AD 2011-17-07

This AD is effective September 1, 2011.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in the AD as of September 1, 2011.

We must receive comments on this AD by October 3, 2011.

You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

• Fax: 202-493-2251.

• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.

• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

For service information identified in this AD, contact M7 Aerospace, LC, 10823 NE. Entrance Road, San Antonio, Texas 78216; telephone (210) 824-9421; fax: 800-347-5901; e-mail: http://www.m7aerospace.com/page/1/contact_parts.jsp; Web site: http://www.m7aerospace.com. You may review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 816-329-4148.

Andrew McAnaul, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, ASW-150 (c/o San Antonio MIDO (SW-MIDO-43)), 10100 Reunion Place, Suite 650, San Antonio, Texas 78216; phone: (210) 308-3365; fax: (210) 308-3370; e-mail: andrew.mcanaul@faa.gov.

We received a report of an M7 Aerospace LP Model SA226-T airplane experiencing loss of rudder control during single-engine occurrence training requiring applied full rudder to compensate for yaw effect. The airplane made an uneventful landing. A visual inspection found the left-hand primary rudder control cable had failed where the cable makes a 30 degree angle over a small pulley to accommodate re-routing of the control cable alongside the camera system installed in the center of the cabin.

AD 87-02-02 (52 FR 2511, January 23, 1987) requires periodic inspection or replacement of all flight control cables on Models SA226 and SA227 airplanes. This new AD action requires repetitive replacement of specific flight control cables on affected serial number Model SA226 airplanes that have been modified by installation of a camera system requiring rerouting of the affected flight control cables.

This condition, if not corrected, could result in loss of controlled flight due to failure of a rudder, aileron and/or elevator control cable.

We reviewed M7 Aerospace LP Service Bulletin 226-27-072, dated June 27, 2011. The service information describes procedures for repetitive inspection and replacement of all elevator, rudder, aileron, and aileron-to-rudder interconnect primary control cables.

We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of these same type designs.

This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the service information described previously.

An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because if an elevator cable or another cable in certain situations breaks, the outcome can be catastrophic. Therefore, we find that notice and opportunity for prior public comment are impracticable and that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public comment. However, we invite you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include “Docket No. FAA-2011-0832; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-025-AD” at the beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of those comments.

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we receive about this AD.

We estimate that this AD affects 4 airplanes of U.S. registry.

We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. “Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs” describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.

We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in subtitle VII, part A, subpart III, section 44701: “General requirements.” Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:

(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),

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(4) 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.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):