AD 96-04-08

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Air Tractor, Incorporated (Air Tractor) Models AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes. This action requires repetitively replacing the main landing gear legs. Failure of the main landing gear legs on an AT-802A prompted this action. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent possible failure of the main landing gear legs, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in loss of control of the airplane during landing operations.

Final rule.

96-04-08 AIR TRACTOR INCORPORATED: Amendment 39-9520; Docket No. 95-CE-59-AD

Applicability: Model AT-802 and AT-802A Airplanes (all serial numbers), certificated in any category:

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 request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required upon the accumulation of 3,000 landings or within the next 25 landings after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, unless already accomplished, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 3,000 landings.

NOTE 2: If the number of landings is not known, calculate by multiplying three landings per one hour time-in-service (TIS).

To prevent possible failure of the main landing gear legs, which could result in loss of control of landing operations and possible loss of the airplane, accomplish the following:

(a) Replace the main landing gear legs, Air Tractor part number (P/N) 40091-2, in accordance with Snow Engineering Company Service Letter (SL) 104A, dated July 29, 1995.

(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 initial or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Fort Worth Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Aircraft Certification Office, 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 Aircraft Certification Office.

NOTE 3: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Fort Worth Aircraft Certification Office.

(d) The replacements required by this AD shall be done in accordance with Snow Engineering Company Service Letter 104A, dated July 29, 1995. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from Air Tractor Incorporated, P.O. Box 485, Olney, Texas 76374. Copies may be inspected at the FAA,Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., 7th Floor, suite 700, Washington, DC.

(e) This amendment becomes effective on April 12, 1996.

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to Air Tractor, Incorporated (Air Tractor) Models AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes was published in the Federal Register on October 5, 1995 (60 FR 52130). The action proposed to require repetitively replacing the main landing gear legs in accordance with Snow Engineering Company Service Letter (SL) 104A, dated July 29, 1995.

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

After careful review of all available information related to the subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor corrections will not change the meaning ofthe AD and will not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.

The FAA estimates that 18 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 12 hours per airplane to accomplish this action, and that the average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Parts cost approximately $2,816 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $63,648 ($3,536 per airplane). This figure is based on the assumption that no affected airplane owner/operator has replaced the main landing gear legs and does not take into account the number of repetitive replacements each operator would incur over the life of the airplane. The FAA has no way of determining how many main landing gear replacements each owner/operator will incur.

The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and theStates, 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 final rule does 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) 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
Accordingly, pursuant to 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
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 USC 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Section 39.13 - [AMENDED]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive (AD) to read as follows: