AD 95-24-11

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227 series airplanes. This action requires installing 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. Two incidents of objects falling through openings in the cockpit floor and jamming the elevator controls and the yoke prompted this action. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent airplane flight control jammings caused by objects falling through the cockpit floor openings.

Final rule.

95-24-11 FAIRCHILD AIRCRAFT: Amendment 39-9441; 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 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 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) The installation required by this AD shall be done in accordance with Fairchild Service Bulletin 226-53-012, Fairchild Service Bulletin 227-53-005, or Fairchild Service Bulletin CC7-53-002, all Issued: September 22, 1994. 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 Fairchild Aircraft, P.O. Box 790490, San Antonio, Texas 78279-0490. 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 January 3, 1996.

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to certain Fairchild Aircraft SA226 and SA227 series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on June 15, 1995 (60 FR 14235). The action proposed to require installing 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. Accomplishment of the proposed action would be in accordance with 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.

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to the one comment received.

The commenter is in favor of the substanceof the proposed rule, but feels that the FAA should have issued a final rule; request for comments, instead of a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). Under current regulations, the FAA must issue an NPRM prior to issuing a final rule to allow the public the opportunity to comment, unless the FAA demonstrates that the unsafe condition is an urgent safety of flight condition. After reviewing all information related to this subject, the FAA made the determination prior to issuing the NPRM that the unsafe condition was not an urgent safety of flight condition, and thus did not require final rule; request for comments, AD action. The AD is unchanged as a result of this comment.

No comments were received on 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 editorialcorrections. The FAA has determined that these minor corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.

The FAA estimates that 855 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 4 workhours per airplane to accomplish the required 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 this 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 required modification and that parts have not been distributed to any owner/operator of the affected airplanes.

The regulations adopted herein will 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 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), 40101, 40113, 44701.

Section 39.13 - [AMENDED]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive (AD) to read as follows: