Airworthiness Directives; Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227 Series Airplanes

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All communications received on or before the closing date for comments, specified above, will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in light of the comments received. Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket. Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. 95-CE-01-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-01-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

The FAA has received reports of two incidents of flight control jammings on Fairchild Aircraft SA227 series airplanes caused by objects falling through openings of the cockpit floor. In one instance, the air vent in the cockpit broke and the ball section of the vent fell through one of the openings in the floor and lodged in the elevator control linkage. The airplane crew experienced a momentary restriction in elevator control during a pre-flight control check. In the other instance, a bottle (Coca-Cola) fell through one of the floor openings and jammed the yoke until the crew overcame the jam by breaking the bottle. These openings are located in the floorboards of the cockpit of Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227 series airplanes between the pedestal and floor from Fuselage Station (FS) 79.38 to FS 88.06 and on the outboard forward edge of the left-hand and right-hand cockpit forward floorboards at FS 79.38. Fairchild Aircraft has issued Service Bulletin (SB) 226-53-012, SB 227-53-005, and SB CC7-53-002, all Issued: September 22, 1994. These service bulletins contain procedures for installing cockpit floorboard foreign object damage (FOD) barriers on Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227 series airplanes in the areas referenced above. After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has determined that AD action should be taken to prevent airplane flight control jammings caused by objects falling through the cockpit floor openings. Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to exist or develop in other Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227 series airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would require installing FOD barriers in the floorboards of the cockpit between the pedestal and floor from FS 79.38 to FS 88.06 and on the outboard forward edge of the left-hand and right-hand cockpit forward floorboards at FS 79.38. Accomplishment of the proposed action would be in accordance with Fairchild SB 226-53-012, Fairchild SB 227-53-005, or Fairchild SB CC7-53-002, all Issued: September 22, 1994, as applicable. The FAA estimates that 855 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 4 workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost approximately $50 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $247,950. This figure is based on the assumption that no affected airplane owner/operator has incorporated the proposed modification. Parts have not been distributed to any owner/operator of the affected airplanes. The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct effects 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. Therefore, in accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment. For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new AD to read as follows:

Fairchild Aircraft: Docket No. 95-CE-01-AD.

Applicability: The following airplane models and serial numbers, certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Model Serial numbers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SA226-T..................................... All serial numbers. SA226-T(B).................................. All serial numbers. SA226-AT.................................... All serial numbers. SA226-TC.................................... All serial numbers. SA227-AT.................................... All serial numbers. SA227-AC.................................... All serial numbers. SA227-BC.................................... All serial numbers. SA227-TT.................................... All serial numbers.

SA227-CC.................................... CC784 and CC790 through CC863. SA227-DC.................................... DC784 and DC790 through DC863. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must use the authority provided in paragraph (c) of this AD to request approval from the FAA. This approval may address either no action, if the current configuration eliminates the unsafe condition, or different actions necessary to address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such a request should include an assessment of the effect of the changed configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair remove any airplane from the applicability of this AD.

Compliance: Required within the next 600 hours time-in-service after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished. To prevent airplane flight control jammings caused by objects falling through the cockpit floor openings, accomplish the following: (a) Install foreign object damage (FOD) barriers in the floorboards of the cockpit between the pedestal and floor from Fuselage Station (FS) 79.38 to FS 88.06 and on the outboard forward edge of the left-hand and right-hand cockpit forward floorboards at FS 79.38. Accomplish this action in accordance with the ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS section of either Fairchild Service Bulletin (SB) 226-53-012, Fairchild SB 227-53-005, or Fairchild SB CC7-53-002, all Issued: September 22, 1994, as applicable. (b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished. (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Airplane Certification Office (ACO), FAA, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0150. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Fort Worth ACO.

Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Fort Worth ACO.

(d) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of the service bulletins referred to herein upon request to Fairchild Aircraft, P.O. Box 790490, San Antonio, Texas 78279-0490; or may examine these service bulletins at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 9, 1995. Gerald W. Pierce, Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 95-14637 Filed 6-14-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-U