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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 2 (Monday, January 5, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 2 (Monday, January 5, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 205-207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-24233]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 2 / Monday, January 5, 2026 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 205]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-5401; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01313-A]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; General Atomics AeroTec Systems GmbH
(Type Certificate Previously Held by RUAG Aerospace Services GmbH)
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 all General Atomics AeroTec Systems GmbH (General Atomics) Model
Dornier 228-100, Dornier 228-101, Dornier 228-200, Dornier 228-201,
Dornier 228-202, and Dornier 228-212 airplanes. This proposed AD was
prompted by reports of specific part-numbered hydraulic pump motors
becoming severely damaged by excessive heat. This proposed AD would
require replacing the affected hydraulic pump motor with an improved
design hydraulic pump motor. This proposed AD would also prohibit
installing an affected hydraulic pump motor on any airplane. The FAA is
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by February 19, 2026.
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-2025-5401; 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 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#a0c4cfd5c78ed2d5c4cfccd0c8e0c6c1c18ec7cfd6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3e5a514b59104c4b5a51524e567e585f5f10595148">[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 using a method listed
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2025-5401; Project Identifier
MCAI-2025-01313-A'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, 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 proposal 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 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 NPRM. 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 2025-0172, dated August 4, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0172) (also
referred to as the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition on all General
Atomics Model Dornier 228-100, Dornier 228-101, Dornier 228-200,
Dornier 228-201, Dornier 228-202, and Dornier 228-212 airplanes. The
MCAI states that several occurrences were reported where the hydraulic
pump motor became severely damaged by excessive heat. The MCAI further
states that it was determined that carbon brushes installed on the
affected hydraulic pump motor were the root cause of the failures. This
condition, if not corrected, could lead to an uncontained fire,
possible injury to passengers and crew, and consequent loss of control
of the airplane.
To address the unsafe condition, the brush manufacturer designed
improved carbon brushes and General Atomics designed an improved
hydraulic pump motor with these improved carbon brushes installed. The
MCAI requires replacing the affected hydraulic pump motor with the
improved hydraulic pump motor. The MCAI also prohibits installing the
affected hydraulic pump motor on any airplane.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2025-5401.
FAA's Determination
These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority
of another country and are approved for operation in the United States.
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this
[[Page 206]]
State of Design Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the
unsafe condition described in the MCAI and material 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 in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require replacing the affected hydraulic
pump motor with an improved design hydraulic pump motor. This proposed
AD would also prohibit installing an affected hydraulic pump motor on
any airplane.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 16 airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace hydraulic pump motor............. 3 work-hours x $85 per hour $8,900 $9,155 $146,480
= $255.
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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:
General Atomics AeroTec Systems GmbH: Docket No. FAA-2025-5401;
Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01313-A.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by February 19, 2026.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to General Atomics AeroTec Systems GmbH (Type
Certificate previously held by RUAG Aerospace Services GmbH) Model
Dornier 228-100, Dornier 228-101, Dornier 228-200, Dornier 228-201,
Dornier 228-202, and Dornier 228-212 airplanes, all serial numbers,
certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 2913, Hydraulic
Pump, (Elect/Eng), Main.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of several occurrences of
hydraulic pump motors becoming severely damaged by excessive heat.
The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the overheating of the
hydraulic pump motor. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could
result in an uncontained fire, possible injury to passengers and
crew, and consequent loss of control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
For airplanes with an installed hydraulic pump motor having part
number (P/N) 1259A, within 200 hours time-in-service of the
hydraulic pump motor (for airplanes equipped with a hydraulic system
elapsed time indicator), or 600 landings (for airplanes not equipped
with a hydraulic system elapsed time indicator), as applicable,
after the effective date of this AD, replace the hydraulic pump
motor with a hydraulic pump motor having P/N A-752511A00B.
Note to paragraph (g): General Atomics AeroTec Service Bulletin
Dornier 228 No. SB-228-360, Rev. 0, dated May 28, 2025, contains
information related to this AD.
(h) Installation Prohibition
As of the effective date of this AD, do not install a hydraulic
pump motor having P/N 1259A 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, send
it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (j)(1) of
this AD and email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#21606c6e62614740400f464e57"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4504080a06052324246b222a33">[email protected]</span></a>. 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) For more information about this AD, contact Doug Rudolph,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite
[[Page 207]]
410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (816) 329-4059; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#73171c06145d0106171c1f031b331512125d141c05"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f2969d8795dc8087969d9e829ab2949393dc959d84">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) For material identified in this AD that is not incorporated
by reference, contact General Atomics AeroTec Systems GmbH,
Galileostra[szlig]e 396, D-82131 Gauting, Germany; phone: +49 8153
302280; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a7c4d2d4d3d4d2d7d7c8d5d389c3c8d5c9cec2d595959fe7c0c68a9bc687cfd5c2c19a" http: ats.com">ats.com</a>">custsupport.dornier228@ga-<a href="http://ats.com">ats.com</a></a>; website: <a href="http://ga-ats.com/">ga-ats.com/</a>.
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
None.
Issued on December 30, 2025.
Christopher R. Parker,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-24233 Filed 1-2-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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Airworthiness Directives; General Atomics AeroTec Systems GmbH (Type Certificate Previously Held by RUAG Aerospace Services GmbH) Airplanes
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all General Atomics AeroTec Systems GmbH (General Atomics) Model Dornier 228-100, Dornier 228-101, Dornier 228-2...
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“Airworthiness Directives; General Atomics AeroTec Systems GmbH (Type Certificate Previously Held by RUAG Aerospace Services GmbH) Airplanes,” thefederalregister.org (January 5, 2026), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2025-24233/airworthiness-directives-general-atomics-aerotec-systems-gmbh-type-certificate-previously-held-by-ruag-aerospace-service.