AD 2003-13-06

[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 121 (Tuesday, June 24, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 37396-37397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15725]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-CE-11-AD; Amendment 39-13206; AD 2003-13-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. 
Models Sky Arrow 650 TC and 650 TCN Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that 
applies to certain Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. (3I) Models 
Sky Arrow 650 TC and 650 TCN airplanes. This AD requires you to modify 
the nose gear support bulkhead (STA600). This AD is the result of 
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the 
airworthiness authority for Italy. The actions specified by this AD are 
intended to prevent failure of the nose gear support bulkhead (STA600). 
Such failure could lead to loss of control of the airplane during 
landing or take-off.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on August 11, 2003.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of 
August 11, 2003.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information referenced in this AD 
from Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A., Corso Trieste, n. 150, 
00198 Rome, Italy; telephone: 06 84.15.821; facsimile: 06 855.71.62. 
You may view this information at the Federal Aviation Administration 
(FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 2003-CE-11-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol 
Street, NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This AD?

    The Ente Na[zacute]ionale per l'Aviazione Civile (ENAC), which is 
the airworthiness authority for Italy, recently notified FAA that an 
unsafe condition may exist on certain Iniziative Industriali Italiane 
S.p.A. (3I) Models Sky Arrow 650 TC and 650 TCN airplanes. The ENAC 
reports that data collected on in-service airplanes show that cracks 
have been detected on the nose gear support bulkhead (STA600) of 
several airplanes with high operating time on grass airfields and at 
flight schools where activity of hard landings have occurred.

What Is the Potential Impact if FAA Took No Action?

    If not corrected, the nose gear support bulkhead (STA600) could 
fail. Such failure could lead to loss of control of the airplane during 
landing or take-off.

Has FAA Taken Any Action to This Point?

    We issued a proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to 
certain Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. (3I) Models Sky Arrow 
650 TC and 650 TCN airplanes. This proposal was published in the 
Federal Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on April 3, 
2003 (68 FR 16220). The NPRM proposed to require you to modify the nose 
gear support bulkhead (STA600).

Was the Public Invited to Comment?

    The FAA encouraged interested persons to participate in the making 
of this amendment. We did not receive any comments on the proposed rule 
or on our determination of the cost to the public.

FAA's Determination

What Is FAA's Final Determination on This Issue?

    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, we have determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
minor editorial corrections. We have determined that these minor 
corrections:

--Provide the intent that was proposed in the NPRM for correcting the 
unsafe condition; and
--Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already 
proposed in the NPRM.

How Does the Revision to 14 CFR Part 39 Affect This AD?

    On July 10, 2002, FAA published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 
FR 47997, July 22, 2002), which governs FAA's AD system. This 
regulation now includes material that relates to special flight 
permits, alternative methods of compliance, and altered products. This 
material previously was included in each individual AD. Since this 
material is included in 14 CFR part 39, we will not include it in 
future AD actions.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Does This AD Impact?

    We estimate that this AD affects 10 airplanes in the U.S. registry.

What Is the Cost Impact of This AD on Owners/Operators of the Affected 
Airplanes?

    We estimate the following costs to accomplish the modification:

[[Page 37397]]


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                                                                                Total cost  per   Total cost  on
                          Labor cost                              Parts cost        airplane     U.S.  operators
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19 workhours x $60 = $1,140..................................            $100           $1,240          $12,400
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The modification to the nose gear support bulkhead (STA600) 
requires 39 hours for cure and post cure time.

Regulatory Impact

Does This AD Impact Various Entities?

    The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.

Does This AD Involve a Significant Rule or Regulatory Action?

    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) 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 final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (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. FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding a new AD to read as follows:

2003-13-06 Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A.: Amendment 39-
13206; Docket No. 2003-CE-11-AD.

    (a) What airplanes are affected by this AD? This AD affects the 
following airplanes that are certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Model                             Serial No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sky Arrow 650 TC..........................  C001 through C004, C006
                                             through C008, and C011.
Sky Arrow 650 TCN.........................  CN001 through CN006 and
                                             CN008.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) Who must comply with this AD? Anyone who wishes to operate 
any of the airplanes identified in paragraph (a) of this AD must 
comply with this AD.
    (c) What problem does this AD address? The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to prevent failure of the nose gear support 
bulkhead (STA600). Such failure could lead to loss of control of the 
airplane during landing or take-off.
    (d) What actions must I accomplish to address this problem? To 
address this problem, you must accomplish the following, unless 
already accomplished:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Actions                 Compliance            Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modify the nose gear support  Within the next 100   In accordance with
 bulkhead (STA600).            hours time-in-        Iniziative
                               service (TIS) after   Industriali
                               August 11, 2003       Italiane S.p.A. 3i
                               (the effective date   Service Bulletin SB-
                               of this AD).          C No. 02/02, dated
                                                     October 15, 2002.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) Can I comply with this AD in any other way? To use an 
alternative method of compliance or adjust the compliance time, use 
the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. Send these requests to the Manager, 
Standards Office, Small Airplane Directorate. For information on any 
already approved alternative methods of compliance, contact Doug 
Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 
Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-
4059; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.
    (f) Are any service bulletins incorporated into this AD by 
reference? Actions required by this AD must be done in accordance 
with Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. 3i Service Bulletin SB-C 
No. 02/02, dated October 15, 2002. The Director of the Federal 
Register approved this incorporation by reference under 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may get copies from Iniziative 
Industriali Italiane S.p.A., Corso Trieste, n. 150, 00198 Rome, 
Italy; telephone: 06 84.15.821; facsimile: 06 855.71.62. You may 
view copies at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the 
Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., Suite 
700, Washington, DC.

    Note: The subject of this AD is addressed in Italian AD Number 
2002-591, dated November 29, 2002.

    (g) When does this amendment become effective? This amendment 
becomes effective on August 11, 2003.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 17, 2003.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-15725 Filed 6-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P