Airworthiness Directives; Dornier-Werke G.m.b.H. Model Do 27 Q-6 Airplanes

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would apply to all Dornier-Werke G.m.b.H. (Dornier) Model Do 27 Q-6 airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to inspect the aileron and flap control cables for proper clearance from the fuel lines in the fuselage and make necessary adjustments; and inspect the fuel lines for damage and correct routing. This proposed AD would also require you to replace all damaged fuel lines and reroute incorrectly routed fuel lines. After all other corrective action is taken, this proposed AD would also require you to install protective sleeves on the fuel lines. This proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Germany. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to detect and correct damaged fuel lines and prevent the potential for further damage occurring to the fuel lines in the fuselage. Damage to the fuel lines could result in fuel leaking into the fuselage which could cause a fire or explosion.

DATES:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive any comments on this proposed rule on or before February 14, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments to FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-CE-55-AD, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. You may view any comments at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also send comments electronically to the following address: 9-ACE-7-Docket@faa.gov. Comments sent electronically must contain “Docket No. 2002-CE-55-AD” in the subject line. If you send comments electronically as attached electronic files, the files must be formatted in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or ASCII text.

You may get service information that applies to this proposed AD from Fairchild Dornier GmbH, P.O. Box 1103, D-82230 Wessling, Federal Republic of Germany; telephone: (011) 49 81 53-30 1; facsimile: (011) 49 81 53-30 29 01. You may also view this information at the Rules Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4143; facsimile: (816) 329-4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

How Do I Comment on This Proposed AD?

The FAA invites comments on this proposed rule. You may submit whatever written data, views, or arguments you choose. You need to include the rule's docket number and submit your comments to the address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. We will consider all comments received on or before the closing date. We may amend this proposed rule in light of comments received. Factual information that supports your ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of this proposed AD action and determining whether we need to take additional rulemaking action.

Are There Any Specific Portions of This Proposed AD I Should Pay Attention to?

The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed rule that might suggest a need to modify the proposed rule. You may view all comments we receive before and after the closing date of the proposed rule in the Rules Docket. We will file a report in the Rules Docket that summarizes each contact we have with the public that concerns the substantive parts of this proposed AD.

How Can I Be Sure FAA Receives My Comment?

If you want FAA to acknowledge the receipt of your mailed comments, you must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard. On the postcard, write “Comments to Docket No. 2002-CE-55-AD.” We will date stamp and mail the postcard back to you.

Discussion

What Events Have Caused This Proposed AD?

The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), which is the airworthiness authority for Germany, recently notified FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on all Dornier Model Do 27 Q-6 airplanes. The LBA reports that, during an annual maintenance inspection, a damaged fuel line was found in the area between the firewall and the instrument panel in the fuselage.

Further inspection revealed that the damaged fuel line was incorrectly routed and not properly secured. Incorrect installation of the fuel line allowed the aileron control cable to chafe the fuel line, which caused the fuel line to leak.

What Are the Consequences if the Condition Is Not Corrected?

This condition, if not detected, corrected, and prevented, could result in fuel leaking into the fuselage. This could cause a fire or explosion.

Is There Service Information That Applies to This Subject?

Fairchild Dornier has issued Dornier Do 27 Service Bulletin No. SB-1141-0000, dated June 12, 2002.

What Are the Provisions of This Service Information?

The service bulletin specifies the following:

—Inspecting the aileron and flap control cables for proper clearance from the fuel lines and making necessary adjustments;

—Inspecting the fuel lines for damage and correct routing;

—Replacing all damaged fuel lines and rerouting all incorrectly routed fuel lines; and

—Installing protective sleeves on the fuel lines.

What Action Did the LBA Take?

The LBA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued German AD 2002-240, dated July 26, 2002, in order to ensure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in Germany.

Was This in Accordance With the Bilateral Airworthiness Agreement?

This airplane model is manufactured in Germany and is type certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement.

Pursuant to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the LBA has kept FAA informed of the situation described above.

The FAA's Determination and an Explanation of the Provisions of This Proposed AD

What Has FAA Decided?

The FAA has examined the findings of the LBA; reviewed all available information, including the service information referenced above; and determined that:

—The unsafe condition referenced in this document exists or could develop on other Dornier Model Do 27 Q-6 airplanes of the same type design that are on the U.S. registry;

—The actions specified in the previously-referenced service information should be accomplished on the affected airplanes; and

—AD action should be taken in order to correct this unsafe condition.

What Would This Proposed AD Require?

This proposed AD would require you to inspect the aileron and flap control cables in the fuselage for proper clearance from the fuel lines and make any necessary adjustments; and inspect the fuel lines for damage and correct routing. This proposed AD would also require you to replace all damaged fuel lines and reroute incorrectly routed fuel lines. After all other corrective action is taken, this proposed AD would also require you to install protective sleeves on the fuel lines.

What Is the Difference Between This Proposed AD, the LBA AD, and the Service Information?

The LBA AD and the service information requires (on German-registered airplanes) inspection and, if necessary, adjustments and/or replacement within the next 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of the AD. We propose a requirement that you inspect and, if necessary, adjust and/or replace within the next 55 hours TIS after the effective date of this proposed AD. We do not have justification to require this action within the next 10 hours TIS.

We use compliance times such as 10 hours TIS when we have identified an urgent safety of flight situation. We believe that 55 hours TIS will give the owners or operators of the affected airplanes enough time to have the proposed actions accomplished without compromising the safety of the airplanes.

Cost Impact

How Many Airplanes Would This Proposed AD Impact?

We estimate that this proposed AD affects 2 airplanes in the U.S. registry.

What Would Be the Cost Impact of This Proposed AD on Owners/Operators of the Affected Airplanes?

We estimate the following costs to accomplish the proposed inspection:

We estimate the following costs to reroute any fuel line that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need such rerouting:

We estimate the following costs to accomplish any necessary replacements that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need such replacements:

Regulatory Impact

Would This Proposed AD Impact Various Entities?

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

Would This Proposed AD Involve a Significant Rule or Regulatory Action?

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 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, under 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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.