AD 2020-17-09

This AD is effective September 29, 2020.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of September 29, 2020.

For service information identified in this AD, contact GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd, c/o GippsAero Pty Ltd, Attn: Technical Services, P.O. Box 881, Morwell Victoria 3840, Australia; telephone: + 61 03 5172 1200; fax: +61 03 5172 1201; email: aircraft.techpubs@mahindraaerospace.com. You may view this referenced service information at the FAA Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148. It is also available on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket No. FAA-2019-0615.

Doug Rudolph, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329-4059; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: doug.rudolph@faa.gov.

The FAA issued an NPRM to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to GA8 Airvan (Pty) Ltd Models GA8 and GA8-TC320 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on August 12, 2019 (84 FR 39782). The NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products and was based on MCAI originated by an aviation authority of another country. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which is the aviation authority for Australia, issued AD No. AD/GA8/10, dated October 17, 2018 (referred to after this as “the MCAI”), which states:

Airworthiness Limitations are promulgated in the GippsAero Service Manual [Airworthiness Limitations Section] ALS Chapter 4 Airworthiness Limitations. The change to the Airworthiness Limitations by GippsAero on 15 May 2018 was the result of the manufacturer changing the design of the fuselage strut pick up ribs no. 5 and 6. The revised rib designs have a different life limitation to the earlier rib designs. These Airworthiness Limitations are approved by CASA and non-compliance with these limitations could result in an unsafe condition developing. The Service Manual Chapter 4 Airworthiness Limitations dated 15 May 2018 are mandatory in Australia however foreign National Aviation Authorities may not automatically require revision of service manuals without the issue of this AD.

While the U.S. type certificate holder is GA8 Airvan C/O GippsAero, service manuals for the GA8 and GA8-TC320 model airplanes are issued by GippsAero.

The MCAI can be found in the AD docket on the internet at: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAA-2019-0615-0002.

The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of the cost to the public.

The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

GippsAero has issued GippsAero, Model GA8, GA8 Airplane Service Manual, C01-00-04, Chapter 4, Airworthiness Limitations, dated May 14, 2018; and GippsAero Model GA8-TC 320, GA8-TC 320 Airplane Service Manual, C01-00-06, Chapter 4, Airworthiness Limitations, dated May 14, 2018. For the applicable airplane model indicated on the documents, these revised airworthiness limitations establish life limits for certain fuselage strut pick up ribs No. 5 and 6. This service information is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 30 products of U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it will take about 1 work-hour per product to comply with the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.

Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be $2,550, or $85 per product.

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.

The FAA is 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.

The FAA determined that 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 this AD:

(1) Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866,

(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

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: