in accordance with the procedures found in 14
CFR 39.19.
(2) Before using any AMOC approved in accordance with Sec.
39.19 on any airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify the
appropriate principal inspector in the FAA Flight Standards
Certificate Holding District Office.
Related Information
(i) French airworthiness directive F-2004-191, dated December
22, 2004, also addresses the subject of this AD.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 30, 2006.
Ali Bahrami,
Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-1685 Filed 2-7-06; 8:45 am]
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