AD 94-04-16

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., (Mitsubishi) MU-2B series airplanes. This action requires reducing the maximum deflection of the elevator nose-down trim to a 1-degree to 3-degree range. Analysis of service history on the affected airplanes has revealed one accident and two incidents where the existing elevator nose-down trim deflection caused excessive control wheel force. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent excessive control wheel force caused by extreme elevator nose-down trim deflection, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

Final rule.

94-04-16 MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.: Amendment 39-8836. Docket No. 92-CE-50-AD.
Applicability: The following model and serial number airplanes, certificated in any category:

Model
Serial Numbers
MU-2B-10, MU-2B-15,
008 through 312, 314
MU-2B-20, MU-2B-25,
through 320, and 322 and
MU-2B-26
through 347

MU-2B-30, MU-2B-35,
501 through 651, 653 and
MU-2B-36
through 660, and 662

through 696

Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent excessive control wheel force caused by extreme elevator nose-down trim deflection, which could result in loss of control of the airplane, accomplish the following:

(a) Reduce the maximum deflection of the elevator nose-down trim to a 1-degree to 3-degree range in accordance with the INSTRUCTIONS section of Mitsubishi Service Bulletin No. 216, dated September 11, 1992.

(b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 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, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), FAA, 3229 E. Spring Street, Long Beach, California 90806. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the Manager, Los Angeles ACO.

NOTE: Information concerning the existence of approved alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be obtained from the Los Angeles ACO.

(d) The modification required by this AD shall be done in accordance with Mitsubishi Service Bulletin No. 216, dated September 11, 1992. 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 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Nagoya Aerospace Systems, 10, Oyecho, Minato-Ku, Nagoya, Japan. 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., suite 700, Washington, DC.

(e) This amendment becomes effective on April 11, 1994.

A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations to include an AD that would apply to certain Mitsubishi MU-2B series airplanes was published in the Federal Register on December 14, 1992 (57 FR 58999). The action proposed to require reducing the maximum deflection of the elevator nose-down trim to a 1-degree to 3-degree range. The proposed action would be accomplished in accordance with Mitsubishi Service Bulletin No. 216, dated September 11, 1992.

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 supports the proposed action, but recommends that, to eliminate any applicability questions from the field, the FAA issue one AD to cover the Mitsubishi MU-2B series airplanes covered under two FAA Type Certificates: A2PC and A10SW. The FAA concurs that one AD may eliminate applicability questions from the field; however, ADs are issued against airplanes of the same type design. Since these airplanes are certificated under two separate type designs, the FAA is issuing an AD on each type design. The proposed AD is unchanged as a result of this comment.

No comments were received on the FAA's determination of the cost impact on the public.

After careful review, 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 of the AD nor add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.

The FAA estimates that 252 airplanes in the U.S. registry will be affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 6 workhours per airplane to accomplish the required action, and that the average labor rate is approximately $55 an hour. Parts cost approximately $300 per airplane. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $158,760. This figure is based on the assumption that none of the affected airplane operators have accomplished the required action.

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 14 CFR part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 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.

Section 39.13 - [AMENDED]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding the following new AD to read as follows: