Proposed Rule2021-16659
Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace Limited Airplanes
Primary source
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Published
August 9, 2021
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as insufficient separation of ground terminations for individual power sources and static grounds. This proposed AD would require inspecting and separating, if applicable, the battery and generator common ground connections on the airframe. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 150 (Monday, August 9, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 150 (Monday, August 9, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43446-43448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16659]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2021-0213; Project Identifier 2018-CE-036-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace Limited 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 Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes. This
proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information
(MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to
identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The
MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as insufficient separation of
ground terminations for individual power sources and static grounds.
This proposed AD would require inspecting and separating, if
applicable, the battery
[[Page 43447]]
and generator common ground connections on the airframe. The FAA is
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by September
23, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this NPRM, contact the Civil
Aviation Authority of New Zealand, Level 15, Asteron Centre, 55
Featherston Street, Wellington 6011; phone: +64 4 560 9400; fax: +64 4
569 2024; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e48d8a828ba4878585ca838b9290ca8a9e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9bf2f5fdf4dbf8fafab5fcf4edefb5f5e1">[email protected]</span></a>. You may review this referenced
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 (816)
329-4148.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0213; 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 MCAI,
any comments received, and other information. The street address for
Docket Operations is listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Kiesov, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation
Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, MO 64106; phone: (816) 329-
4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bed3d7d5db90d5d7dbcdd1c8fed8dfdf90d9d1c8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="325f5b59571c595b57415d44725453531c555d44">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0213;
Project Identifier 2018-CE-036-AD'' at the beginning of your comments.
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
NPRM 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
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, 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 AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Mike
Kiesov, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas
City, MO 64106. 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 Authority (CAA), which is the aviation authority
for New Zealand, has issued DCA/750XL/30, dated July 5, 2018 (referred
to after this as ``the MCAI''), to address an unsafe condition on
Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes. The MCAI states:
The ground connections for the individual power sources (BATT &
GEN [battery and generator]) have been connected at a common ground
point on the aircraft. DCA/750XL/30 is issued to mandate the
instructions in Pacific Aerospace Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB)
PACSB/XL/104 issue 1, dated 2 May 2018, or later approved revision
to separate the common ground connection on the airframe for the
individual power sources (BATT & GEN).
The CAA advises the root cause is a deviation from the approved
engineering data. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to the
loss of primary and secondary power sources from corrosion of the
ground connection or failure of the fastening hardware, which could
result in the simultaneous loss of multiple systems. According to the
CAA, this condition was observed on the production line and has been
corrected for new airplanes in production. The MCAI requires inspecting
the battery ground connections and separating the ground connections as
necessary. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0213.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Pacific Aerospace Mandatory Service Bulletin
PACSB/XL/104, Issue 1, dated May 2, 2018 (PACSB/XL/104I1). The service
information specifies procedures for inspecting the battery ground
connections and separating the ground connections as necessary. 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 the ADDRESSES section.
FAA's Determination
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is 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
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information already described.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 23 airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it
would take about 1 work-hour per airplane to comply with the grounding
connection inspection of
[[Page 43448]]
this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of the proposed
inspection on U.S. operators to be $1,955, or $85 per airplane.
In addition, the FAA estimates that any necessary action to
separate the connections would take about 3 work-hours and require
parts costing $25, for a cost of $280 per airplane. The FAA has no way
of determining the number of products that may need these actions.
The FAA has included all costs in this 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
0
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]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive:
Pacific Aerospace Limited: Docket No. FAA-2021-0213; Project
Identifier 2018-CE-036-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by September 23, 2021.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL
airplanes, serial numbers up to and including 222, certificated in
any category, with the battery installed within the engine bay at
the firewall.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2400, Electric Power
System.
(e) Reason
This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another
country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation
product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as insufficient
separation of ground terminations for individual power sources and
static grounds. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct
ground terminations with insufficient separation, which could lead
to loss of primary and secondary power sources if the ground
connection fails and consequent simultaneous loss of multiple
airplane systems.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Inspection and Corrective Action
(1) Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD,
inspect the battery installation in the engine bay to determine if
the ground leads connect to a single ground stud as shown in the
Accomplishment Instructions, figure 2, of Pacific Aerospace
Mandatory Service Bulletin PACSB/XL/104, Issue 1, dated May 2, 2018
(PACSB/XL/104I1).
(2) If the ground leads connect to a single ground stud, before
further flight, separate the battery ground lead connections by
following the Accomplishment Instructions, steps 4 through 36, of
PACSB/XL/104I1.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, has the
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19,
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information
directly to the manager of the certification office, send it to the
attention of the person identified in Related Information or email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2a13076b7c79076b6378071d191a076b6765696a4c4b4b044d455c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="11283c5047423c5058433c2622213c505c5e52517770703f767e67">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
(i) Related Information
(1) Refer to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of New Zealand AD
DCA/750XL/30, dated July 5, 2018, for related information. You may
examine the CAA AD at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0213.
(2) For more information about this AD contact Mike Kiesov,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft
Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301,
Kansas City, MO 64106; (816) 329-4144; fax: (816) 329-4090; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#462b2f2d23682d2f233529300620272768212930"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9af7f3f1ffb4f1f3ffe9f5ecdafcfbfbb4fdf5ec">[email protected]</span></a>.
(3) For service information related to this AD, contact the
Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, Level 15, Asteron Centre,
55 Featherston Street, Wellington 6011; phone: +64 4 560 9400; fax:
+64 4 569 2024; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dbb2b5bdb49bb8babaf5bcb4adaff5b5a1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bfd6d1d9d0ffdcdede91d8d0c9cb91d1c5">[email protected]</span></a>. You may review this
referenced 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 (816) 329-4148.
Issued on July 29, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-16659 Filed 8-6-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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