Discussion
What Events Have Caused This AD?
The Ente Nazionale per l'Aviazione Civile (ENAC), which is the airworthiness authority for Italy, recently notified FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on all 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 shows that cracks have been detected on the engine mount 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?
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in failure of the engine mount. Such failure could lead to separation of the engine from the airplane.
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 all 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 16222). The NPRM proposed to require you to repetitively inspect the engine mount for cracks and modify or replace the engine mount if cracks are found.
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.
What Are the Differences Between This AD, the ENAC AD, and the Service Information?
The ENAC AD and the service information requires (on Italian-registered airplanes) inspection within the next 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of the AD. We require that you inspect within the next 50 hours TIS after the effective date of this 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 50 hours TIS will give the owners or operators of the affected airplanes enough time to have these actions accomplished without compromising the safety of the airplanes.
How Does the Revision to 14 CFR Part 39 Affect This AD?
On July 10, 2002, FAA published a new versionof 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 inspection:
Labor cost
Parts cost
Total cost per airplane
Total cost on U.S. operators
1 workhour x $60 = $60
No parts required
$60
$60 x 10 = $600
We estimate the following costs to accomplish the necessary modification:
Labor cost
Parts cost
Total cost per airplane
14 workhours x $60 = $840
$100
$940
We estimate the following costs to accomplish any necessary replacements that will be required based on the results of the inspection. We have no way of determining the number of airplanes that may need such replacement:
Labor cost
Parts cost
Total cost per airplane
1 workhours x $60 = $660.
$500
$1,160
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
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
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
39.13 [Amended]
2. FAA amends 39.13 by adding a new AD toread as follows: