Rule2023-20554
Airworthiness Directives; Aircraft Industries, a.s. Airplanes
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 22, 2023
Effective
October 10, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Aircraft Industries, a.s. Model L-420, L 410 UVP-E20, and L 410 UVP-E20 CARGO airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of the pressure plates within the main landing gear (MLG) wheel brake unit malfunctioning. This AD requires replacing certain MLG wheel brake units with serviceable parts and prohibits installing an affected part on any airplane. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 183 (Friday, September 22, 2023)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 183 (Friday, September 22, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65308-65311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20554]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2023-1884; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00482-A;
Amendment 39-22554; AD 2023-19-04]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Aircraft Industries, a.s. Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Aircraft Industries, a.s. Model L-420, L 410 UVP-E20, and L 410 UVP-E20
CARGO airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of the pressure plates
within the main landing gear (MLG) wheel brake unit malfunctioning.
This AD requires replacing certain MLG wheel brake units with
serviceable parts and prohibits installing an affected part
[[Page 65309]]
on any airplane. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective October 10, 2023.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by November 6, 2023.
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="http://regulations.gov">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.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2023-1884; 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
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
phone: (816) 329-4059; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#75111a00125b0700111a19051d351314145b121a03"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cca8a3b9abe2beb9a8a3a0bca48caaadade2aba3ba">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments
about this final rule. Send your comments to an address listed under
ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2023-1884; Project Identifier MCAI-
2023-00482-A'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this final rule 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="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this final rule.
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 AD 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 AD, 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 Doug
Rudolph, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590. 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 European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued
EASA AD 2023-0055, dated March 16, 2023 (referred to after this as the
MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition on Aircraft Industries, a.s.
Model L-410 M Turbolet, L-410 UVP--Turbolet, L-410 UVP-E, L 410 UVP-E9,
L 410 UVP-LW, L 410 UVP-E-LW, L 410 UVP-E20, L 410 UVP-E20 CARGO, and
L-420 airplanes, all variants. The MCAI states there were several
reports of the MLG wheel brake malfunctioning (blocking).
Investigations revealed that all the malfunctions were caused by
fractured brake pressure plates, and further analysis by Aircraft
Industries, a.s. and the brake unit manufacturer showed that the root-
cause of the failure was an improper (re-) design of certain pressure
plates installed on certain serial numbers of MLG wheel brake unit part
number (P/N) K38-1200-7. This condition, if not detected and corrected,
could lead to reduced brake function, resulting in loss of control of
the airplane, especially during taxiing, aborted take-off, or landing.
The MCAI requires replacing all affected parts with serviceable parts,
as defined in the MCAI.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2023-1884.
FAA's Determination
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 is issuing this AD after determining
that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or
develop on other products of the same type design.
AD Requirements
This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the MCAI
described previously, except as discussed under ``Differences Between
this AD and the MCAI.'' This AD also prohibits installing on any
airplane an MLG wheel brake unit P/N K38-1200-7 with serial number XXX-
35, XXX-36, XXX-37, or XXX-38, where X represents any numerical value.
Differences Between This AD and the MCAI
The MCAI applicability includes Aircraft Industries a.s. Model L-
410 M Turbolet, L-410 UVP--Turbolet, L-410 UVP-E, L 410 UVP-E9, L 410
UVP-LW, and L 410 UVP-E-LW airplanes and this AD does not because those
airplane models do not have an FAA type certificate.
The MCAI specifies a compliance time based on an affected part's
number of flight cycles, but this AD requires a compliance time based
on an affected part's hours time-in-service (TIS). When doing the
conversion from flight cycles to hours TIS, the FAA has estimated that
1 flight cycle is equal to 1 hour TIS.
Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective
Date
Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5
U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and
comment procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds
that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to
the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days,
upon a finding of good cause.
There are no affected airplanes currently on the U.S. registry.
Accordingly, notice and opportunity for prior public comment are
unnecessary, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B). In
[[Page 65310]]
addition, for the foregoing reason(s), the FAA finds that good cause
exists pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective
in less than 30 days.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because the FAA has determined
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and
comment, RFA analysis is not required.
Costs of Compliance
There are no costs of compliance with this AD because there are no
affected airplanes on the U.S. Registry. In the event an affected
product becomes a U.S.-registered product, the following is an estimate
of the costs to comply with this AD.
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace affected MLG wheel brake unit. 8 work-hours x $85 per $5,000 $5,680 $0
hour = $680.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, and
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.
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
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:
2023-19-04 Aircraft Industries, a.s.: Amendment 39-22554; Docket No.
FAA-2023-1884; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00482-A.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective October 10, 2023.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Aircraft Industries, a.s. Model L-420, L 410
UVP-E20, and L 410 UVP-E20 CARGO airplanes, all serial numbers,
certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 3240, Landing Gear
Brake System.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of the pressure plates within
the main landing gear (MLG) wheel brake unit malfunctioning. The FAA
is issuing this AD to address MLG wheel brake failures. The unsafe
condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced brake function,
resulting in loss of control of the airplane, especially during
taxiing, aborted take-off, or landing.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Definitions
The following definitions apply to this AD:
(1) An ``affected part'' is an MLG wheel brake unit part number
(P/N) K38-1200-7 having serial number XXX-35, XXX-36, XXX-37, or
XXX-38, where X represents any numerical value and where the MLG
wheel brake unit has not been modified using sections B. and C. of
the Implementation Information in LET Aircraft Industries Service
Bulletin L-410/039a, Revision 1, dated October 25, 2022 (LET SB L-
410/039a, Revision 1).
(2) A ``serviceable part'' is an MLG wheel brake unit that is
not P/N K38-1200-7 having serial number XXX-35, XXX-36, XXX-37, or
XXX-38, where X represents any numerical value or where the MLG
wheel brake unit P/N K38-1200-7 having serial number XXX-35, XXX-36,
XXX-37, or XXX-38 has been modified using sections B. and C. of the
Implementation Information in LET SB L-410/039a, Revision 1.
(h) Required Actions
(1) For airplanes with an affected part installed: Before each
affected part accumulates 1,500 hours time-in-service (TIS) since
the affected part's first installation on any airplane or within 10
hours TIS after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs
later, replace each affected part with a serviceable part.
(2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install an
affected part on any airplane.
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, 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 International Validation Branch, mail
it to the address identified in paragraph (j)(2) of this AD or email
to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d3eafe928580fe929a81fee4e0e3fe929e9c9093b5b2b2fdb4bca5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="61584c2037324c2028334c5652514c202c2e22210700004f060e17">[email protected]</span></a>. If mailing information, also submit
information by email. 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.
(j) Additional Information
(1) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD
2023-0055, dated March 16, 2023, for related information. This
[[Page 65311]]
EASA AD may be found in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2023-1884.
(2) For more information about this AD, contact Doug Rudolph,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (816) 329-4059; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4f2b203a28613d3a2b20233f270f292e2e61282039"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fd9992889ad38f889992918d95bd9b9c9cd39a928b">[email protected]</span></a>.
(3) For service information identified in this AD that is not
incorporated by reference, contact Aircraft Industries, a.s., Na
Z[aacute]honech 1177, Kunovice, Czech Republic; phone: +420 572 817
664; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bacacac9fad6dfce94d9c0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f4848487b4989180da978e">[email protected]</span></a>; website: let.cz/en/bulletin. You may view
this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section,
Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust Street, Kansas City, MO 64106.
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA,
call (817) 222-5110.
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
Issued on September 18, 2023.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-20554 Filed 9-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 22, 2023.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.