Airworthiness Directives; American General Aircraft Corporation Models AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B, and AG-5B Airplanes

SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive

(AD) that would apply to American General Aircraft Corporation

(American General) Models AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B, and AG-5B airplanes. The

proposed action would require inspecting (one-time) the wing attach

shoulder bolts for fretting, scoring, wear, excessive clearance, or

enlarged or elongated mounting holes (known as damage from hereon),

replacing any damaged parts and repairing any damaged areas, and

reporting to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the results of

the inspection. Four reports of wing attach shoulder bolt failure

prompted the proposed action. The actions specified by the proposed AD

are intended to prevent wing attach shoulder bolt failure, which could

lead to structural damage of the wing/fuselage to the point of failure.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 9, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the FAA, Central Region,

Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-

CE-15-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Comments may be inspected at this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.

Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained

from Fletch Air, Inc., 9000 Randolph Street, Houston, Texas 77061;

telephone (713) 649-8700 or (800) 329-4647; facsimile (713) 643-0070.

This information also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the

address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ozzie Lopez, Aerospace Engineer,

FAA, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, 1669 Phoenix Parkway, Suite

210C, Atlanta, Georgia 30349; telephone (404) 991-2910; facsimile (404)

991-3606.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number

and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All

communications received on or before the closing date for comments,

specified above, will be considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in

light of the comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,

economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All

comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing

date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested

persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned

with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,

stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments

to Docket No. 94-CE-15-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request

to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 94-CE-15-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,

Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

The FAA has received four reports (three in England and one in the

United States) of wing attach shoulder bolt failure on American General

Models AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B, and AG-5B airplanes. Investigation reveals

that excessive wing to center spar clearance could have contributed to

the bolt failures; however, in each of the four instances, the bolts

failed prior to reaching the service life of 7,250 hours time-in-

service (TIS). The FAA has determined that, in order to assure the

safety of these airplanes, the established service life of these bolts

needs review.

American General has issued Critical Service Bulletin SB-185, dated

July 6, 1994, which specifies procedures for inspecting the wing attach

shoulder bolts and the mounting holes in the wing spar and the center

section spar on American General Models AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B, and AG-5B

airplanes.

After examining the circumstances and reviewing all available

information related to the incidents described above, the FAA has

determined that, in order to determine whether the established service

life of the wing attach shoulder bolts is adequate, (1) a one-time

inspection should be accomplished to reveal the condition of these

bolts on the American General Models AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B, and AG-5B

airplane fleet; and (2) AD action should be taken to prevent wing

attach shoulder bolt failure, which could lead to structural damage of

the wing/fuselage to the point of failure.

Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to

exist or develop in other American General Models AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B,

and AG-5B airplanes of the same type design, the proposed AD would

require inspecting (one-time) the wing attach shoulder bolts for

fretting, scoring, wear, excessive clearance, or enlarged or elongated

mounting holes (known as damage from hereon), replacing any damaged

parts and repairing any damaged areas, and reporting to the FAA the

results of the inspection. The proposed inspections would be

accomplished in accordance with American General Critical Service

Bulletin SB-185, dated July 6, 1994.

The FAA will examine the inspection results and determine whether

further rulemaking action is needed.

The FAA estimates that 3,700 airplanes in the U.S. registry would

be affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 10

workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed inspection, and that

the average labor rate is approximately $55 an hour. Based on these

figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $2,035,000 ($550 per airplane X 3,700 airplanes). This

figure is based upon the assumption that no affected airplane operator

has accomplished the proposed inspection, and does not take into

account the cost for replacement if damaged bolts are found. The FAA

has no way of determining the number of bolts that may need to be

replaced based upon the results of the inspections.

The regulations proposed herein would 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

proposal would 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) 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, pursuant to 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. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C.

106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new AD to read as follows:

American General Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. 94-CE-15-AD.

Applicability: Models AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B, and AG-5B airplanes

(all serial numbers), certificated in any category.

Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in- service

(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, unless already

accomplished.

To prevent wing attach shoulder bolt failure, which could lead

to structural damage of the wing/fuselage to the point of failure,

accomplish the following:

(a) Inspect the wing attach shoulder bolts (4) for fretting,

scoring, wear, excessive clearance, or enlarged or elongated

mounting holes (known as damage from hereon) in accordance with all

the procedures included in the INSPECTION section of American

General Critical Service Bulletin SB-185, dated July 6, 1994. Prior

to further flight, replace any damaged parts and repair any damaged

areas in accordance with the applicable maintenance manual.

(b) Send the results of the inspection required by paragraph (a)

of this AD within 10 calendar days after the inspection to the

Manager, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1669 Phoenix

Parkway, Suite 210C, Atlanta, Georgia 30349. Include the airplane

serial number, and the condition and number of hours TIS of each

bolt at the time of inspection. (Reporting approved by the Office of

Management and Budget under OMB no. 2120-0056.)

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with

Secs. 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.

(d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the

compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be

approved by the Manager, Atlanta ACO at the address specified in

paragraph (b) of this AD. The request shall be forwarded through an

appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then

send it to the Manager, Atlanta ACO.

Note: Information concerning the existence of approved

alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Atlanta ACO.

(e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of

the document referred to herein upon request to Fletch Air, Inc.,

9000 Randolph Street, Houston, Texas 77061; or may examine this

document at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief

Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 22, 1994.

Barry D. Clements,

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 94-23944 Filed 9-27-94; 8:45 am]

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